Fury after Elon Musk questions Lupita Nyong'o's role in new film

Elon Musk has stirred controversy again in his public criticism of  Lupita Nyong’o's choice for upcoming epic movie, The Odyssey.

This week, the richest person in the world renewed his social media ridule at Christopher Nolan’s casting choices.

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh made his sentiments on the casting, arguing that “not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world,’” and accusing Nolan of fearing accusations of racism if he had cast a white actress.

And Musk publicly agreed with Walsh comments, responding simply, “True.”

Musk went further in a second post responding to a certain user who questioned why filmmakers sometimes “race swap white characters.” Musk suggested the move could be motivated by awards consideration, writing, “He wants the awards.” 

Musk was seemingly insinuating that Nolan was casting Nyong’o to satisfy perceived Academy inclusion expectations tied to Best Picture eligibility, a quality that frames casting as strategic rather than artistic.

The 54-year old billionaire’s criticism has since brought him criticism online. The backlash has since spilled into daytime television when Whoopi Goldberg and her co-hosts on The View even addressed the controversy that has since surrounded the anticipated Movie.

Movie star Alec Baldwin also weighed in with an Instagram post of Lupita with the caption, "Dear Elon... but she is the most beautiful woman in the world...Alec."

This is not the first time Musk has publicly displayed his displeasure towards the actress. When Nyong’o’s casting as Helen was only circulating as rumour early this year, he called it an “insult” to Homer, referencing classical descriptions of Helen as fair-skinned and blonde, the “face that launched a thousand ships,” whose beauty allegedly sparked the Trojan War.

Unfortunately, this is also not the first incident where Lupita has experienced racism and colourism. In 2017 former NBA star Gilbert Arenas received public backlash after making derogatory comments about Nyong’o’s skin complexion. 

Arenas would later on issue a public apology to Lupita.

Despite the constant criticism, the Kenyan born actress’ acting background has proved remarkable. The 43-year old graduated from Yale School of Drama, and burst onto the global scene in Steve McQueen’s 2013’s 12 Years a Slave, for which she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress.

Since then, she has built a distinctive and stellar career, including a dual role in Jordan Peele’s Us, appearances as Nakia across the Black Panther and Avengers films, and a lead role in A Quiet Place: Day One, where she portrayed a terminally ill woman surviving an alien invasion. She is not new to taking on unique characters in movies.

The Odyssey, is scheduled to premiere July 17, adapting Homer’s epic tale of Odysseus and his catastrophic journey home after the Trojan War.