Lupita Nyong’o Responds to Controversy Surrounding ‘The Odyssey’ Casting
Lupita Nyong’o has addressed the criticism from conservatives such as Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk regarding her role as Helen of Troy in The Odyssey.
“I fully support [director Christopher Nolan’s] vision for [the film] and the interpretation he aims to present. Our cast reflects the diversity of the world,” the Oscar-winning actress, 43, stated in an interview with Elle published on Thursday, May 21. “I’m not dedicating my energy to crafting a defense. Criticism will always be present, regardless of my engagement.”
Nolan’s adaptation is based on the ancient Greek epic by Homer, in which Helen of Troy is characterized as the world’s most beautiful woman. The film boasts a stellar ensemble, including Zendaya as the goddess Athena, Matt Damon as the valiant Odysseus, and Tom Holland as his son Telemachus, along with Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, and Elliot Page in various mythological roles.
Musk, 54, first criticized the film’s diverse casting in January when he objected via X that “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.” More recently, Musk supported conservative commentator Matt Walsh, who claimed that “not one person on this planet genuinely believes that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world.’”
“Christopher Nolan knows that he would face accusations of racism if he cast a white woman as ‘the most beautiful woman,’” Walsh asserted on May 12. “Nolan is undeniably talented but also a coward, too scared to challenge the current narrative.”
Musk responded, “True.”
That week, Musk accused Nolan of “desecrating Homer” through his multiracial casting strategy.
“[Nolan] will never escape this,” Musk predicted via X on May 15.
The tech billionaire’s discontent with The Odyssey escalated on Friday, May 22, when he claimed Nolan to be “an anti-White racist.”
Us Weekly has reached out to Nolan’s representatives for a statement.
Trump, 48, expressed similar criticisms, posting a meme on Saturday, May 16, that compared Nolan’s adaptation to the 2004 film Troy, which featured white actors Brad Pitt and Diane Kruger. Trump notably criticized the casting choices of Nyong’o and trans actor Page in Nolan’s The Odyssey.
“Perhaps someday Hollywood will stop forcing this nonsense upon us,” he lamented.
In the face of the backlash, Nyong’o reminded Elle that The Odyssey is “a mythological tale,” not a literal historical account.
“This industry is driven by commerce rather than creativity. The commercial aspect often lacks imagination,” she emphasized. “Thus, the existing lack of creativity is further complicated by racial issues.”
Nolan briefly touched on the casting controversy of The Odyssey earlier this month, comparing his approach to that of his 2014 groundbreaking film, Interstellar.
“For Interstellar, you consider, ‘What is the best interpretation of the future?’ Similarly, when exploring the ancient past, it’s about asking, ‘What is the best interpretation, and how can that inform the world we create?’” Nolan explained to Time on May 14.
The two-time Oscar winner concluded, “I hope audiences appreciate the film, even if they don’t agree with every choice. We received a lot of critiques about Interstellar as well. But it’s important to me that people understand the thoughtfulness behind our decisions.”
The Odyssey premieres on July 17.
