Idris Elba Weighs In On The Debate If Black British Actors Are Taking Roles Away From African American Actors: It’s Acting, Cultural Appropriation, No

Idris Elba

Idris Elba Weighs In On The Debate If Black British Actors Are Taking Roles Away From African American Actors: It’s Acting, Cultural Appropriation, No

Idris Elba is fed up with the new debate on Black British Actors being cast in American roles.

Idris Elba

Reports state that the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” features actress Naomi Ackie playing the late legendary singer. This casting brought back the debate over Black British actors taking roles away from Black American actors. In a recent interview, actor Idris Elba went against the claim that Black British actors are taking roles away from African American actors. Idris Elba said:

“You know what I noticed? You said Black women in America versus an English woman.” 

The 49-year-old  continued:

“Like being English makes you less Black? To me, that defines how unintelligent the argument is. No disrespect to anyone who has that feeling, it is what it is.”

The London native added:

“The fact is: we’re all Black. You get a Scottish actor playing an Irish character or an English actor — you don’t hear about a debate. But amongst ourselves we want to point fingers because we come from a conditioning that makes people just make sure ‘where’re you from?’ and ‘are you authentic from where you’re from? How Black are you?’ And it comes down to the caste system and it’s annoying to me, really annoying.”

Elba shared:

“My grandfather fought the second World War for this country, the U.S. [He] comes from Kansas City. I come to this country and someone says to me ‘you ain’t American’ and I’m like, ‘huh?’ How dare you. It’s acting. Cultural appropriation, no. That’s definitely something we should pay attention to. But in the acting profession, one should be allowed to play.”

This debate seemingly started back in 2017 when Samuel L. Jackson called out Daniel Kaluuya for his Oscar-winning lead role in “Get Out.” Actor Samuel L Jackson said:

“I tend to wonder what that movie would have been with an American brother who really feels that.” 

Samuel L. Jackson

What are your thoughts on Idris Elba’s reactions to the debate about Black British actors “taking all of the American acting roles”? Tell us in the comment section below. 

[VIA]