Ian Ousley's Ethnicity: Netizens Are Disputing His Cherokee Heritage

Ian Ousley's ethnicity became a hot topic of discussion online, with different people voicing their opinions about his roots. The actor was scrutinized, and some accused him of lying about his Cherokee heritage.

With his impressive acting skills and charming personality, talented actor Ian Ousley has established a significant following. His remarkable performances have captivated audiences and brought depth to his characters.

However, the fast-rising actor became a subject of discussion in 2022 after joining the cast of the live-action "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Different theories emerged online, with some netizens questioning Ian Ousley's ethnicity.

Ian Ousley at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 09, 2021, in Universal City, California. | Source: Getty Images

Ian Ousley's Heritage Sparked Conversations Online

The actor, born in March 2002 in Ontario, Canada, left some netizens accusing him of lying about his ethnicity to secure the role of Soka in Netflix's live-action series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

The series takes place in a war-ravaged, Asiatic-inspired world where individuals can manipulate one of the four classical elements: water, earth, fire, or air. The protagonist, Aang (played by Gordon Cormier), is the "Avatar," the only person capable of bending all the elements and destined to restore peace to the world, particularly from the Fire Nation.

Accompanied by his newfound allies Katara (portrayed by Kiaweentiio) and Sokka (played by Ian Ousley), Aang embarks on a journey to master the elements while evading the pursuit of Zuko (played by Dallas Liu), the exiled prince of the Fire Nation seeking redemption by capturing the Avatar.

The Canadian actor was reportedly listed as an actor from the Cherokee tribe, which some fans disputed, prompting a Twitter outcry urging Netflix to investigate his background.

In January 2022, an organization by the name of Change.org launched a petition concerning Ian Ousley's heritage.

Numerous skeptical fans conducted investigations into legal records that indicated Ousley was not officially documented as a member of the tribe, fueling their doubts about the actor's claimed ancestry.

What Is Ian Ousley's Nationality?

In 2021, Ousley's manager shared a detailed Instagram post about his ethnicity. In a section of the post, his manager, Peter Kluge, indicated that the actor was born and raised in College Station, Texas, and is a mixed-race, Native American, and Cherokee tribe member.

The Cherokee people, an indigenous group of North American Indians with Iroquoian roots, formed one of the most prominent and politically unified tribes during the European colonization of the Americas. Their name originates from a Creek term meaning people of different speech, though some prefer to be called Keetoowah or Tsalagi.

Ongoing Petition about Ian Ousley's Heritage

In January 2022, a petition was launched on Change.org concerning Ousley's heritage. As of this writing, the petition has received over 1040 signatures, intending to reach 1500 signatures.

The petition insists that Netflix must ensure accuracy in its information. It also states that individuals officially recognized as citizens of the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians should legitimately identify themselves as Cherokee for personal or professional reasons.

Ousley is a fast-rising actor and has also worked on other projects. His notable performance was in the drama series, "13 Reasons Why," which featured Dylan Minnette and Brandon Flynn.

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