Rapper Ice-T blasted Katie Hopkins, a conservative British journalist, who said that Idris Elba can’t play the part of James Bond because he’s Black.
For years now, there’s been talk about Elba replacing Daniel Craig as agent 007, and it’s sparked an ongoing debate.
“No Idris Elba, you cannot be James Bond,” wrote Hopkins. “You will not be 007, no matter how many tweets you put out saying ‘I’m Elba, Idris Elba.’ It’s not because you’re a gentleman of color. It’s because James Bond isn’t. He’s written as an upper-class, arrogant white … Must we perpetually crowbar-in gender and color in where it doesn’t fit?”
She then accused Elba of not being creative enough to come up with his own characters, which is why he wants to play Bond. But for the record, the actor said he’d rather have a woman play the role instead, possibly a Black woman, just to change things up.
https://twitter.com/KTHopkins/status/1029085694000545793
“And it’s not about a talent, Idris. Many people love you, almost more than you do yourself,” Hopkins continued. “But can someone on your team come up with their own ideas?”
Ice-T responded soon afterward and didn’t use a lot of words to express how he felt about the journalist’s opinion.
“This bitch sounds stupid,” he tweeted.
Hopkins eventually saw the rapper’s response, referred to him by his real name and threw a verbal jab.
“Thank you for listening, Tracy Lauren Marrow. Ice-T my ass.”
“Lol. The h- replied,” Ice tweeted back. “Eat a d–k.”
It was several years ago that the chatter of Elba playing Bond began, and right away critics voiced their disapproval.
In 2014 for example, Rush Limbaugh said the author Ian Fleming wrote 007 to be “white and Scottish” and having any other kind of person play the role would be wrong.
And the actor Yaphet Kotto, who played the one and only Black Bond villain, said having a Black man portray the character would be “silly.” On top of that, Anthony Horowitz, the author of newer Bond books, said Elba is too street for the role and isn’t’ suave enough.
All of those people got skewered on social media afterward, as did Holmes for what she said.
“Does she think James Bond is real?” someone asked.
“Hopkins makes it sound as if people of color and women have been culturally appropriating white men’s stories because they can’t write their own,” someone else wrote. “When the reality is that white men have been the publishers and filmmakers blocking stories of women and people of color for centuries.”.
“Bond is a fictional character representing an Englishman with a gentleman charisma,” a third person tweeted. “British and gentlemen come in all skin shades.”
Bond is a fictional character representing an Englishman with a gentleman carisma…British and gentlemen come in all skin shades!
— Absquatulate (@TamingDragons) August 15, 2018
Here’s a theory I’ve heard, that I happen to agree with. James Bond is not a person, it’s just a name associated with 007. Literally ANYONE could be James Bond; black, white, male, female…anyone. Personally, I am a huge admirer of Idris and think he would make a fantastic Bond.
— 🇨🇦Russell West 🏴 (@russell_e_west) August 15, 2018
Why do a Black man have to do follow up roles. Why not create an original Black character with cultured talents, that people of color can relate too?
— Blakguy (@Blakguy) August 15, 2018
Until you see his parents gravestones in Skyfall, then that theory falls apart. That being said I’d happily overlook that if it meant Idris Elba could be Bond, that would be amazing.
— Swen #FBPE #FBR (@SwenHandley) August 15, 2018
