Lupita Nyong’o Responds to Racist Backlash Over Her Casting as Helen of Troy in ‘The Odyssey’
Lupita Nyong’o is speaking out after facing a wave of online backlash over her role in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey.
In the film, Nyong’o plays Helen of Troy, one of the most famous figures in Greek mythology. Helen is often described as the most beautiful woman in the world, and her story is linked to the start of the Trojan War after she left Sparta with Paris of Troy.
The casting sparked strong reactions online. Some commentators criticized the choice of Nyong’o for the role, including writer Matt Walsh, who said, “not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’” and also called director Christopher Nolan a “coward” for the casting decision. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also reacted, agreeing with the criticism and suggesting Nolan made the choice for awards-related reasons.
The backlash quickly spread across social media and led to heated debates about casting, mythology, and representation in big-budget films.
Nyong’o responded to the criticism in an interview with Elle, where she spoke calmly about the situation and focused on the creative side of the project.
She said, “This is a mythological story,” and explained that she supports Nolan’s vision for the film. She added, “I’m very supportive of Chris’ intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”
Nyong’o also talked about how she approaches the role of Helen. Instead of focusing on physical appearance, she said she is more interested in the character’s deeper meaning.
She said, “You can’t perform beauty,” and explained that she tries to understand who the character really is beyond looks. She added, “I want to know who a character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks? That’s the thing about doing such a well-known text, which has been studied and interpreted and derived from. The research could be endless.”
The film Universal Pictures is producing is a large-scale adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem. It is directed by Christopher Nolan and features a major ensemble cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Zendaya as Athena, and Charlize Theron as Calypso.
Nyong’o’s comments also touched on the broader casting approach of the film. She said the production reflects a wide and global cast, and she sees that as part of the story’s scale and ambition.
She said, “It’s quite something to be a part of ‘The Odyssey,’ because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time.”
Other cast members have also faced online criticism, including Elliot Page and musician Travis Scott, who both appear in undisclosed roles.
Despite the controversy, filming on the project has already wrapped, and the movie remains one of the most anticipated releases in Hollywood. The discussions around Nyong’o’s casting have continued online, but she has made it clear she is focusing on the work itself rather than the backlash.
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