Outspoken director Ava DuVernay has responded to the director’s apology for whitewashing Gods of Egypt. Two weeks ago, the film’s first trailer was released, featuring a predominantly White male cast. Soon after, the blockbuster was facing allegations of racism, for failing to feature more diverse stars.
To our surprise, following the backlash over the casting of the film, Lionsgate and director Alex Proyas apologized for the film’s lack of diversity. “We recognize that it is our responsibility to help ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity and culture of the time periods portrayed,” read Lionsgate’s statement, first reported by Forbes. “In this instance we failed to live up to our own standards of sensitivity and diversity.”
Proyas issued a separate statement saying “The process of casting a movie has many complicated variables, but it is clear that our casting choices should have been more diverse— I sincerely apologize to those who are offended by the decisions we made.”
DuVernay was just as shocked, tweeting that the apology was “an unusual occurrence worth noting.” But she also seized the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of characters in Creed and Star Wars.
This kind of apology never happens – for something that happens all the time. An unusual occurrence worth noting. https://t.co/xRTEy7woWs
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) November 28, 2015
GODS OF EGYPT makes me value Abrams’ STAR WARS choices more. Makes me cheer more for Coogler’s CREED. We all deserve icons in our own image. — Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) November 28, 2015
However, Twitter wasn’t feeling Proyas apology one bit:
What Twitter thinks of the #GodsOfEgypt apology: pic.twitter.com/mjtUnAKLoY
— Lexi Alexander (@Lexialex) November 27, 2015
Me reading that #GodsOfEgypt fauxpology: pic.twitter.com/ZQxKOYuPFr — Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) November 27, 2015
Gods of Egypt, which follows a common thief as he links up with a mythical god on a quest through Egypt, stars Gerard Butler, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Brenton Thwaites. It is set to hit theaters on Feb. 26, 2016. Will you be watching? Or has the film’s whitewashing controversy already destroyed this film’s chance of success at the box office? Sound off in the comment section below.
