Popular movie star Will Smith has sparked a major debate over skin colour after taking up a lead role in an upcoming movie.
The upcoming biopic is about the father of Serena and Venus Williams. Smith is playing the role of Richard Williams, 77 who coached his daughters into stardom.
Richard Williams at the beginning didn’t have any knowledge about the tennis game but trained his daughters to become two of the world’s greatest tennis players ever.
Will Smith has been announced as the person playing the lead role in the movie but critics say his skin colour is lighter.
Richard Williams the character Smith is portraying rather has a dark skin colour. Smith has not reacted to the criticisms just yet.
There are many who say dark-skinned people continue to suffer discrimination while those with lighter skin gain fovours.
Reactions to the story
There have been many reactions to the development on social media.
Colorism matters..love will Smith but there are other black actors for this role https://t.co/qrV1QuBiJH
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) March 5, 2019
I’ll take David Harewood for the win! pic.twitter.com/F6YkkpLKCm
— Brian Perry (@Road2Oscars) March 5, 2019
So it seems like Will’s production team is involved. Maybe we need to have a discussion on some actors using their production companies to wrongly cast themselves in roles they know they shouldn’t be playing.
— Okoye’s Wig (@ABitOfKwansLife) March 5, 2019
Richard roundtree would’ve been a great pick pic.twitter.com/7HAJtrVoUL
— doe (@eye_tease) March 5, 2019
I don’t have a problem with them doing a film about Dad. he’s a big part of how the sisters became who they are today. But…err um…I curr more bout the colorism issue…nah Will come on…smh
I tell ya what though, the actors who play Venus and Serena BETTER be dark skinned!
— #ListenToBlackWomenKamalaHarris2020 (@psddluva4evah) March 4, 2019
How is will smith playing a black man inappropriate??
— FuntCase | DPMO (@FuntCaseUK) March 5, 2019
Ha! So even black people face criticism for whitewashing if they arent black enough. Whitewashing is an issue sure but now people need to be the exact, precise shade of black/skin colour?
— Simmonds91 (@Simmonds91R) March 5, 2019
Source: Africafeeds.com
