Sony Producer: Denzel Washington Shouldn’t Star in Films Because He’s Black [More Email Leaks!]

Viola Davis, Denzel Washington

In an email to Sony Pictures Chairman Michael Lynton, he states:

He’s reliable at the domestic [box office], safe, but has not had a huge success in years….I believe that the international motion picture audience is racist — in general pictures with an African-American lead don’t play well overseas.

The producer ads:

I believe that the international motion picture audience is racist — in general pictures with an African American lead don’t play well overseas. But Sony sometimes seems to disregard that a picture must work well internationally to both maximize returns and reduce risk, especially pics with decent size budgets.

Reportedly, “The Equalizer” made an impressive $191 million worldwide, but only 47 percent of that gross came from overseas. The producer noted that a much higher percentage, closer to 65 percent, of a blockbuster’s gross should be earned overseas. Denzel has yet to comment. [Radar Online, Page Six]

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