Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Outrage Over ‘Light Skin’ Will Smith Playing Father of Venus and Serena in Biopic

will smith and richard williams

*Black Twitter reacted strongly to Monday’s announcement that Will Smith has been tapped to play Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, in an upcoming biopic titled “King Richard.”

Deadline reports that the Oscar-nominated actor and his Overbrook Entertainment have partnered with Star Thrower Entertainment to produce the movie based on Williams’ life and the 78-page plan he created to help transform his daughters into the superstar athletes they are today.

But critics say the role should go an actor with darker skin, like Idris Elba and Mahershala Ali.

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As noted by msn.com, some have compared the casting reports to Zoë Saldana’s portrayal of singer Nina Simone in the 2016 biopic “Nina”, for which the actress donned blackface makeup and a prosthetic nose. Others have cited Scarlett Johansson’s whitewashed role in 2017’s “Ghost in the Shell”.

“Colorism matters,” sports writer Clarence Hill Jr. noted of the importance of casting an actor with darker skin to play 77-year-old Williams.

One Twitter user, however, responded to the criticism by saying: “So let me understand that a black man can only play a black man now if he is the right shade of black. So that case Denzel Washington should never have played Malcom x.We as black people only brings ourselves down.”

Read below some of the reactions to Will’s casting:

But not everyone agrees with the critics. Many of the negative reactions have been slammed by Smith fan who say the haters are being petty over skin color/shade.

How do you feel about Mr. Smith playing Mr. Williams? Sound off in the comments.

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