Film critic Richard Roeper attempted to mock those criticizing Christopher Nolan’s alleged decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy in his upcoming The Odyssey film.
Greeks were racially white people, a sub group of the white race so other white people despite not being Greek, them playing Greek characters doesn't matter cause they are close racially and in looks unlike black africans.
Helen of Troy was a racially white greek woman described as very beautiful and with golden/blond hair, so Diana Kruger was perfect for the role despite her not being Greek.
It is a historical fact that although not common some ancient Greeks did indeed have blonde hair, as Greeks are indeed white people.
I mean, Nyong’o is beautiful - it’s not “disgusting” she was cast as Helen; it’s untrue to the time and region. Maybe in a world contest she’d be the most beautiful woman - but back then and there, the most beautiful woman would have been Greek - not an African woman, or an Asian, or a tall skinny Nordic one for that matter. They should’ve cast Greek or at least standar Mediterranean types for all of the roles, male and female. It’s the classic Greek story - why the insulting rejection of the people to whom it most truly belongs? All the rest of us are just borrowing it.
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All it’s gonna do is make people not want to see it.
Basically, Richard Roeper was moving the goalpost.
Greeks were racially white people, a sub group of the white race so other white people despite not being Greek, them playing Greek characters doesn't matter cause they are close racially and in looks unlike black africans.
Helen of Troy was a racially white greek woman described as very beautiful and with golden/blond hair, so Diana Kruger was perfect for the role despite her not being Greek.
It is a historical fact that although not common some ancient Greeks did indeed have blonde hair, as Greeks are indeed white people.
I was kinda hoping for an all black and latinx cast. Maybe throw in some Asians too. I hate these half measures.
Okay, Richard (Child) Raeper. Sure.
I mean, Nyong’o is beautiful - it’s not “disgusting” she was cast as Helen; it’s untrue to the time and region. Maybe in a world contest she’d be the most beautiful woman - but back then and there, the most beautiful woman would have been Greek - not an African woman, or an Asian, or a tall skinny Nordic one for that matter. They should’ve cast Greek or at least standar Mediterranean types for all of the roles, male and female. It’s the classic Greek story - why the insulting rejection of the people to whom it most truly belongs? All the rest of us are just borrowing it.