Egyptians complain over Netflix depiction of Cleopatra as black

[Dalit]

African Queens: Queen Cleopatra features British actress Adele James as the Egyptian ruler

A Netflix docudrama series that depicts Queen Cleopatra VII as a black African has sparked controversy in Egypt.

A lawyer has filed a complaint that accuses African Queens: Queen Cleopatra of violating media laws and aiming to "erase the Egyptian identity".

A top archaeologist insisted Cleopatra was "light-skinned, not black".

But the producer said "her heritage is highly debated" and the actress playing her told critics: "If you don't like the casting, don't watch the show."

Adele James made the comment in a Twitter post featuring screengrabs of abusive comments that included racist slurs.

Cleopatra was born in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 69 BC and became the last queen of a Greek-speaking dynasty founded by Alexander the Great's Macedonian general Ptolemy.

She succeeded her father Ptolemy XII in 51 BC and ruled until her death in 30 BC. Afterwards, Egypt fell under Roman domination.

The identity of Cleopatra's mother is not known, and historians say it is possible that she, or any other female ancestor, was an indigenous Egyptian or from elsewhere in Africa.

Netflix's companion website Tudum reported in February that the choice to cast Adele James, a British actress who is of mixed race, as Cleopatra in its new documentary series was "a nod to the centuries-long conversation about the ruler's race".

Jada Pinkett Smith, the American actress who was executive producer and narrator, was meanwhile quoted as saying: "We don't often get to see or hear stories about black queens, and that was really important for me, as well as for my daughter, and just for my community to be able to know those stories because there are tons of them!"

But when the trailer was released last week many Egyptians condemned the depiction of Cleopatra.

Zahi Hawass, a prominent Egyptologist and former antiquities minister, told the al-Masry al-Youm newspaper: "This is completely fake. Cleopatra was Greek, meaning that she was light-skinned, not black."

Mr Hawass said the only rulers of Egypt known to have been black were the Kushite kings of the 25th Dynasty (747-656 BC).
"Netflix is trying to provoke confusion by spreading false and deceptive facts that the origin of the Egyptian civilisation is black," he added and called on Egyptians to take a stand against the streaming giant.

On Sunday, lawyer Mahmoud al-Semary filed a complaint with the public prosecutor demanding that he take "the necessary legal measures" and block access to Netflix's services in Egypt.

He alleged that the series included visual material and content that violated Egypt's media laws and accused Netflix of trying to "promote the Afrocentric thinking... which includes slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity".
Three years ago, plans for a movie about Cleopatra starring the Israeli actress Gal Gadot triggered a heated debate on social media, with some people insisting that the role should instead go to an Arab or African actress.

Gadot subsequently defended the casting decision, saying: "We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn't there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra."

Egyptians complain over Netflix depiction of Cleopatra as black

A lawyer files a suit against Netflix, saying its docudrama aims to "distort the Egyptian identity".

www.bbc.com

 

[tower9]

That's because the media portrayal is steeped in political correctness and not historical fact. Cleopatra was Greek. She was actually foreign to Egypt.

But with the rise of Wokeism in Hollywood, to simply state actual historical facts like this that contradict the Black Nationalist agenda is considered racist.

Cleopatra was Greek, it's that simple. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with being Black, she just was not Black.

 

[Dalit]

That's because the media portrayal is steeped in political correctness and not historical fact. Cleopatra was Greek. She was actually foreign to Egypt.

But with the rise of Wokeism in Hollywood, to simply state actual historical facts like this that contradict the Black Nationalist agenda is considered racist.

Cleopatra was Greek, it's that simple. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with being Black, she just was not Black.

Why are the Egyptians so triggered if she was a Greek?

 

[tower9]

Why are the Egyptians so triggered if she was a Greek?

Probably because Egyptians look down on Subsaharan Blacks and Cleopatra was an icon in Egyptian history and they do not want her depicted that way, even though she was ethnically Greek.

 

[Catalystic]

Lol, what a waste eh

 

[Dalit]

Probably because Egyptians look down on Subsaharan Blacks and Cleopatra was an icon in Egyptian history and they do not want her depicted that way, even though she was ethnically Greek.

Do the Egyptians accept that she was Greek?

@Foinikas Hey Greek yoghurt. Your chance to shine. What do you say on this topic?

 

[Titanium100]

Why are the Egyptians so triggered if she was a Greek?

The ancient Egyptians aren't black that is why.. color wise they looked like current day Egyptians

 

[Dalit]

The ancient Egyptians aren't black that is why.. color wise they looked like current day Egyptians

The current day Egyptians aren't very light skinned either. Do the Egyptians accept that Cleopatra was Greek?

I could easily mistake this actress for being an Egyptian to be honest.

 

[Indos]

Probably because Egyptians look down on Subsaharan Blacks and Cleopatra was an icon in Egyptian history and they do not want her depicted that way, even though she was ethnically Greek.

Who said Egyptian Historian hide Cleopatra Greek ethnicity ?

Many Egyptian women also looks white, the movie producer can hire them as well.

The closer the player to the reality, the better the movie will be because it is talking about history ( real event/ person )

 

[Dalit]

Who said Egyptian Historian hide Cleopatra Greek ethnicity ?

Many Egyptian women also looks white, the movie producer can hire them as well.

