Netflix has come under fire at the hands of Egyptian authorities over their portrayal of Queen Cleopatra. The casting of a Black actress to play Cleopatra in Netflix’s “Queen Cleopatra” docudrama has continued to stir debates. Adele James, who plays the lead role, has responded to the accusations made by Egyptian authorities. She stated that the criticism she received is fundamentally racist.
Furthermore, she emphasized that the show is about more than the question mark over Cleopatra’s race. She pointed out that the fullness of who Cleopatra was as a human being should not be reduced to her race. Adele’s co-star, John Partridge, defended the casting choice. He said that they are actors and sometimes their morality gets called into play.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities continues to argue his case. He claims that the documentary nature of the feature requires accuracy and reliance on historical and scientific facts. They claimed that Cleopatra’s appearance would have been light-skinned due to her Macedonian origins, as confirmed by anthropology studies and DNA studies conducted on mummies and bones.
A complaint has also been filed with the public prosecutor in Egypt, demanding that necessary legal measures be taken to block access to Netflix.
