Chase Infiniti Says Women of Color Are Most Vulnerable to Violence

Actress Chase Infiniti leveled sharp criticism at society's treatment of women of color. In her interview with Variety, she stated that this group is among the least protected when trapped in unhealthy relationships. The statement came as she discussed her role as Julia in the film The Julia Set, in which her college student character is involved in a toxic romance with a teaching assistant, Pascal, played by Christopher Briney.

Infiniti argued that women of color often carry layered psychological burdens. "Julia is always trying to do what's best for herself, but also for Pascal. Unfortunately, women of color don't have the luxury of only thinking about themselves. They think about everyone around them," she said. This condition, she added, worsens in relationships full of violence. "Women of color are among the least protected groups in society," she stressed.

Infiniti's statement is not merely a cynical comment. She highlighted a social reality that often escapes public attention: women from racial minorities face a higher risk of becoming victims of dating or domestic violence, yet access to legal protection and social support remains unequal. Data from advocacy organizations in the United States shows that women of color, especially Black and Hispanic women, experience higher rates of physical and sexual violence than white women, yet their reports are often ignored by authorities.

In the film, there is a scene in which Julia surprises Pascal with dinner at his apartment using the key he gave her. The filming of that scene turned out to be highly emotional. Writer and director Niki Byrne revealed, "There were a lot of tears on set that night. Of all the scenes we shot, the crew was sobbing during that one. We did several takes, and he (Pascal) comes in and is very unkind to Julia, and then Julia breaks, and we were all hit hard."

Infiniti herself is enjoying a surge in popularity after appearing in the film One Battle After Another with Leonardo DiCaprio. However, she admitted that the sudden attention is hard to manage. To The Sunday Times, she confessed, "So many things I've achieved now never even crossed my mind. So a large part of me is still trying to understand that this is my reality." She also said she has become more confident in socializing, though she describes herself as shy. "I used to dislike attending events because I didn't know anyone and no one knew me. I'm shy, so a room like that is very intimidating. But now I'm better at greeting people."

Even so, Infiniti did not deny that the exhausting film promotion process had overwhelmed her at times. She told The Hollywood Reporter that Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio had reminded her that film promotion is a marathon. "At first I thought it was normal. But after going through days of interviews and travel, I realized it's truly exhausting in a way I had never experienced. I don't know what awards season is like. I've never promoted anything before," she said.

Infiniti's story reflects the pressures faced by young actors, especially those from minority groups, in the fast-paced entertainment industry. In Indonesia, a similar issue is also relevant: women from marginalized groups often face double barriers in obtaining justice, both in the domestic and public spheres. Awareness of the importance of protection for women of color, as voiced by Infiniti, could serve as a mirror for Indonesian society to become more sensitive to the vulnerability of women from various backgrounds.

Going forward, will the film industry increasingly take on narratives like this, or merely turn them into a commodity without real change? What is clear is that Infiniti's voice adds to the long list of calls for women of color to no longer be the most neglected group.