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The recent confirmation that Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o will play Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's self-penned and directed Greek epic, "The Odyssey," has ignited a firestorm of online criticism. Detractors, including Elon Musk, have accused Nolan of deliberately "blackwashing" the historically white character.
This isn't the first time Musk has taken aim at the film's casting. Back in early February, when Nyong'o's involvement was still a rumor, Musk bluntly stated that "Christopher Nolan has lost his integrity."
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh weighed in on X, writing that "no one on earth sincerely believes that Lupita Nyong'o is the 'most beautiful woman in the world.'" He argued that Nolan was aware he would be accused of racism if he cast a white woman for the role, calling the director "talented, but also spineless." Musk co-signed the post with a simple reply: "True."
Others have speculated that Nolan's casting choice was a strategic move to meet the Academy Awards' diversity and inclusion standards for Best Picture contention. These rules require nominated films to feature at least one non-white or LGBTQ+ actor in a lead or significant role, have at least 30% of secondary roles filled by underrepresented groups, or have at least two department heads from these groups. Musk also replied "True" to a post making this claim.
In a response to a Variety article covering his statements, Musk doubled down on his criticism of Nolan. "Christopher Nolan is pissing on the grave of Homer (creator of The Odyssey) and deeply insulting the Greek people," Musk wrote on X. "Shameless."