While issues of diversity are pervasive throughout Hollywood, the serious lack of black stuntmen and stuntwomen is one of many areas in dire need of diversity. Even today, the practice of using white stunt performers in blackface, known as “painting down” is still used as a poor substitute for actual black stuntmen and stuntwomen.

Warner Bros. Studios recently scrapped plans to use a white stunt performer in blackface for a black guest actress, calling the original decision a “mistake.

Deadline reports,

After receiving inquiries from Deadline, Warner Bros. has canceled plans to “paint down” a white stunt woman to double for a black actress on its hit Fox show Gotham. On Monday, dark makeup was applied to the face of a white stunt woman in a hair and makeup test in advance of two days of filming next week in New York. After receiving calls from Deadline, WB initially downplayed the significance of the story, but after looking into it said that it had made a “mistake” and would hire a black stunt woman instead.

Thanks to pioneers like Edward “Eddie” Smith, who co-founded the Black Stuntmen’s Assn. in 1967, black stunt performers have been steadily finding more employment and opportunities for proper training in Hollywood. However, despite the fact “painting down” has been formally condemned by SAG-AFTRA, which calls the practice “unacceptable” and “improper”, it still continues to this day.