Things We Saw Today: Chadwick Boseman Is Thankful People Are Calling out Gods of Egypt‘s Whitewashing

"I generally try to tune things like press controversy out, but some people around me told me, 'Hey… you might wanna look at this.'"

Carolyn Cox

Published: Dec 8, 2015 05:55 pm

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In an interview with GQ earlier this week, Black Panther‘s Chadwick Boseman was asked how he feels about the egregious whitewashing in Gods of Egypt, in which Boseman plays Thoth. Boseman explained,

I generally try to tune things like press controversy out, but some people around me told me, “Hey… you might wanna look at this.” And when I originally was approached with the script, I thought this [critique] might come up, I really did. And I’m thankful that it did, because actually, I agree with it. That’s why I wanted to do it, so you would see someone of African descent playing Thoth, the father of mathematics, astronomy, the god of wisdom. And in the movie, I actually outnumber the other gods in the movie, literally and figuratively. It’s hard for people to know that without seeing it. But yeah—people don’t make $140 million movies starring black and brown people. [Shakes head.]

I’m glad that Boseman is speaking up, and it’s unconscionable that Hollywood continues to excuse whitewashing by saying that actors of color won’t attract moviegoers, especially considering diverse films have shown their power at the box office over and over again. Go stand with Exodus in the shame corner where you belong, Gods of Egypt. (via Pajiba)

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