John Boyega slams Samuel L. Jackson’s “stupid ass” comments on black Brits
Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ John Boyega has hit out at former fellow Star Wars actor Samuel L. Jackson following his controversial remarks on the casting of black British actors.
Hot 97 FM asked the Pulp Fiction legend for his thoughts on British actor Daniel Kaluuya playing the lead role in horror film Get Out. Jackson responded by inferring that too many American parts are now going to British actors:
“I think it’s great [Get Out]’s doing everything it’s doing and people are loving it. But… I know the young brother who’s in the movie, and he’s British. So, there are a lot of black British actors in these movies. I tend to wonder what that movie would have been with an American brother who really feels that.
Daniel grew up in a country where they’ve been interracial dating for a hundred years… What would a brother from America have made of that role? I’m sure the director helped, but some things are universal, but [not everything].” he said.
Boyega was not impressed by Jackson’s comments, tweeting with a hasty response, calling the argument “a stupid ass conflict”:
Kaluuya in Get Out is at the centre of the much heated debate.
Samuel has since attempted to apologise and clarify his words, insisting that he was having a dig at “how Hollywood works”.
“It was not a slam against them, but it was just a comment about how Hollywood works in an interesting sort of way sometimes,” he told Associated Press.
Jackson’s next major project is Avengers: Infinity War.