Zoe Saldana Regrets Playing Nina Simone

[@Roninonymous]

Nope 👎🏾 Not tryna hear it now. We expressed that this was a BIG problem when they announced the casting and she did it anyway.

[@jenpollard3962]

Son Droku - yes. She wanted that paper.

[@lani2894]

She seemed like she wanted to play the Role because she admired Nia Simone so much.

[@Nuuur_9]

Lani that’s another type of greed.

[@Roninonymous]

Lani The fact that she could know so much about Nina , and still choose to play her via darkened skin and a prosthetic nose, speaks VOLUMES.

[@lani2894]

Son Droku that’s right. I didn’t look at it like that. That’s very True honestly.

[@Tonia682]

An apology is fine, but, I have an issue with Zoe saying she thought she had permission as a black woman. I think she gave herself personal permission. However I remember quite a bit of backlash at the time when the casting for the movie was announced. She was fully aware that the general consensus that she may not be the best person to play Nina Simone.

[@sdo917]

Apology was a D- because of that line alone

[@sdo917]

Mahera Biz no lies told here

[@C2G2]

😌👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿💯

[@noelbrooks5678]

Viola Davis could of played that part well

[@mscarter624]

Whenever there is a dark skin woman to be portrayed people think Viola Davis should do it (I.e. Michelle Obama). Viola is THE BOMB, but there are so many other actresses.

[@noelbrooks5678]

Candace Carter no doubt 👍🏿👋🏽

[@GaryTisdaleFungkSta1]

How bout Danai Gurira 🤔

[@kkmichelle314]

Exactly, she should have. I'm tired of these Quakes playing on our intelligence, like that Harriet BS movie 💯

[@moviegirl8648]

Viola Davis was the best choice. But you that have other choices, no problem with me. I just wish that there were enough roles for all of the talented Black actresses AND actors. Some day, hopefully. But we have to own our own media outlets.

[@kgs6032]

I forgot to add that her apology is insincere because she purposely avoided saying a dark-skinned black woman. She said all the uniqueness about Nina Simone's talent, views and everything else, but didn't say dark-skinned Black woman. What you don't say is almost as important as what you do say.

[@billyford7853]

Yeah I noticed that absence of truth also. When she got to that part of her apology I had subconsciously filled that phrase in myself.

[@lindasimpson6740]

Still in 2020 if you white ,you right, if you are brown ,stick around, if you're black ,get back.This is so deep rooted, I don't know where to begin, growing up this was real . I will leave it at that.

[@shawnshell5961]

Zoe does not regret playing Nina. She is just riding the wave of the moment: fake guilt.

[@mrsx7944]

Exactly. A bunch of phoneys tryna be "woke".

[@paschajefferson5699]

But Nina Simone was a musician. That was her true self. She started out studying music but because of America's racial structure and institutions she was denied becoming a classical pianist because that was reserved for white people. Through that denial she became an activist and used her music as a tool to express herself and her feelings and experiences about discrimination.

[@paschajefferson5699]

I'm sorry George Duffy I fail to see your point of responding to my post. It doesn't make much sense. I didn't talk about complexion at all.

[@mrcead]

As my grandmother told me when I was young "You have to listen to people the first time for an apology to mean something" (meaning don't foolishly put yourself in a position where you have to make one). Zoe, if I remember was all middle fingers up about it

[@mrsx7944]

She was. She was very arrogant about it. She's ONLY apologizing because the movie completely BOMBED. If the movie woulda been a success, guarantee she would not have apologized.

[@Hephzibah_n_beulah]

I’m not sure if she realizes she is a black woman..she may speak Spanish and be from a Spanish speaking country, but she is black..Enslaved Africans were dispersed throughout the world! Brazil was the last country to abolish slavery..I’m a lighter shade woman born in Jamaica, am I not black? I may not be African American but I am black..This is such a pet peeve of mine

[@ScorpioSaurus-Rex]

That’s the problem she knows darn well.

[@heruapocalypse2021]

Issue I always have with Her is that.She never really Represents Herself as a Black Woman.Also to add that She is a Bedwench.And I'm not talking about just a 1 Time situation.I'm talking 4ever and a Day being that.So She is as far as I'm concerned a Thorough Sellout.Because She does not like,love nor embrace Black Men.I'm mean Black Men are like completely removed from Her Space altogether.And a Brotha like Myself absolutely cannot Rock with any Woman. Whom is Black in more ways than 1.Or in other ways uniquely different from other Sistas.Who are not actively in Black Men spaces.And in full support of Black Men.

[@ScorpioSaurus-Rex]

HERU Apocalypse I have questions about your post. You start out mentioning she does not rep herself as a black woman. I followed no problem but then you had a rant about her not dating or being in spaces with black men. I want to know is it a problem that she does not identify with the whole community or is it that she is a trophy desirable among black men and to know that she does not feel the same now it’s a problem. This is a question only, I know context is hard to tell online. When doja cat mentioned she didn’t date black men then all the exotic lovers came out hating NAS including. But they were fine with a song and several online references dehumanizing black people. You can dm me if you don’t want to comment here that’s fine.