The closer the player to the reality, the better the movie will be because it is talking about history ( real event/ person )

Many Egyptian women also look like brown skinned Africans. What is your point?

Besides, if you claim that she was Greek shouldn't a Greek person be the actor?

I am just enjoying this whole woke episode. How everyone is getting so triggered about a person we know so little about. This is literally the news on many main stream media LOL

 

[Valar.]

Jada Pinkett Smith, the American actress who was executive producer and narrator, was meanwhile quoted as saying: "We don't often get to see or hear stories about black queens, and that was really important for me, as well as for my daughter, and just for my community to be able to know those stories because there are tons of them!"

^ That's the real reason.

Jada Pinkett Smith

 

[ThunderCat]

That's because the media portrayal is steeped in political correctness and not historical fact. Cleopatra was Greek. She was actually foreign to Egypt.

But with the rise of Wokeism in Hollywood, to simply state actual historical facts like this that contradict the Black Nationalist agenda is considered racist.

Cleopatra was Greek, it's that simple. Doesn't mean there is anything wrong with being Black, she just was not Black.

They did the same when casting Achilles and his friend Patrauclus as black in the Netflix series Troy: Fall of a City.

 

[Titanium100]

The current day Egyptians aren't very light skinned either. Do the Egyptians accept that Cleopatra was Greek?

The current day Egyptians aren't very light skinned either. Do the Egyptians accept that Cleopatra was Greek?

View attachment 925443

I could easily mistake this actress for being an Egyptian to be honest.

Nah bro.. She doesn't look Egyptian..

Here this is one of the Pharoah's after doing computer design on his skulls..

Here below are some modern day Egyptians..

Wedding

 

[Dalit]

^ That's the real reason.


View attachment 925445

The black African Americans have been claiming for a long time that Cleopatra is black.

Nah bro.. She doesn't look Egyptian..

Here this is one of the Pharoah's after doing computer design on his skulls..

Here below are some modern day Egyptians..

Wedding

I have noticed something about Egyptians. They are extremely nationalistic and very hostile towards anyone who even mentions their history. Especially if that is a person of color.

Scientists used DNA analysis of mummies from ancient Egypt to reconstruct the faces of three men buried more than 2,000 years ago.

3-D Reconstruction Reveals the Faces of Three Ancient Egyptian Mummies

Researchers used a combination of DNA and physical analysis to approximate the trio's visages

www.smithsonianmag.com

These are hardly blue eyed Greeks.

 

[PradoTLC]

View attachment 925440

African Queens: Queen Cleopatra features British actress Adele James as the Egyptian ruler

A Netflix docudrama series that depicts Queen Cleopatra VII as a black African has sparked controversy in Egypt.

A lawyer has filed a complaint that accuses African Queens: Queen Cleopatra of violating media laws and aiming to "erase the Egyptian identity".

A top archaeologist insisted Cleopatra was "light-skinned, not black".

But the producer said "her heritage is highly debated" and the actress playing her told critics: "If you don't like the casting, don't watch the show."

Adele James made the comment in a Twitter post featuring screengrabs of abusive comments that included racist slurs.

Cleopatra was born in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 69 BC and became the last queen of a Greek-speaking dynasty founded by Alexander the Great's Macedonian general Ptolemy.

She succeeded her father Ptolemy XII in 51 BC and ruled until her death in 30 BC. Afterwards, Egypt fell under Roman domination.

The identity of Cleopatra's mother is not known, and historians say it is possible that she, or any other female ancestor, was an indigenous Egyptian or from elsewhere in Africa.

Netflix's companion website Tudum reported in February that the choice to cast Adele James, a British actress who is of mixed race, as Cleopatra in its new documentary series was "a nod to the centuries-long conversation about the ruler's race".

Jada Pinkett Smith, the American actress who was executive producer and narrator, was meanwhile quoted as saying: "We don't often get to see or hear stories about black queens, and that was really important for me, as well as for my daughter, and just for my community to be able to know those stories because there are tons of them!"

But when the trailer was released last week many Egyptians condemned the depiction of Cleopatra.

Zahi Hawass, a prominent Egyptologist and former antiquities minister, told the al-Masry al-Youm newspaper: "This is completely fake. Cleopatra was Greek, meaning that she was light-skinned, not black."

Mr Hawass said the only rulers of Egypt known to have been black were the Kushite kings of the 25th Dynasty (747-656 BC).
"Netflix is trying to provoke confusion by spreading false and deceptive facts that the origin of the Egyptian civilisation is black," he added and called on Egyptians to take a stand against the streaming giant.

On Sunday, lawyer Mahmoud al-Semary filed a complaint with the public prosecutor demanding that he take "the necessary legal measures" and block access to Netflix's services in Egypt.

He alleged that the series included visual material and content that violated Egypt's media laws and accused Netflix of trying to "promote the Afrocentric thinking... which includes slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity".
Three years ago, plans for a movie about Cleopatra starring the Israeli actress Gal Gadot triggered a heated debate on social media, with some people insisting that the role should instead go to an Arab or African actress.

Gadot subsequently defended the casting decision, saying: "We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn't there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra."

Egyptians complain over Netflix depiction of Cleopatra as black

A lawyer files a suit against Netflix, saying its docudrama aims to "distort the Egyptian identity".

www.bbc.com

Egyptians are racists