Actress Lupita Nyong’o has recently spoken out against criticism of her being cast as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’, urging critics to remember that “this is a mythological story”.
The Oscar award-winning actress is set to play Helen, whose beauty famously “launched a thousand ships” and resulted in the Trojan war, according to Homer’s ancient Greek legend.
However, her being cast in the role has sparked debates online, with critics including Elon Musk claiming that it’s wrong to cast a black actress as the character in Nolan’s highly-anticipated film.
Nyong’o responds to negative commentary
Speaking to Elle, Nyong’o stated: “I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world.”
She added: “I’m not spending my time thinking of a defence. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”
She also told the outlet: “It’s quite something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time.”
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Why is Nyong’o critiqued for the role?
The criticism erupted following the announcement of Nyong’o’s casting for the role.
Musk said director Nolan has “grossly insulted the Greek people”, and replied “true” to a meme of a man supposedly dancing on Homer’s grave.
The X owner wrote: “I agree that she [Nyong’o] is beautiful, but casting a Black woman to play a White woman in a foundational work of European literature is no more right than casting a White man to play Shaka Zulu!”
Shaka Zulu was an infamous leader of the Zulu nation in South Africa.
Musk revived his attack a few days later, writing on X: “Chris Nolan is an anti-White racist.”
Nolan, on the other hand, has not responded to the criticism.
The director won two Oscars in 2024 for his last release, Oppenheimer, and also is known for films including Inception, Interstellar and The Dark Knight.
The Odyssey will also star Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Charlize Theron, and is set for release in US and UK cinemas on July 17.
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