Heathcliff Was Never White

At least nine major film adaptations have reimagined Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights (1847) — her first and only novel before she tragically passed away from tuberculosis at only 30. At the time, critics didn’t understand the sweeping epic, which traverses multiple generations, celebrates the supernatural, and has morally reprehensible characters. This was the product of an arguably smart woman who was quite intentional in her choices, who wrote her entire life. Yet, centuries later, people are still saying dumb things. 

Vulture recently asked, “Is Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights White?” (No.) Director Emerald Fennell said, “I wanted to make something that was the book that I experienced when I was 14.” (Okay?) Perhaps nothing else sums up our collective exhaustion more than one Letterboxd review of Fennell’s 2026 film: “emily Brontë died of tuberculosis 177 years ago yet this adaptation is still the worst thing that has ever happened to her.”

Dearest Reader, I spoke to multiple English professors, reread the text, and watched the recent film — and there’s one thing almost everyone can agree on: Heathcliff is decidedly not white. That Heathcliff’s race is even up for debate in 2026 says more about society than us. Are we being majorly gaslit? Some say absolutely yes.