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Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy sparks fierce debate over race in mythological casting

A legendary figure reimagined stirs outrage—but why does myth only bend for some? The ugly truth behind Hollywood's selective fury over Black casting.

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1 min read
The image shows a black and white drawing of a plaque with a woman's face on it, surrounded by...
The image shows a black and white drawing of a plaque with a woman's face on it, surrounded by sculptures and text. The plaque appears to be a representation of the Greek mythology, with the woman's features and the text likely providing further information about the mythology.

Blonde or brunette: Debate over beautiful Helen - Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy sparks fierce debate over race in mythological casting

Christopher Nolan's upcoming film Odyssey has sparked controversy over its casting choices. Lupita Nyong'o, a U.S.-Kenyan actress, is reportedly set to play Helen of Troy, drawing criticism from far-right figures and tech billionaire Elon Musk. The backlash follows a pattern of pushback against Black actors in roles traditionally depicted as white.

Historical and artistic portrayals of Helen of Troy have long favoured a Eurocentric ideal. Pre-2000 works, from Renaissance paintings to classical sculptures, consistently showed her with fair skin, golden hair, and features aligned with ancient Greek beauty standards. These depictions, however, were interpretations—Homer's original myth provided no clear description of her appearance.

The debate over Nyong'o's casting mirrors recent controversies, such as Disney's live-action Little Mermaid and Wuthering Heights, where Black actors were cast in roles previously assumed to be white. Scholar Katharina Wesselmann dismissed the criticism as 'clearly racist and uninformed', noting that past white, blonde portrayals of Helen faced no similar scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Matt Damon, a U.S. actor born in England, has been cast as Odysseus—a Greek hero—without significant objection. The contrast highlights the selective nature of the outrage, as creative freedom in mythological adaptations has rarely been questioned before.

The film's casting decisions have exposed ongoing tensions around race and representation in historical storytelling. While Nyong'o's role has drawn fierce opposition, the lack of criticism toward Damon's casting underscores a double standard. The controversy reflects broader debates about diversity in modern adaptations of ancient myths.

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