[@MissTeaq]

With the issues our community has with colorism, and Saldana being Dominican (if I’m not mistaken), she is well aware of the whole notion that the closer you are to a European phenotype the more acceptable you are in society. She was well aware (or should have been) that many of the challenges Nina faced in her career stemmed from her prominent African features (ie dark brown skin, full nose, and kinky hair), and her fearless voice and activism regarding the never ending fight of the descendants of enslaved Africans for equality and an end to the terrorism that we have constantly faced in this country. For Saldana to not only overlook all of that, but allow them to darken her skin and alter her features was immensely disrespectful, not only to the legacy of Nina, but to the culture (that we are constantly gas lit to believe does not exist) of black Americans as a whole. And just to be clear, the movie was made in 2016, so why she claimed that she wish she had the wisdom to choose differently ten years ago makes her “apology” ring hollow and insincere.

[@malcolmnex9297]

Chadwick Boseman didn't alter his skin color for the Thurgood Marshall role although I heard compliments that he was way too tall to play James Brown but he was damn good at it. The moment that it announced that Zoe was casted as Nina black KZbin was buzzing with content critical of her in that role and I would find it hard to believe that she was not aware of it. Malcolm from Oakland

[@Buzz0Killington]

I’m glad Zoe apologized and realizes playing Nina was wrong. I’ll push back on Lurie’s point at the end when she said it was fine to have Chadwick star in the Thurgood Marshall movie though. To me, it’s just as bad as having Zoe play Nina. Being black is a spectrum and not all of the experiences are the same. Nina’s life was influenced heavily by her appearance as was Thurgood’s. He even spoke about how being light skinned helped him gain access to positions in life other Black people couldn’t. By having Chadwick play him you lose that aspect of his story and just sort of flatten his existence altogether by portraying him as just “black” as if black is just one thing. But I agree light skinned people have advantages in Hollywood under normal circumstances.

[@moviegirl8648]

I agree with everything that you said. EXCEPT, that lightskinned people have advantages in Hollywood under normal circumstances. I have a problem with the whole lightskinned privilege argument in any part of American society. I say that it is tokenism. To claim privilege, there must be power or equality that goes along with it. I don't care how light you are, you still ain't 100% white, and you ain't an equal to whites nor do you share their power.

[@Gwenesis]

Donovan you are so on point!

[@liquidsarcasm]

When she first said black woman...my first thought was...isn't Zoe??...thanks for the clarification dark skinned...

[@karenl7786]

@@SonofDavid0814 She sure hasn't. And has gone out of her way to make sure her movie love interests were white whenever she could.

[@TheUnseenSoundscape]

Exactly she does not identify as Black andnwe have to stop forcing people to id black

[@heathertea2704]

She's a mixed race woman that claims being Black when its beneficial.

[@Gwenesis]

@@karenl7786 as her real life partner's a wm.

[@williamwaters3588]

Also with Chadwick he received blessings from the family to play Thurgood Marshall so that made it make more sense.

[@karenl7786]

People were not just pissed when Zoe Saldana chose to play Nina Simone because she wasn't dark enough, but because she had made problematic comments in the past regarding race and saying it was less impactful than sexism, it wasn't an issue she and her sisters discussed and why were people so caught up in color? Of all the people for her to then play, this was exquisitely infuriating.

[@akaziaj]

British actress, Michaela Coel. She has the look, voice cadence and she can sing. Of course an American born actress would be nice.

[@looknn]

I looked up this young lady on Google. OMG! She IS Nina Simone!😏

[@marktwo8608]

It wasn't like she didn't know the role was not good for her from the beginning? EVERYONE TOLD HER!! Even other Black celebrity. So what is she trying to prove now??? That once that money hit her bank account it was ok to speak up NOW?? That is all im seeing here.

[@504life]

I know right.

[@LuvNippy1]

Quiet as its kept throughout the film I found myself visualizing a lighter skinned actor.🤷🏽 Now I loves me some Chadwick but I just felt like I had to work too hard to visualize Thurgood on the screen. Honestly, I'm angered that we STILL have to address colorism in our community. WS has damaged our syche to the degree that we recognize but don't celebrate our own diversity. Who else comes in hues from milk to midnight? That's the beauty of us.

[@LuvNippy1]

@Djomo Khanasante With due respect the phrase milk to midnight is not WS narrative. It is MY observation of the spectrum of hues people of African descent display. Alabinism (milk) is not a product of WS but a natural mutation. Midnight is self explanatory. It is a phrase I "coined" years ago once I began my quest for greater knowledge of our ancestors.

[@ScorpioSaurus-Rex]

You lost me on this one, that girl said clearly that a “black woman” (meaning she does not consider herself part of the African diaspora) should have played “that exceptional black woman”. I believe in growth but she has stated in many magazine interviews that she is not black. I’m not for letting her or any others have a pass now that it’s popular to support black like we dropped on a Tuesday at midnight. I need to see her actively working for us before that apology means anything.

