In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pose creator and director Ryan Murphy, and director and executive producer Janet Mock, explained that the episode was an essential reminder of the deadly violence transgender women of colour face on a daily basis.

“The idea that was important to me is that nothing has changed, and nothing is changing,” Murphy began. “At its best, Pose is advocacy. What we really want people to do is talk about it and ask the question: Why are the police not investigating? Candy’s death will go unsolved forever, which is a very heavy thing but that’s exactly what’s happening now.

“I think we’re at a tipping point in our culture — and it’s only getting worse under this current administration — where all you can do is ask people to get angry. What will it take? The show is asking that question.”

Mock, who recently became the first transgender woman to land an overall deal with a major content company when she signed a three year multi-million dollar deal with Netflix, explained that after consulting with the trans community, although it was decided that the storyline was harrowing, representation of the fatal violence trans women of colour suffer was sorely needed onscreen too.

“The feedback for us was that we had to go there. This is a part of their story — both the devastation and the resilience. It’s tough to put that truth on paper, but when you see it come to life onscreen it’s also very powerful. It’s power and pain. It was happening then, it’s happening now, and this felt necessary for the community and for us at the show.”

Candy Ferocity’s fate on Pose reminds us that trans women of colour are in deadly danger every day