Lupita Nyong'o rejects criticism of Helen of Troy role
Lupita Nyong'o rejected criticism of her casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey* by saying "this is a mythological story".
Nyong'o will play Helen, whose beauty resulted in the Trojan war. Her casting has sparked a culture war, with critics including Elon Musk claiming it's wrong to cast a black actress as the character. Nyong'o said she is "very supportive of Chris's intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling" and that "our cast is representative of the world." She also said, "I'm not spending my time thinking of a defence. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not." Nyong'o added, "It's quite something to be a part of *The Odyssey*, because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that's why the cast is what it is. We're occupying the epic narrative of our time." The criticism erupted after Nyongo's casting was revealed last week. Musk said director Nolan has "grossly insulted the Greek people", and replied "true" to a meme of a man supposedly dancing on Homer's grave. Musk wrote, "I agree that she [Nyong'o] is beautiful, but casting a Black woman to play a White woman in a foundational work of European literature is no more right than casting a White man to play Shaka Zulu!" Musk renewed his attack on Friday, writing on X: "Chris Nolan is an anti-White racist."
Christopher Nolan has not responded to the criticism. Nolan won two Oscars in 2024 for *Oppenheimer*. Nyong'o won an Oscar in 2014 for
Quick Summary
Lupita Nyong'o's casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has sparked debate, with some critics questioning the choice - igniting a culture war. The actress has responded to the controversy, urging people to consider the context of the story.
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