The director Terry Gilliam hates the film “Black Panther” and how it makes Black kids feel.
And that’s despite the 2018 release being a cultural phenomenon and giving Black kids around the world their own set of superheroes — since other Marvel films and movies based on DC Comics have mostly white casts.
Of course, “Black Panther” not only tells the story of Black male and female superheroes, it’s set in the fictional African country of Wakanda, thus giving Black folks even more pride about it.
“I hated ‘Black Panther,'” Gilliam told IndieWire. “It makes me crazy. It gives young black kids the idea that this is something to believe in. Bullsh-t. It’s utter bullsh-t. I think the people who made it have never been to Africa.”
“They went and got some stylist for some African pattern fabrics and things,” he added. “But I just I hated that movie, partly because the media were going on about the importance of bullsh-t.”
Gilliam was then asked if the critical acclaim behind the film was a “politically correct response that ignored aesthetics in favor of identity politics.”
“It makes my blood boil,” he answered.
Once the interview was published, many took the 79-year-old to task.
“What you said about ‘Black Panther’ was Trump level stupid,” someone tweeted on Sunday. “Especially with your zero record of ever casting a black person in a lead role, or really at all. God you’re old and out of touch.”
“How dare you say the makers of ‘#BlackPanther’ must [have] never been to Africa,” tweeted a second person. “The director actually took a research trip there and ultimately it was a fictional futuristic world anyway.”
“F–k you …That film represented and highlighted Black excellence and STEM,” tweeted a third person.
And a fourth person wrote, “I guess you got what you wanted : a 2 day news cycle to make sure the world remembers your crusty racist ass is not dead yet.”
