Nina distributor Robert L. Johnson is finally addressing the casting backlash that resurfaced after a new trailer for the Nina Simone biopic was released a few weeks ago, which features Zoe Saldana as the legendary jazz singer.
Saldana, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent, has been criticized for playing Simone since she was cast in 2012. When set images of Zaldana as Simone surfaced the web, fans, critics and family members publicly denounced the casting choice. A Facebook group was also created urging people to boycott the film.
“It’s unfortunate that African Americans are talking about this in a way that hearkens back to how we were treated when we were slaves,” Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview. “The slave masters separated light-skinned blacks from dark-skinned blacks, and some of that social DNA still exists today among many black people.”
Johnson then asked, “Who’s to decide when you’re black enough?” He later added, “As an African American, I will gladly engage anyone on this question of should we be talking about how light or how dark you should be to play a role. Many people who are talking about it don’t even realize what they’re getting into. Imagine if I were to do a biopic about Lena Horne, who’s obviously light-skinned, or Dorothy Dandridge. Would it be fair if I put up a sign that said, ‘No black women apply’? That would be ridiculous. Black Americans should know better than to have this discussion over a creative project. We’re not talking about white against black. We’re talking about black against black.”
In February 2013, Zaldana confessed to being aware of the backlash and expressed her sincere admiration for the legendary singer.
“The reality is what keeps me focused and what kept me from I guess getting stressed or being hurt by the comments is that I’m doing it for my sisters,” Saldana said to HipHollywood.com. “I’m doing it for my brothers. I don’t care who tells me that I am not this and I am not that. I know who I am and I know what Nina Simone means to me. So that is my truth and that set me free.”
Nina hits theaters and VOD on April 22.
