Could probably find better uses for all that straw. Instead of trying to deflect legitimate criticism/issues.

Y'know, it really is just as simple as someone adding/making a character a specific race/gender/etc. for the purpose of checking a box. It becomes all the more obvious when the character ends up completely superfluous, shallow messes, or doesn't make sense in regards to the setting. Or if it's high-profile enough where that's all the creator/s ever talk about in interviews and the like.

If the character has a good story to follow, then by all means make them whatever you want.