[@EB-ok3io]

AtTaria Taylor Preach

[@heathertea2704]

YEP.

[@mnice423]

Then and now, I believe Lauryn Hill was the only choice for that role!!!!!!

[@crc5795]

India Arie

[@Gwenesis]

@@crc5795 India Arie indeed, I can see Lauryn Hill too.

[@jesusislord3321]

Viola, India.Irie, Lauren

[@carolrobinson4788]

Zoe Saldana does not get a pass from me. She does Not identify as black. She identifies as 'latina'. The Only reason she seems contrite in this age of cancel culture is because she knows she pissed off black women (Afro-Latina included), who are more of her fan base than she thought 10yrs ago. She has not been in a major motion picture since the Nina Simone movie. She was nasty and unapologetic about taking the role. I have no intention or intrest in supporting anything she does going forward. #SaveTheApoloLIE

[@ScorpioSaurus-Rex]

That movie came out in 2016, she can keep her apology. I whole heartedly agree with what you said. I wouldn’t even want her to play Celia Cruz 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@carolrobinson4788]

@@ScorpioSaurus-Rex it did come out 4 years ago, but she actually had a larger role in the production of the movie. I think the script was introduced to her many years before '16. This is why she said she should have made sure a darker sister played the role.

[@carolrobinson4788]

@@ScorpioSaurus-Rex Also, Dear Black Jesus, dont let Zoe Saldana Ever try to play another Black goddess again Lord. Cause You know how I feel about Celia Cruz (who knew she was black). in the name of everything Salsa, please stop each and every vulture in Hollywood when they culturally appropriate and historically miseducate🙏🏾 Amen

[@ScorpioSaurus-Rex]

multigrooves 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I wish I could go to Santa Cruz or la Cruz Chile 😢 I need the world to open back up.

[@ScorpioSaurus-Rex]

Carol Robinson Im not even Afro Latino and I would be hot as fish grease if she took the role of that PROUD!!! PRO!!! Afro Latina. She much like Nina was a well respected singer and activist for her people. She said a dark skin woman but she first led with she should’ve made sure a “black woman” played the role. If she wanted to work on production from passion great. But since you don’t even consider yourself black why even take the role?

[@anitrahooper5031]

Now I'm curious about Lurie's view on interracial relationships based on which partner is what race... there needs to be a discussion about that, please.

[@emmeanastasia7486]

Actually I think because of the politics of complexion, TM should've been played by a mixed/very light-skinned actor as his appearance likely had something to do with his allowances to push the envelope.

[@mayajewell6911]

I’m glad she addressed this issue, even at this late date. And for me, growth is deeply important, so I’ll take her at her word that she’s in a different place than she was when she signed the contracts ten years ago. It’s still a tough one though. While I enjoy her as an actress, the attitude which came across from her at the time really left a bad taste in my mouth, particularly when paired with things she’d said about her racial identity up to that point. When she said Simone should have been played by a ‘black woman’. Hmm. I’m just not willing to assume that slip was anything but Freudian. That she spoke her true feelings without meaning to. She has yet to earn the benefit of the doubt. This is something over which I kind of argue with myself. On Saldana’s side: it would be unfair to hold her responsible for Hollywood’s obsession with white supremacy. The darker your skin, the less you work. And fewer quality roles are available to you. White actresses almost never have to think of this stuff. I also have to remember that she has become a small economy. A lot of people in her life make money when she does. I don’t know how engaged she was with the social media stuff or the think pieces that were being posted at the time. But you can bet she had people whose livings depended at least to some degree on hers, blowing smoked at her to suit their own ends. The same with everyone who stood to benefit from Sadana’s involvement. And we all tend have difficulty parsing truth when someone we trust is telling us what we want to hear. On the other hand. The family objected. And while it’s unfair to expect so much more of her than a white actress, reality is reality. There is so little decent representation of black women, that every time one of these situations crops up, it feels like a betrayal. My struggles with Saldana are specific to her. Generally, it is unfair and wrong to blame light skinned women for the way whiteness has positioned them in our society. And it’s easy for me to be clear in that, usually. But with Saldana, my sense was that she has never really considered herself a ‘black woman’. Which annoys me. And call me a cynic, but it's interesting to find her speaking up now. The first time in history when being a black woman in this country is considered a good thing. Suddenly Zoe Saldana’s ‘woke’.

[@valkyrie8306]

Or Urhura. Urhura is a Black iconic role. We agree, she should never accepted the role of an African-American icon. Tired of her, Daniel Kaluuya, and Cynthia Erivo. They lack of understanding of how this impacts African-Americans. This a prime example of how we differ.

[@Life_moreabundantly]

So Proud Of Zoe* Thank You Sincerely KH** & Lurie* !!

[@Joe161964]

Sorry....I had issues with both...Chadwick(Thurgood) and Zoe(Nina). Just saying.

[@ah2552]

I just asked this question about Boseman/Marshall and wondered if there was anything said then. I dont remember hearing anything.

