Regina King has defended the casting of British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X

[hewontgo]

Regina King Says British Actor Kingsley Ben-Adir Playing Malcolm X is ‘Best Actor for the Role’

She says basically all black people go through the same things so Black Americans aren't entitled to play themselves in movies about them.

😐https://t.co/POuXauxvhU
- Movie Monster #ADOS (@Pauline98476699) January 13, 2021
King was questioned the director

Comments

[yeezy]

i'm glad we all thought this was about ben kingsley lmao

[aleksie]

Our reading skills are what really unites us here. I too was confused when I first read the headline.

[blankstare]

I was like "Now sis. This is not it." Then I read it again lol

[nork_ftw]

I went on his Wikipedia page he also played Obama too

[nork_ftw]

Now I’m also curious how he would spin that without losing his entire career lol

[nougatt]

I just want to comment that Kingsley Ben-Adir is a stunning human being and he stole the show in Vera. He’s really great at emoting and just turning into his characters. His delivery is always a+

I saw he was also cast as President Obama in the Comey movie.

[syvlie0o0]

It's because they have an accent. I really can't think of any possible other reason this happens so often.

[insomniachobs]

I reckon it’s pure cultural bias against African-Americans. To the people in charge British accents and mannerisms feel less distant from their default whiteness and thus more palatable.

[nomoneyfun]

IA. And the gag is that Black Americans have created THE most influential culture. Like, the whole damn internet is out here using AAVE and no one wants to give Black American talent their damn flowers.

[ritaamber]

I would rather have a beautiful brilliant performance than a loyalty to country. Doesn't it do more service to the person they are playing for it to be done well than to be able to say 'merica! Casting first.

[ritaamber]

It's not at all a less worthy discussing and I am sincerely sorry if that's how it came across. That was not at all my intent. My stanning of Regina and supporting her passion project got in the way of the bigger picture. They could have taken the time to expand a search for someone here that would benefit from the project and exposure as well as contributed to it. I hear you and I'll work to do better.