In a topsy-turvy world where whites folks like Rachel Dolezal and Sean King are widely accepted as black, a minority actress is under fire for not being black enough for a role.
Actress Zoe Saldana, who identifies as a proud black woman, plays Nina Simone in the new movie “Nina,” is being criticized for reportedly darkening her skin and wearing a prosthetic nose in bringing the legendary jazz singer to life on the big screen.
Simone’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, was not approving of the choice made for Saldana to play her mother.
“My mother was raised at a time when she was told her nose was too wide, her skin was too dark,” she told The New York Times. “Appearance-wise, this is not the best choice.”
The controversy hit a fever pitch on Wednesday after the actress shared the first official poster for the upcoming film on Instagram:
Social media users responded by accusing Saldana, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, of wearing blackface.
Saldana posted a Nina Simone quote on Twitter on Tuesday, which prompted an account belonging to Simone’s estate to respond harshly: “Cool story but please take Nina’s name out of your mouth. For the rest of your life.”
.@zoesaldana Cool story but please take Nina's name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.
— Nina Simone (@NinaSimoneMusic) March 3, 2016
Among the reactions on social media was a reminder of the claim by many of a lack of diversity in Hollywood.
Here’s a small sampling of responses from Twitter:
*drops mic* “@NinaSimoneMusic: .@zoesaldana Cool story but please take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.”
— Luckyiam GO! (@LuckyovLegends) March 3, 2016
@NinaSimoneMusic @zoesaldana honestly hate to see folks go in on zoe.despite making a bad decision to be darkened, casting dropped the ball.
— .ᑕᕼᗩY. (@realtor_chay) March 3, 2016
@retiredfirstsgt And if they donned blackface, they were criticized too…
— Awkward Mommy (@ThisIsShani) March 3, 2016
@NinaSimoneMusic So you ask for diversity in Hollywood but hate @zoesaldana for playing Nina because she’s not dark enough. Shame on you.
— Bob Ezrin (@804StreetMedia) March 3, 2016
@NinaSimoneMusic @zoesaldana pic.twitter.com/dG8D7cyeIb
— Lo (@LRels) March 3, 2016
@kurtchella Her daughter is still very much alive, and has been vocal against her mom’s portrayal by Zoe in this film.
— Awkward Mommy (@ThisIsShani) March 3, 2016
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Tom@bizpacreview.com
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
- Did Sunny Hostin just admit on air to breaking the law by voting for her son? - November 8, 2022
- Stacey Abrams justifies trailing in the polls by suggesting black men are too stupid to back her - November 7, 2022
- Kevin McCarthy has message for Pelosi telling Dems to ‘change the subject’ away from inflation - October 24, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