[@zodsinclair8500]

Then you should have a Problem with DENZEL , MALCOLM ...X...RED? No complaints there, Why?....because of the class of Actor that Denzel is, same for Chadwick, becuase people don't want Daniel Kaluuya to play Fred Hampton becuase he's british, but they don't realise we have to queue up the best black actors MULTIPLE Times in Our movies, so when the academy short changes them, They come again with _Another 1_ , more black excellence, Denzel isn't mixed, but you can't say he didn't give 1 of the best performances you'd even seen from a person of color in 'Malcolm X' , no woman in the world complained, Chadwick Similarly isn't mixed, as Thurgood & Malcolm Were, but his acting skill, the dedication for James Brown to do splits & dance & sing, learn Martial Arts for Black Panther, These actors are top of the line, YES, there are many Mixed actors that could have played either roles, But are they are they as talented as the very best Denzel, No. So I ask you to Judge a man not by the colour of his sin, but by the calibre of his acting credentials. They called Malcolm X, 'RED NIGGA', they didn't care that he was half white, So support All our people, we are 1, even with those who hate us, Daniel Kaluuya is going to BODY the role of Fred Hampton, he knows what it means, he's been playing meaningful characters all his life, roles for the people, tha culture. I know he will do well! Lakeith Stanfield will BODY the role as the Villan, not because he's a bad man, but because he TOO is an excellent actor that naturally displays his emotions without needing words, with his expressions & actions, fully immerses himself into roles. He will do well, hopefully even in an award as a supporting actor or villain. Letitia Wright, Caribbean Family from Guyana & Britain at the same time, will represent the ladies, Princess Shuri, DJ Rapper Freestyle Extraordinaire, Will Represent with Natural hair, for the Black people of Britain, & their struggles to Fight the Power that opposes them in the movie 'SMALL AXE'. She's been at it, & is going keep supporting & making us proud, & they're going let the youths of the world know, not just the black kids, but all youths will know with tese movies, [ JUDAS &THE BLACK MESSIAH, & SMALL AXE] our REAL HISTORY, across the world, & the Revolution will be Televised, the revolution will be LIVE! #BLACKLIVESMATTER

[@Gwenesis]

Joe, I understand. There seems to be a double standard.

[@sdo917]

Our diversity isn’t that diverse, especially for black women in media. Time and time again, we see black women who are biracial, have thin lips, a small nice, straight hair and light skin. The fact that Zo Saldana was able to play Nina Simone is the best example of this problem

[@c.w.1925]

This is an interesting topic. Will Smith is playing Venus & Serena’s Dad in an upcoming film. The Dad is darker skinned and Will looks nothing like him. I can’t wait to see how he does.

[@jenpollard3962]

C. W. - Delroy Lindo would be good as father.

[@c.w.1925]

Jen Pollard Excellent choice he’s an awesome actor.

[@c.w.1925]

multigrooves That’s a valid point.

[@heathertea2704]

@@jenpollard3962 perfect.

[@kistro452]

As well she should. It was an AWFUL depiction of Ms. Samone. Aesthetically she looked nothing like Nina so the producer's basically had her in black face. RACISM is something that Nina had to fight ALL OF HER LIFE so to have a racially ambiguous looking person to play her was DISRESPECTFUL!! Why not someone like India Arie, she's really a musician , talented and African American. Zoe doesn't have the same understanding of what Ms. Samone's struggles were. She was raised as a Dominican child with a Dominican mother so her mentality is what her Mother's is which is Dominican. What an awful choice for so many reasons. Dominicans are for Dominican and they don't put themselves in the same category as African Americans at all. They stick with there own culture. Sorry but the truth might hurt a few folks..

[@stephdrake2521]

Not only that, she didn’t even use Nina’s real voice which was a huge mistake. Zoe used her own voice over Nina’s beautiful unique voice. So I’m glad she apologized but she was warned not to play her and she did it anyway. In my opinion, Zoe is black when it’s convenient. She is Dominican or Puerto Rican and we should all know that millions of black enslaved people were dropped off to the islands before they came to America. She married a white Italian man ( which he seems very nice and a good fit ) so I’m not mad at that but that shows you where her mind it at. Some people’s trauma is deep and they tend to not want darker skin children because of what they went through in life ... i.e Michael Jackson. Plus in that same interview she talked about how bad it was for her and her sisters being black in Queens New York. Her real father who is / was dark skinned had issues with her mother’s family regarding his complexion. Colorism and racism was introduced by white supremacy and it’s a powerful system. Even if white supremacy goes away, the black community and other non white communities will take centuries to dismantle it. It’s very deep and it was intended to maintain a lifetime caste system. This world sucks and I hope all who have participated in this evil system receive the same treatment in another life form. Plz love who you are and study history. No one can take your education away from you. Dr. Frances Cress Welsing said it best “ reading is far more important than watching Television.” So read more and use what you’ve learned to navigate the world and make it better.

[@Gwenesis]

Stephanie Drake, you said it!

