Since the announcement of Spike Lee’s latest film, Chiraq, it’s been engulfed in controversy over the title and accused of reinforcing the negative stereotypes of Black Chicago residents.
The gun violence in Chicago is a popular talking point for Republicans/conservatives and from what the public knows about the film, many people believe it reinforces those talking points and not the real Chicago.
Since Monday, the gun violence in the city has taken a turn for the worst with the shooting of 9-year- old Tyshawn Lee. The Chicago Sun-Times believes Lee is related to a gang member who may have been involved in a series of retaliatory killings. Also, Chicago based model Kaylyn Pryor, 20, was shot in the right armpit. She died from her wounds at a local hospital. Pryor was a model for an anti-violence campaign before being shot while visiting her grandparents. Both victims were caught in the cross fire of alleged gang activity.
Then the trailer for Spike Lee’s new film dropped yesterday, to the dismay of many Twitter users.
The #Chiraq trailer just made me QUEASY. it feels SO CHEAP. #TyshawnLee was murdered yesterday. He was 9. Is that a joke? Is that clever?
— wikipedia brown (@eveewing) November 4, 2015
I watched the #Chiraq trailer and if someone wants to open a GoFundMe with me to buy Spike a one-way ticket back to Brooklyn I'm down.
— wikipedia brown (@eveewing) November 4, 2015
Dat Chiraq trailer look fu as Hell dat ain't how we rock
— GINO MARLEY (@GinoMarleySSR) November 4, 2015
I, myself is offended by the movie "Chiraq" ?. It's based off how outsiders view "CHICAGO." Trying to portray a lifestyle you never been in?
— mikiiii❣ (@Mvkayla_) November 4, 2015
Chicago is not Chiraq Chicago is not Chiraq Chicago is not Chiraq Chicago is not Chiraq Chicago is not Chiraq Chicago is not Chiraq
— auntie bernice (@hunter__tyson) November 3, 2015
Mood at this Chiraq trailer: https://t.co/ICmW7amDUt
— Buwop$$ (@Thugmasterflexx) November 3, 2015
JUST SAW THE CHIRAQ TRAILER ITS THE FUNNIEST MOST CRINGE WORTHY THING EVER WOULDNT BE SURPRISED IF THE MOVIE WAS FAKE AND TRAILER WAS A JOKE
— Alex Wiley (@Alex_Wiley) November 3, 2015
lol if u still call Chicago "chiraq": 1. you a corn 2. Chicago does indeed hate you 3. u cappin'
— hey its me (@LilGucciErynn) November 3, 2015
Releasing the Chiraq trailer after a 9 year old was killed along with several other young Chicagoans was a horrible move.
— alexis h (@alexisjaya_) November 4, 2015
While there was overwhelming outrage over the trailer, a few supporters expressed interest in the film’s premise.
So excited to be in @SpikeLee's new movie CHIRAQ! Check out the trailer! In theaters Dec 4! https://t.co/doMLIjHL5G pic.twitter.com/1Cdu8eayEL
— LA LA (@lala) November 3, 2015
I didn't quite understand the #Chiraq trailer. Is the storyline that the strip clubs closed, leading to a dramatic decrease in crime?
— deray mckesson (@deray) November 3, 2015
I wanna actually see Chiraq before I pass judgment. Had I just seen a trailer for School Daze in 1988 I might've thought it was garbage too.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) November 3, 2015
am I tripping or does Chi-Raq look really good https://t.co/5saXVNc03W
— a shrill of hope (@theshrillest) November 3, 2015
just when i think i'm out, Spike Lee pulls me back in….
— Zeba Blay (@zblay) November 3, 2015
The "Chi-raq" trailer. WOW. WOW. WOW. Film looks incredible. Love the Lysistrata inspiration. Come on @SpikeLee! https://t.co/WVZyYp2FN0
— Gerrick D. Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) November 3, 2015
I think a lot of the controversy is that people don't realize it's a satire and not based on true events. #Chiraq
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) November 3, 2015
The film is a adaptation of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes that is set against the backdrop of gang violence in Chicago. Chiraq stars Teyonah Parris, John Cusack, Jennifer Hudson, Anya Engel-Adams, Samuel L. Jackson, Angela Bassett and Nick Cannon among others.
In the large catalog of the director’s work, the film may be a return to form, even amid the controversy. Although Lee has had great success as of late with his award-winning documentaries, he hasn’t had a strictly narrative film hit since 2006’s Inside Man.
Chiraq will be in theaters Dec. 4.