Castro is also the twin brother of Julian Castro, a former San Antonio, Texas mayor who went on to become secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration.
Two years ago, Rep. Castro took to Twitter and lambasted entertainment industry executives during the 2023 Golden Globes for not featuring enough Latino actors, something he called "pernicious."
"Latinos are almost completely missing at the [Golden Globes]—it’s unsurprising and unacceptable," Castro wrote. "The film industry must address the pernicious lack of opportunity and representation of Latino Americans."
Castro complained
"The stories that Hollywood tells affect how entire communities are perceived," he continued before adding, "I use the word “pernicious” because this status quo is toxic, harmful and dangerous to Latinos in American society."
Latinos are almost completely missing at the @goldenglobes—it’s unsurprising and unacceptable.
The film industry must address the pernicious lack of opportunity and representation of Latino Americans.
The stories that Hollywood tells affect how entire communities are perceived.
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) March 1, 2021
That came four years after Castro had to correct MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell when she assumed he was of Cuban ancestry.
Castro and Mitchell were discussing President Barack Obama's visit to Cuba, which was ruled at the time by communist dictator Raul Castro.