[@Missy714]

Regarding Casting: We need to weigh shared-experience more & cast actors/actresses based on their ability to both sell it & tap into shared-experience whenever possible. These persons depicted actually lived and deserve more than playwright/fictional character casting.

[@jolivettejanderson-douonin3698]

Thank you.

[@sussexlve8431]

I like to explain to the sweet young one Zoe... She is black but baby girl they put a prosthetic nose and dark skinned it is an experience you did not have. And skin darkeners were insulting !!!! That was the point baby sister.

[@terria.mccurdy9190]

thank u 4 sharng ths... terri a.

[@jenpollard3962]

Viola Davis would’ve been perfect!

[@mrsx7944]

She was too old then.

[@looknn]

I lasted all of ten seconds into this movie. I still love Zoe and I for one appreciate her apology.

[@barringtonsmith9147]

From 2016 to 2026 is "ten years" we are not even in 2023 yet

[@debbieturner224]

British actress Michaela Coel from Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You would be perfect.

[@Gwenesis]

debbie turner, oh yeah, she does favor Nina. Chewing Gum was a mess.

[@DiamondInTheRoughA1]

Ashe! Well said👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@racqynathiri856]

I think it’s very important to listen when celebrities speak. We shouldn’t put words in their mouth and say “I think she meant...... when she said” She meant everything exactly the way she said it. I will never forget what she did. She is a shallow and disrespectful person; because I can tell you; she would not have taken the ROLE if it was for free. She is doing this because she is blacklisted, and has lost alot of her prestige as an actress in hollywood. I will never forget what she did. She is a GROWN woman who should’ve known better than to take on that ROLE. She knew better ACTORS who would’ve been better suited to play the role. and the worst line is “I loved her music” Nina as a symbolic historical figure is more than her music. Her music only shows the power of the Black non-conformist woman she was.

[@ScorpioSaurus-Rex]

Whew Chile speak on it. people act like this movie didn’t come out in 2016 and as though she was 18 when she took it. I see the dark skin man playing a light skin man coming up in a lot of these comments. Chadwick and TM are both American born descendants of enslaved people and Chadwick was asked by the family to play that role. Ole girl on the other hand has said several times that she wasn’t black, never has a black love interest and nobody but a white casting lady wanted her to play this part. We have got to stop with these people who do not claim black and don’t support our communities 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@monicasuzette]

I agree with Denzel where he says Culture is extremely important..The role calls for someone who is not only dark skinned like Nina but of the same Culture or Lineage. And you all dont do the conversation justice by not mentioning lineage and culture. #LineageMatters ...

[@_JONGFIRE]

5:30 Interesting. So you don't have a problem with BW with WM as you do BM with WW even though both relationships are interracial. It's complicated right....

[@1hotshon]

She also mentioned the power dynamic issue which is similar to White privilege, we're fed a constant image of Black men with "exotic" women in so many spaces. The BW/WM combo just levels the field. It's an unfortunate repercussion of colorism that might go away once we collectively protect and value one another.

[@1hotshon]

@@OfficialEmeraldJade lol, that's not true..we have a tinge of European, like Spain. We checked a few years back and our family DNA is still mostly representing Nigeria (88%) after all of these generations.

[@1hotshon]

@@OfficialEmeraldJade to ignore colorism is to ignore the racism we've been protesting all summer or to ignore the misogyny that led to the MeToo protests a couple of years ago. I'm a VERY Brown girl and my lived experience dealing with colorism isn't make believe. The Black Woman Sketch show on HBO did an excellent parody of how some black women would make perfect spies because we're basically invisible and you just erased a whole lot of women's lived experience with that comment.

[@1hotshon]

@@OfficialEmeraldJade1) tinge doesn't mean biracial seeing as bi means 2 and many Black Americans are mixed with many cultures (there is only one race). 2) Lighter complexion privileges (colorism) occur in many cultures from Latinx, to South and East Asia as well as in the US. Since you're not ready to acknowledge that colorism exists, just like racism, sexism, etc, there isn't going to be any value in continuing the convo.

[@1hotshon]

@@OfficialEmeraldJade at no point did I exert authority over you... Overall you're incorrect and completely misinterpreting my statement. You may speak for yourself but apparently you telling ME I'm biracial is ok... Where does that make sense??? I've already explained why you're incorrect. "Tinge" was my reference to my cultural admixture...more than two... I'm saying cultures because again there is only one race and the term "exotic" in my initial comment IS COLORISM and you just didn't understand. Calling all Black Americans biracial is absolutely, unequivocally a fallacy ✌🏾. The prefix should be clear... Your not being able to receive information is on you but I know my educational background and actual career.

[@tkhachi]

Colorism must be dismantled! Zoe had plenty of time to back out and she didn't. It's only now that it's reckoning and accountability time in 🇺🇸 that she felt she had to say something. Disingenuous af but hopefully her words have started a larger conversation on colorism. It would be nice if she actually took the time to really understand it though. Such a giant star like her could reach a lot of people.

