Netflix’s Tudum site recently published an article celebrating Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton and his “most memorable moments.” On the surface, it looks like a straightforward tribute to one of the show’s leads. But the introduction quickly drew fan criticism for what it left out. Every other central couple in the series received recognition, while Simone Ashley’s character—Kate Sharma, now Kate Bridgerton—was glaringly absent.

The omission struck a chord with viewers who have long pointed out how Bridgerton’s marketing and coverage sidelined Ashley, despite the popularity of her character and her storyline with Anthony. The article then leaned heavily on examples of Kate and Anthony’s shared moments, making the erasure even more blatant.

Simone Ashley Missing From the Narrative

The Tudum article began by highlighting key couples: Daphne and Simon, Penelope and Colin, and Anthony. Yet, when it came to Anthony, the wording was clear—“just Anthony Bridgerton.” That phrasing erased Kate entirely, despite the fact that Anthony’s storyline in Season 2 centered on his relationship with her.

Three of the five scenes used to showcase Anthony’s “most memorable moments” actually included Kate. The bee sting scene, the horse race, and the wedding tension were all pivotal Kate-and-Anthony dynamics, not Anthony-alone stories. By excluding her from the introduction, Tudum framed those moments as Bailey’s achievements, rather than shared performances. Fans saw this as more than a careless oversight. For many, it reinforced a pattern of downplaying Simone Ashley’s importance to the series.

Marketing That Favors White Leads

The Tudum introduction did not happen in isolation. From the beginning, Simone Ashley received far less attention than her white co-stars in promotional campaigns and media coverage. Even as her character served as the romantic lead in Season 2, much of the marketing spotlight focused on Anthony rather than presenting the couple as equals.

This imbalance becomes especially clear when compared to how Daphne and Simon or Colin and Penelope were promoted. Their relationships were consistently framed as partnerships, with both actors featured equally in trailers, interviews, and events. Kate, by contrast, has too often been treated as an accessory to Anthony rather than as a central figure in her own right. Casting a dark-skinned Indian woman as a romantic lead in a global hit was groundbreaking, yet her visibility has been undermined at nearly every step.

  • Side-by-side collage showing Bridgerton merchandise collaboration with Redbubble and fan criticism of Simone Ashley’s exclusion. On the left, Netflix fan art merchandise depicts other couples. On the right, a comparison chart shows Daphne and Simon, Penelope and Colin, and other couples receiving photo shoots, weddings, and baby storylines, while Anthony and Kate’s arc is marked with “No photo shoot,” “No wedding,” and “No baby.”
  • A collage showing a tweet from Shonda Rhimes defending Nicola Coughlan, contrasted with Twitter searches showing no results for Rhimes mentioning Ruby Barker, Regé-Jean Page, or Simone Ashley. Their images are highlighted at the bottom, emphasizing the lack of public support for Black actors from Bridgerton.
    Shonda Rhimes openly supports Nicola Coughlan, but similar public backing for Black actors from Bridgerton remains absent.
  • A cast list for Bridgerton Season 4 with highlighted text pointing out that Kate Sharma, who has been married for two seasons, is still listed with her maiden name. In contrast, Penelope and Francesca, who married in Season 3, have already adopted their husbands’ family names.
    Despite being married for a season, Kate is still referred to by her maiden name, while Penelope and Francesca, who recently married in Season 3, have already taken their husbands’ last names.

Why Erasure Matters

Kate is not just another character in Bridgerton. Her presence marked a rare portrayal of a dark-skinned South Asian woman as a romantic lead in mainstream Western television. That visibility mattered for audiences who seldom see themselves reflected in such roles. By minimizing Simone Ashley’s role in Tudum’s coverage, Netflix reinforced colorist patterns that elevate lighter-skinned leads while reducing women of color to secondary figures.

Jonathan Bailey’s work as Anthony has been widely praised, and deservedly so. The issue is the suggestion that Anthony’s story can stand apart from Kate, when the show itself made their relationship the heart of its narrative. Erasing Ashley from the framing undermines both the character and the cultural significance of her role

Final Thoughts

The Tudum article should have celebrated one of Bridgerton’s most successful couples. Instead, it became another example of how Simone Ashley has been sidelined in the very show where she made history. By saying “just Anthony Bridgerton,” Netflix erased a lead who brought depth, passion, and rare representation to the screen.

The omission fits into a broader pattern. Ashley’s Kate Bridgerton deserves recognition not only as Anthony’s counterpart but as a groundbreaking lead in her own right. Until the series and its promotion treat her with the same respect afforded to her white co-stars, the imbalance will remain impossible to ignore.

Discover more from Feminegra

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.