The casting of Adele James, a Black actress, as Cleopatra in Netflix’s upcoming series “Queen Cleopatra“, has sparked controversy in Egypt. The trailer of the upcoming series claims that Cleopatra was Black with curly hair, which officials in Cairo have dismissed as a “blatant historical fallacy.”
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities argue that the feature requires accuracy. Since it is of a documentary nature, it should rely on historical and scientific facts. Dr Mustafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Archeology, called the appearance of the late Queen in the series –
“a falsification of Egyptian history and a blatant historical misconception.”
The Ministry also attached images of artefacts and coins with Cleopatra’s depiction. They did this to prove that she had Hellenic features, including a light complexion, a drawn nose, and fluffy lips. An Egyptian lawyer has filed a case with the public prosecutor demanding that Netflix be shut down.
