Will Smith’s Casting as Venus and Serena Williams’ Father Sparks Colorism Backlash

[JUDAH]

naw they shoulda went with jamie foxx.....

100

 

[Dwayne]

How yall know Jamie wanted the role?

 

[Duwop]

i'm being a dick head, i hate jamies acting.....

 

[Eastbay510]

People cry about everything now

Looking at him I do think somebody like Don Cheadle might have been a better choice.

But this is nothing to lose sleep over.

 

[313 Wayz]

Black folk would have lost they shit if Twitter was up when Denzel got the role of Malcom X.....this is a non-issue

 

[OhMars]

Sooooo....
Why did Zoe Saldana get killed? Was it the brown makeup?

 

[Eastbay510]

They woulda cried about Denzel being cast to play Malcolm X if that happened today.

I remember Jeffery Wright got cast to play Martin Luther King, didn’t look much like him but he killed that role.

“Woke twitter” needs to stfu

 

[Playmaker88]

Stupid casting

 

[Duwop]

Sooooo....
Why did Zoe Saldana get killed? Was it the brown makeup?

cuz niggaz hate niggaz

 

[SeaSnake]

Will Smith is at the center of controversy following a report from Deadline that says he is attached to play Venus and Serena Williams’ father and tennis coach Richard Williams in an upcoming biopic titled “King Richard.” The spec script for the film written by Zach Baylin reportedly earned a lot of attention and was picked up by Tim White and Trevor White to produce through their Star Thrower Entertainment banner. Smith is also producing through Overbrook Entertainment.

The story of Richard Williams is notable as he had no prior tennis experience before coaching Venus and Serena, inarguably two of the greatest tennis players in history. While telling Williams’ story may be exciting, the reported casting of Smith in the main role has led to backlash and accusations of colorism. Sports writer Clarence Hill Jr. went viral on social media after bringing attention to the casting, writing, “Colorism matters. Love Will Smith but there are other black actors for this role.”

Clarence Hill Jr. was supported by the likes of film writers Valerie Complex (she described the casting as “colorism at work”) and George M. Johnson, who wrote, “Just like Chadwick [Boseman] shouldn’t have played Thurgood Marshall, Will should not play Richard.”

Colorism describes prejudice or discrimination of same-race people based solely on skin color. Many have pointed out the obvious that Smith’s lighter skin tone does not match Richard Williams’s darker skin tone. As Johnson pointed out, Chadwick Boseman faced similar backlash over his casting as Thurgood Marshall. Zoe Saldana’s casting as Nina Simone in the biopic “Nina” was also met with colorism controversy. In that film, darker makeup was applied to Saldana so that her lighter skin tone could match Simone’s.

They coulda got Clifton Powell lol

 

[1/2]

i'm being a dick head, i hate jamies acting.....

lmao first thing i thought

Ray worked out really well to me because of the glasses......he's not good with expressions in scenes he's gotta be mad or happy or hurt

its all the same speed

 

[Duwop]

plus there's this..

 

[1/2]

plus there's this..

damn i wonder if he cleared that first

better hope it dont turn into harassment 20 years from now

 

[JUDAH]

Shoulda cast Clifton Powell

 

[JUDAH]

They coulda got Clifton Powell lol

Just seen this lmao

 

[Nobody]

Somewhat off topic but this might be the best black actor in the game

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

naw they shoulda went with jamie foxx.....

I know. he woulda brought home another Oscar..

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

Black folk would have lost they shit if Twitter was up when Denzel got the role of Malcom X.....this is a non-issue

Slim, they did. There just wasn't any social media then.

Then they actually SAW the movie and all them folks was like..

 

[GNS]

Black folk would have lost they shit if Twitter was up when Denzel got the role of Malcom X.....this is a non-issue

Or maybe they wouldn't have..

 

[IP360]

C'mon man. I mean I know they casted him b/c he'll deliver on the acting side...but c'mon man.

Samuel L Jackson wasn't available? Or anyone similar lookin to Richard Williams?


I don't even wanna know who they gonna cast to play Venus and Serena. Lol