British actor Joseph Fiennes will portray the legendary King of Pop Michael Jackson in an one off 30 minute comedy which is part of the Urban Myths TV show depicting his life, according to new reports. As many may suspect Fiennes is a white male. Jackson is Black.
This casting choice seems to spit in the face of those talking about increasing diversity in Hollywood and in the British film industry. In fact, the #OscarsSoWhite movement has highlighted the undervaluation of Black actors and actresses in roles that have shown off their talent.
Actors like Jada Pinkett Smith and Idris Elba have made strong stances in Hollywood and the British film industry by announcing a boycott and talking to Parliament, respectively. Why would anyone cast a white actor when there are talented Black British actors available? The show runners must realize that Fiennes’ portrayal of Jackson is Blackface and culturally repulsive. Just in case, Twitter reminded them.
https://twitter.com/TheOrlandoJones/status/692483788912381952
Joseph Fiennes can play Michael Jackson. (A real person). But Idris can't play James Bond (a fake spy for a fake agency)? Cool, cool, cool.
— Prentice Penny (FUX YO BLUE CHECK) (@The_A_Prentice) January 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/Luvvie/status/692118902168485888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Twitter: "Joseph Fiennes to play Michael Jackson"
Me: pic.twitter.com/o20MuCzvYX
— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) January 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/_nicomadden/status/692156513939542018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
I can't even comment on this Michael Jackson/Joseph Fiennes thing. It's so ridiculous that it feels like we're all being punk'd
— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) January 27, 2016
#JosephFiennes to play #MichaelJackson in a Sky Arts Drama is a hoax right? Or there is another Joseph Fiennes? https://t.co/7cFEIvHNof
— Stop The World I Want To Get Off (@CampbellX) January 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/keyedhiscar/status/686652287838625792
https://twitter.com/Lexialex/status/692357160785678336
Oddly enough, it won’t be the first time I’ll see Joseph Fiennes portray a man of color. I saw him 20 years ago as Jesus in a London play.
— Jamil Smith جميل كريم (@JamilSmith) January 26, 2016
The story goes that Jackson invited actors Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando to his concert at Madison Square Garden. Allegedly, in September 2001, Jackson, Taylor and Brando were driving from New York to Ohio in an attempt to get home following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in NYC.
“I got the script the other day,” Fiennes told WENN. “It’s a challenge. It’s a comedy. It doesn’t poke mean fun, but it’s a story, possibly urban legend, whereby Michael, Marlon Brando and Liz Taylor were all together the day before 9/11 doing a concert. Airspace was shut down and they couldn’t get out and Michael had the bright idea to go to hire a car and drive.”
For those who long for Blackface shenanigans, the episode will broadcast on British TV on Sky Arts.
