UCLA Study Finds Over 90% of Streaming Shows Were Created by White Creators, Marking Sharp Decline in Diversity
A new annual report from UCLA has revealed a significant drop in cultural diversity across major streaming platforms, both behind the camera and on screen. The 2024 Hollywood Diversity Report, published Tuesday, shows that the vast majority of top scripted series on streaming services were created by white talent, raising concerns about the future of inclusive storytelling in Hollywood.
Diversity Behind the Camera Falls Sharply
The study examined the top 250 most-watched scripted series across streaming platforms and found that 91.7% were created by white people, an increase from the previous year. White men alone accounted for 79% of all show creators, highlighting a steep regression in industry inclusivity.
Creators of color made up just 8%, while only 49 of the 222 scripted series surveyed were created by women. The report shows a clear contrast with the post-2020 momentum, when studios invested heavily in amplifying underrepresented voices following nationwide calls for racial justice.
On-Screen Representation Also Declines
The report found that white actors filled 80% of all roles in the top streaming shows last year. Female actors and performers of color saw fewer opportunities overall, even though women and minority households continue to drive much of the viewership for these platforms.
The decline follows the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across major studios. Companies such as Disney, Amazon, Paramount, and Warner Bros. ended longstanding DEI initiatives over the past year, influenced in part by legal pressure from the Trump administration, which targeted DEI programs across multiple sectors.
Industry Leaders Warn of Cultural and Economic Impact
Darnell Hunt, UCLA’s executive vice chancellor, provost, and co-founder of the study, described the findings as troubling but unsurprising.
“When you shut the door on diversity, you shut out opportunities for more perspectives, collaboration, exploration and growth,” Hunt wrote. He warned that without continued vigilance, the industry risks undermining its own future, both creatively and financially.
Underrepresented Storylines Still Thrive
Despite declining diversity among creators and performers, the study found an increase in underrepresented storylines, even in series led by white male actors. Shows such as Apple’s Ted Lasso and HBO’s The Penguin were highlighted for strong secondary arcs focused on female characters.
Co-author Nico Garcia noted that “even as diversity drops overall, the stories are still there,” emphasizing that audiences respond to compelling narratives regardless of who plays the lead. Social media engagement also reflected this trend; shows featuring women-centered or underrepresented storylines—such as HBO’s House of the Dragon and Netflix’s Bridgerton—generated five times more online interactions than those without.
Mergers Could Threaten Future Creative Diversity
The report arrives amid industry uncertainty, with Netflix, Paramount, and other giants engaged in a bidding war to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, home to HBO and a vast library of intellectual property. Labor unions and anti-trust experts warn that such consolidation could further harm diversity efforts by reducing creative competition and shrinking job opportunities.
In a joint statement opposing Netflix’s proposal, the Writers Guild of America East and West said, “The world’s largest streaming company swallowing one of its biggest competitors is what antitrust laws were designed to prevent.”
As Hollywood faces mounting economic pressures and shifting political climates, the UCLA report underscores growing concerns that diversity—once a stated industry priority—is losing momentum at a critical time.
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