Zoe Saldana is under harsh fire for playing the part of Nina Simone in an upcoming film about the musician and activist. Simone’s family doesn’t like that Zoe Saldana wears a prosthetic nose and blackface while playing the role.
Nina Simone's family 'heartbroken' over Saldana's portrayal of singer in new biopic https://t.co/j1zrA366kL pic.twitter.com/aZ7l7OMceL
— Indy Film (@TheIndyFilm) March 3, 2016
Saldana took to Twitter on Wednesday in light of the criticism she is receiving. She quoted Nina Simone.
"I'll tell you what freedom is to me- No Fear… I mean really, no fear." #NinaSimone
— Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) March 2, 2016
An official Twitter account for the late Nina Simone fired back at Zoe Saldana’s tweet.
.@zoesaldana Cool story but please take Nina's name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.
— Nina Simone (@NinaSimoneMusic) March 3, 2016
A few hours later the account shared another tweet.
Hopefully people begin to understand this is painful. Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, nauseating, soul-crushing. It shall pass, but for now…
— Nina Simone (@NinaSimoneMusic) March 3, 2016
Zoe Saldana first drew criticism from Simone’s family in 2012, when she was cast in the role. Many believed the role should be played by a dark-skinned actress. Saldana is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent.
Saldana herself once questioned if she should portray Nina Simone.
In this powerful piece, @jonubian explains the outrage of Zoe Saldana playing Nina Simone: https://t.co/sa6PhKahFj pic.twitter.com/2sWQ5oj80L
— EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONYMag) March 3, 2016
“I didn’t think I was right for the part, and I know a lot people will agree, but then again, I don’t think Elizabeth Taylor was right for Cleopatra either,” she said during a June 2015 interview with InStyle.
In 2013, Nina Simone’s daughter, Simone Kelly, said this about her late mother–and about the choice of Zoe Saldana to portray her.
“My mother was raised at a time when she was told her nose was too wide, her skin was too dark,” Kelly told the New York Times. “Appearance-wise this is not the best choice.”
What’s your take on Zoe Saldana playing Nina Simone? Should another Hollywood A-lister have been cast in the role instead?
#NinaSimone's official account tweeted at Saldana, "take Nina’s name out of your mouth. For the rest of your life" https://t.co/wmUWKuJwHR
— Page Six (@PageSix) March 3, 2016
Nina, starring Zoe Saldana, opens in theaters on April 22.