All articles tagged with #blackwashing
Adele responds to backlash over her portrayal of Queen Cleopatra in the Netflix series, stating that "blackwashing" isn't a thing and criticizing those who feel the need to separate Egypt from the rest of the continent. The show's producers have defended their decision to depict Cleopatra as of mixed ethnicity to reflect theories about her possible Egyptian ancestry and the multicultural nature of Ancient Egypt.
Actress Adele James, who stars as Cleopatra in the Netflix docuseries "Queen Cleopatra," addressed the colorism controversy surrounding her casting in a recent podcast appearance. Egyptian officials have criticized the biracial actress's portrayal of the ruler of Egypt's Ptolemaic Kingdom. James dismissed the criticism, saying "blackwashing isn't a thing" and that people who feel threatened by Blackness are "self-loathing." The series is part of Jada Pinkett Smith's "African Queens" franchise and intentionally depicts Cleopatra as of mixed ethnicity to reflect theories about her possible Egyptian ancestry and the multicultural nature of Ancient Egypt.
Director Tina Gharavi defended the decision to cast a Black actress, Adele James, as Cleopatra in the upcoming Netflix series "Queen Cleopatra" and pushed back against accusations of "blackwashing" the historic figure. Gharavi acknowledged the political significance of the casting but insisted that it was historically accurate. The portrayal has faced backlash from some Egyptians who claim it is historically inaccurate. Actress and series producer Jada Pinkett Smith defended the casting choice as "important." The season is set to premiere on May 10.
Netflix's upcoming drama-documentary series "Queen Cleopatra," which depicts the pharaonic ruler as Black, has faced major criticism and allegations of "blackwashing" and "stealing" from Egypt's ancient history. The series' director defended the casting decision, citing decades of academic discourse about Cleopatra's enigmatic roots. Historians have said it's possible that Cleopatra, or any other female ancestor, was an Indigenous Egyptian or from elsewhere in Africa. The series debuts on the platform on May 10.
Netflix's upcoming docuseries "African Queens: Queen Cleopatra" has been accused of "blackwashing" the heritage of Queen Cleopatra VII by casting a Black biracial actress as the titular Greek-Egyptian ruler. Egyptian scholars claim that Cleopatra was born of European descent and not Black. Actress Adele James portrays Cleopatra in the series. Egyptian lawyer Mahmoud al-Semary filed a complaint with the nation’s public prosecutor to request that Netflix be blocked in Egypt due to the promotion of “Afrocentric thinking.” Two petitions to “Cancel Netflix’s ‘Queen Cleopatra'” circulated with more than 88,000 signatures combined.