Last week was a blur with everyone giving their two cents on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Some white actors paid the intent behind the hashtag and suggested that the statement is “racist towards whites.” To no avail, it’s now being reported that Joseph Fiennes has been cast in the new movie, “Escape From Paris,” as Michael Jackson. *side-eye* It’s described as a “tongue-in-cheek” movie about how The King of Pop, Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor fled New York City during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Vanity Fair:

“Michael Jackson was in New York, where he’d just given two concerts, on the 7th and 10th of September, at Madison Square Garden, to which he had brought two of his closest friends and idols: Marlon Brando and Elizabeth. His original idea had been for them to sit onstage like two great Easter Island figureheads flanking the show, but instead they sat in the audience. All three found themselves trapped in the city after the Twin Towers fell. Michael had gotten a call from friends in Saudi Arabia who warned that America was under attack. He hollered down the hallway of his HOTEL FOR everyone in his entourage, and for Brando, to leave immediately.”

Fiennes primarily described his portrayal as a “challenge” but wouldn’t you think? Let us not mistake Michael’s loss of skin pigment for a loss of blackness. There’s an element of our culture, which Michael possessed, that you can’t leave out and that is why people are outraged that this story is already starting off on the wrong foot. Have we not been witnessing the Oscars getting ripped for its blatant lack of diversity on social media since last week? Producers casted him in December so they should know that this merriment could become problematic later on. Perhaps color doesn’t really matter, but for goodness sake, let the visual match the facts. Rather, don’t leave any of the facts out!

Let’s chat, Roommates!

TSR Staff: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!

Source Cited: http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jan/26/joseph-fiennes-michael-jackson-9-11-road-trip-sky-arts