[@GaryTisdaleFungkSta1]

She was humming the old Steve Miller tune "Go On Take The Money And Run"... I jolapize... I swear I jolapize

[@mrp6906]

WE MUST SEE VALUE IN OUR SELVES!

[@ljkhytrfcgiuihjl]

Viola Davis would have been fabulous! 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@mscarter624]

Michaela Coel would have made a great Nina Simone.

[@terrymurray1959]

u damn right. so would Fantasia Barrino.

[@Gwenesis]

@@terrymurray1959 yeah, Fantasia and India Arie.

[@barkow4648]

I watched about 30+ minutes, after that I had to stop...very disappointing. I'm a boomer and have a Nina CD still playing in my Sony Boom Box in 2020! (imo) Zoe Saldana doesn't have the depth or range as an actor to make us believe she is Nina Simone. Any highly skilled, studied or naturally gifted, actor/artist/musician/entertainer has to be "believed". Her lack of authenticity came through and I think that's because she knew the role was too large for her. She seemed uncomfortable or maybe I was uncomfortable for her. Kerry W., Viola D., Denzel, Sam L Jackson, they made us believe. Andre 3000 made us believe he was Jimi Hendrix, Denzel made us believe he was the jailed boxer Hurricane Carter and Malcolm X, Diana Ross made us believe she was Billie Holiday, Angela Bassett/Tina Turner, Jamie Fox/Ray Charles, Leon/David Ruffin etc. I don't think its entirely the skin color of an actor but in ZS case its that and her lack of richness; she was possibly looking to change lanes but she's not that kind of actor she should've studied longer before accepting that huge iconic role for a biopic film. A better choice would have been India Arie, Queen Latifah, Monique or even Jil Scott. Or Leslie Jones because she does pretty exact 'characterizations' of people. Hopefully someone will do a Nina project so we can all recover from that one. Paging Ms. Ava DuVernay if you're listening....

[@reppinseattle7974]

Halle Berry should not have been Storm. Period.

[@KarenHunterShow]

storm was NOT a REAL person. Nina Simone was.

[@reppinseattle7974]

@@KarenHunterShow missing the point. The argument was about colorism. No Marvel comic portrays her as light skinned, yet both actresses that played her ( Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp) were.

[@KarenHunterShow]

@@reppinseattle7974 not missed at all. Storm can be whatever...she's not real. But I hear you. And Halle ain't the lightest.

[@el_covfefe]

Are we going to revisit this conversation with Jill Scott playing Mahalia Jackson?

[@KarenHunterShow]

that would work...Jill would smash that role...and she can actually sing, unlike Zoe.

[@nwananka]

We here talking about this when everything Hollywood does about Egypt till tomorrow is played by white actors.

[@RoughStoneRollingLapidary]

So much insane hypocrisy in this video is crazy.

[@damondickson6382]

It's not complicated...its hypocritical

[@os3734]

I have to push back of being hypocritical being hidden under the umbrella of "it's complicated". What made the Nina Simone/ Zoe Saldana situation worse was the movie was horrible. Denzel playing Malcolm and Chadwick playing Marshall, on the surface was just as problematic. I remember vividly the discussion that Spike should have selected Lawrence Fishburne on the aspect of he was talented but he looked more like Malcolm than Denzel. What made it acceptable is that Denzel acted his behind off and made us see Malcolm, not Denzel. As far as Marshall, it was Justice Marshall's family who wanted him to play the role. Chadwick himself said he was hesitant because lets be frank, he does not look like Thurgood Marshall. If the Nina Simone movie had actually been good, Zoe had executed a memorable performance, and the family also supported her casting, we are having a different conversation. However, once again, saying its complicated to cover hypocrisy is lazy

[@williambenion2887]

I would like to see British actor, Michaela Coel, portray Nina Simone. She has the talent and aesthetic beauty that resembles the image of Nina.

[@cherylbass8523]

Hollywood will give you 50 different takes on a movie. For examples. spiderman to Mandela. Zoe has the power to put together her own project. Look at Tom Hanks and space. If you get the in, kick the door open.

[@humanforotherhumans]

They were taking about Chadwick a week before his death.

[@Kamala_b]

The woman who was in Pariah. Can't think of her name.

[@louise-yo7kz]

There's still so much pain and anger within the Black community. A lot of Black women are jealous of each other. Darker skinned Black women resent light skinned Black women. 🤦🏾‍♀️. Also FBAs are mad AF if an immigrant (Zoe) plays a black icon.

[@wiggywil]

REGINA KING WOULD HAVE GOTTEN AN OSCAR!!!

[@deerocker6987]

She is an opportunist. What a disappoinment. Not everyone can be as solid as Dave Chappelle.

[@AllEnemiesForeign_AndDomestic]

Hollywood does this all the time. Instead of hiring the actor that fits the part they choose those who have already been selected to have the big careers. Like Karen said she was privileged from the door, but not for the reasons Karen may think it could be she signed the contract and gets the good parts. Who knows but what we do know is there are hundreds of thousands of talented people it’s not a competition for the best, the ones who are famous are selected and pushed and controlled and told what to say.

