Think Twice Before You Post On TikTok About Not Getting Cast

by Chris Peterson

I recently saw a TikTok from an aspiring actor who didn’t get cast at a regional theatre. Instead of taking the news in stride, she filmed a video accusing the company of favoritism and bias, with no evidence to support her claims. And while I understand the sting of rejection, especially in an industry as personal and subjective as theatre, this isn’t the right response.

Not getting cast doesn’t mean the system is broken. It might just mean you weren’t the right fit this time. And that’s okay. Casting is complicated. It’s not just about talent. It’s about type, chemistry, experience, tone, timing, and sometimes even budget. To publicly accuse a theatre company of unethical behavior just because they didn’t choose you isn’t just misguided. It’s a bad look.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all had the post-audition spiral. But turning that disappointment into a video that points fingers and calls out professionals without any context is a quick way to burn bridges. Theatres remember those videos. So do directors, casting agents, and fellow actors. What might feel like speaking your truth in the moment could limit your future opportunities in ways you can’t predict.

This isn’t to say theatre is perfect or that casting is always fair. There are real conversations to be had about equity, access, and bias. But not getting cast isn’t the same as being wronged. One person’s rejection doesn’t equal proof of injustice.

A casting director once told me, “I can love someone’s audition and still not cast them.” There are only so many roles. A theatre might be choosing between two actors who are equally talented, equally prepared, equally charismatic. Sometimes the decision comes down to things no actor can control, like who reads slightly older, or who has better chemistry with the lead. These aren’t personal failures. They’re part of how the process works.

When actors go online to name-drop a company and imply misconduct, they aren’t just venting. They’re making public accusations without evidence. And that’s where it becomes dangerous. Because once you start assigning motive — saying they only cast their friends or didn’t want someone who looked like you — you are stepping into slanderous territory. That’s not just unprofessional. It can be legally risky.

You might think it’s just a TikTok. But when your words damage someone’s reputation, especially in ways that can be proven false, it can have serious consequences. Slander doesn’t need a press release. It can happen in a 30-second clip shared thousands of times. And often, the theatres being accused don’t have the platform, or the desire, to fight back.

Regional theatres are already working with limited budgets, small staffs, and audiences still bouncing back from the pandemic. The last thing they need is to lose community trust because of an angry video with no context. And when that video presents opinion as fact, it undermines the work these theatres are trying to do both onstage and off.

Let’s also address the issue of repeat casting. Some actors do get cast again and again by the same companies. Not because of favoritism, but because they are consistent, kind, collaborative, and professional. That’s not bias. That’s common sense. If you were running a theatre, would you want to work with someone who supports your company, or someone who turns on it the moment they don’t get what they want?

If your goal is to have a career in this business, you have to learn resilience. You also have to develop judgment. Not every disappointment needs to be made public. Not every no is a personal attack. And while it might feel empowering to “tell your story,” it’s worth asking what story you’re actually telling. And what impact it will have.

To the actors who are feeling the sting of rejection right now — I see you. This business is tough. It asks for everything and often gives back very little. But don’t let temporary frustration become permanent damage. Speak up about injustice when you see it. Be part of real conversations about representation and access. But don’t confuse a casting decision with a conspiracy. And don’t let a single moment of disappointment lead you to make claims that can follow you long after the curtain closes.

Because theatre people may love drama onstage. But offstage, we remember everything.