Lupita Nyong’o Faces Backlash After Saying Her ‘Us’ Voice Was Inspired By Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Condition [VIDEO]

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o Faces Backlash After Saying Her ‘Us’ Voice Was Inspired By Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Condition [VIDEO]

The world is still in awe at Jordan Peele’s new film Us, starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o. The film made history at the box-office, becoming the first original horror film to have a $70+ million dollar opening weekend, and thrilling audiences with its unique, truly terrifying story.

Nyong’o has been making the press rounds to promote the film, and recently opened up about the inspiration for the creepy voice she used—but some people are not happy at who it is.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental attorney, author, activist and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, suffers from a condition known as spasmodic dysphonia, which is a vocal disorder that makes one’s speech scratchy and their voice quiver. Nyong’o has repeatedly admitted that the condition, and specifically Kennedy Jr., was the inspiration for the voice she used for one of her characters in Us, named Red.

After her admission, some were offended by what she said—and a backlash of sorts ensued. It was so talked about, that Nyong’o addressed during a recent appearance on the daytime talk show The View.

When asked about people questioning her inspiration for the voice, Nyong’o replied:

“In my process of exploring things as Red, I happened to hear Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speak at an event that I attended. And his voice and the condition that he has became the catalyst to my creative process. And it was my “in” and part of my creative research included laryngeal fractures and vocal cord hemorrhages and my own experience with vocal injury. In mentioning spasmodic dysphonia, I may have been disproportionate to what it actually is in the film.”

She continued adding that she understands the backlash:

“I understand that, it’s a very marginal group of people who suffers from this. The thought that I would, in a way, offend them, is not my intention. In my mind, I wasn’t interested in vilifying or demonizing the condition. I crafted Red with love and care, so as much as it is in a very genre-specific world, I really wanted to ground her in something that felt real. And for all that, I say sorry to anyone I may have offended.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also responded to Nyong’o himself on social media, writing:

“Not sure what to make of this honor. Is it a good thing?”

You can check out the FULL clip of her interview BELOW:

Are you surprised Lupita faced backlash for her comments? Let us know in the comments!