[@normajeaneason6983]

Another apology. This makes me sad. Diana Ross played Billie Holiday and should have won the oscar. Chadwick Boseman played Thurgood Marshall. I dont agree with the opinion at all. The sister that played Harriet Tubman looks nothing like Harriet. Here goes the shade again. What if you physically other than shade don't look like the person? Denzel Washington was robbed for Malcolm X and Playing and Ruben Carter

[@SceneComparisons]

but these actors didn't painted themselves to look darker. also, Zoe used prosthethics to look uglier, in an attempt to look more like Nina. also the movie is truly awful, a disrespect to Nina. did you watch the movie?

[@normajeaneason6983]

@@SceneComparisons I get that. My point is if the acting is there, it doesn't matter about looks. She should never have altered her appearance. Your point is well taken

[@reliableandrew]

@@SceneComparisons You're sort of suggesting that Nina is 'ugly' by the way...prosthetics are used to look different, not 'ugly'...whoops.

[@SceneComparisons]

@@reliableandrew sorry, I didn't mean that. I mean that the filmmakers thought that Nina was uglier than Zoe, so she had to use prosthetics to look like that. Zoe didn't need prosthetics or to make her skin darker. A good performance in a good movie would be more than enough.

[@reliableandrew]

@@SceneComparisons Understood bub, I know you didn't mean that / wasn't your intention, peace.

[@leebutler926]

The powers that be thought that She could play that role , not everybody can play everybody. what's astonishing to me they have Viola Davis and she was available and they totally overlooked her or if not they could have picked an another actress I just didn't see that she fit that role personal. whoever that casting director is should have been fired. Clearly she was not the right person for the role they should have detected a on the screenshots or trailers movie should have been can from the beginning they should have scrapped it and pick someone else.

[@natty.roots.423]

The movie's portrayal was FUCKERY! TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE MOVIE! To be young gifted and BLACK!

[@tarekaellis438]

No ms. Saldana was not the best choice to portray MS. Nina Simone.

[@ah2552]

Did anyone say anything about Chadwick Boseman playing Thurgood Marshall? I'm not being funny but a serious question.

[@KarenHunterShow]

i don't recall if there was a backlash. I had a reaction until I saw the movie. He did a great job.

[@saruslove]

​@@KarenHunterShow Ms. Hunter, please accept my apology for reaching out to you in this post, but I have no other way to possibly make contact with you. I'm reaching out to you to ask if you would consider having Dr. Claud Anderson on your show. Mr. Anderson I think would make an informative, interesting and enlightening show. Mr. Anderson has receipts as far as what he has tried to do for the community. He is not in the best of health and he will even say himself, he doesn't have much time left. I don't want to keep babbling on, at least check out his last interview on youtube titled; Dr Claud Anderson on Kanye West, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWG1h62npat7jNk So again, please or forgive me for coming at you in this post. I love you and i love your show and tell everyone to listen to you and your journey to uplift the community

[@KarenHunterShow]

@@saruslove why not enjoy Dr. Anderson in his space and enjoy whatever I choose to offer in this space? Please stop requesting that I do anything different than what I am ordained to do here. There is plenty of content on KZbin...I am certain you can get your fill of whomever you like somewhere in these youtube streets.

[@saruslove]

@@KarenHunterShow Thanks for your reply, your no request zone is duly noted. This is my first and only request, I had no idea you weren't open to a mere request, but as I said duly noted. Again, I apologize if I broke the topic flow of this video.

[@KarenHunterShow]

@@saruslove no worries...let's just learn to enjoy what people offer and not try to add ingredients to something that's already tasty.

[@humanforotherhumans]

What about black women who wear brown women hair?

[@TrulyMademoizelle]

People don't talk about the way colorism affects light skin men. Dark skinned men are put in place of light skin men to serve a purpose. The intention is to make the black mans character seen as black as possible when they cast dark skin men. Chadwick had a good performance in Marshall but he was more replaceable than Denzel in Malcolm X. They do the same thing with dark women if the character's purpose is to be pro black. (Hence the face of BLM being dark skinned women). Studios act like DSBW and LSBM don't exist.

[@firstsun2646]

All she had to do was turning down the role...but she took the money though. What an hypocrite.

[@carmeliaballoulamilandou4117]

I don't agree, Zoe is black, she has the same complexion as Nina Simone's daughter, so you are telling me that her daughter couldn't be cast for the role, by the way she did a very good job like oscar worthy performance.

[@nandib570]

You must not know. The full truth. Zoe S used "make up" to darken her skin for that role. They (production) and she also had a fake nose made to allegedly replicate the same natural features as Nina. Insulting. She didnt p,at Nina she characterized her. It's not ok to do those things. People were vocal about how disrespectful it would be. Zoe S was INDIGNANT in her response to that at the time as well.

[@danilakassels431]

If Zoe respected Nina she would have do the research and would have understand and find out why she(Zoe) as she is could never ever played this role!!! These crocodile tears are a little to late!!! How the hell she thought that this would be oké.....???

[@PHILLIPS8822]

She's a black woman (so she says) but goes out of her way to date white boys.

[@letholamokhesi1253]

But She took the part. She knew what Nina Simone looked like prior to accepting the role. She got the bag and after the fact She has regrets.?🤔What difference does it make now. Black people are being played all the time.

[@princessladymstia3979]

I enjoyed her in the role. But they are many women of color in that Industry that look more like Nina and have the talent.

[@shawnshell5961]

Y’all, we are going off the deep end into triviality. We have come a long way since School Daze, but there is more to go but I’m afraid we sound more like white liberals.

[@martineli312]

She figured since she played a green woman then shot I can play a black woman.🤨

[@coquijean]

Im indifferent about Zoe Saldana playing the role of Nina Simone but I will say that ((Macy Gray🔥) ) would have been a More interesting an closer fit in portraying Nina, Shes innately eccentric an hasa slightly unconventional behavior, I think She could verrry easily bring out all of Nina' quiet, loud, creative moments into character...(in my humble opinion) Macy gives more of the Beautiful Strange feeling of Nina💕

[@vesalius9949]

I didn't know anything about this. Who's Nina Simmons? Zoe's black as a freight-Black's see and hear differently; I think Hollywood should just leave black people alone and just let Black's do black like that madea dude and Spike Lee or those two brothers' directors...

[@Born2BFly]

I personally didn’t like Chadwick Boseman as James Brown...his look (the whole thing) was a total distraction to me. One could say the same regarding Denzel’s portrayal of Malcom. BUT, one quickly gets over it because Denzel TRANSCENDS himself. He is no Longer Denzel...he IS Malcom. Which is the actors job and his pleasure. I didn’t see Zoe’s portrayal so I won’t comment on that. But, to play devils advocate, sometimes (hopefully most of the time) an actor wants the opportunity to transcend themselves as artist and I think, agreeing to play Nina was for her an opportunity to do so. And, an opportunity of a lifetime to play a powerful women inside and out. Unfortunately, an actor in pursuit of that experience can’t get caught up with who gets triggered by their performance. Hindsight is always 20/20 and we grow from our mistakes. I don’t think she should have apologized, unless of course she missed the mark miserably and feels haunted by it. Do you remember when Charlize Theron played a mass murderer in Monster ( she won an Oscar for it). She went through a complete physical transformation for that role. Charlize looked nothing like that white woman. That woman was hideous looking. On top of it, Charlize is South African. Regardless, she played the F out of that part. And that should be the ONLY requirement. But, I do agree with the assertion that central to Nina Simones story IS her being a dark skinned woman with an obvious African phenotype. However, she was much more than a phenotype. And, every actor must bring nuance and deep understanding to character.

[@Gwenesis]

@multigrooves I agree with you regarding Zoe. And while I'm at it, CT has no range, imo, she is monster. So, no acting required.

[@arguingwithstupidpeople2047]

WTF? I've seen Zoe play a blue woman.

[@natty.roots.423]

REMAKE THE DAMN MOVIE!

[@joycelong8824]

At the end of the day we are all black light skin red bones even the ones that is born into interracial relationships and until We as a people come to terms with that we will never come together and that is sad because together we stand divided we fall and believe me we’re going to need each other before it’s over and The longer it takes to come together the long as you’re going to go today and I know that there’s a lot of people out there I don’t believe in Jesus but at the end of the day God Told us what we have to do before he will hear us I just paid people wake up before it’s too late

[@TheOneThatGotAwayRMAPLS]

Zoe Saldana is A great Actress just a great as Viola, Halle, Angela

[@nico7scott]

Was just taking about Chad.

[@auspiciousj]

Why?🤔🤷🏿

[@Born2BFly]

Just watched it...and it’s bad writing and directing. Saldana is not atrocious...but too young to play Nina. And the make up is only problematic because it’s not consistent and cannot make up for her obvious youth. The film is conceptually bad. No complexity and not because of Saldana’s performance but because of poor writing. I would imagine that other actresses passed on the script and Saldana looked at it as a great opportunity that she apparently now regrets. You live and learn.

[@gicee7242]

Nope Karen, she knew what was up, she saw the money!!!!!!!

[@cbtusk1]

Leslie Jones would have been great in that role.

[@parnellspeed5755]

I believe Zoe's apology was genuine but her word choice in that apology does indicate she has more growing to do. That said, now that she's bought the plantation she was born on, Viola Davis needs to play herself in her own biography now. She's the only actor gifted and chocolate enough to do the role justice. If someone tries to play her after she's gone, that actor will too need to apologize. My two cents.

[@engaginglifesmoments7657]

She didn’t buy the plantation, she was implying that she bought her “own story “ from where she was born. She clarified that statement yesterday.

[@hoyoopaapELa1546]

I thought she did a great job^ im surprised she feels that way also we aint black we are Aboriginal Americans( copper people ^ quit stirring the pot of ignorance

[@talethaforte4903]

I don't forgive her

[@JudgeDredd_]

I’m off Zoe breh