Will ‘not black enough’ to play Serena’s father
A FILM about the father of Serena and Venus Williams has been accused of ‘colourism’ after Will Smith was reportedly cast in the main role.
The potential casting of Smith, 0, as the tennis stars’ father Richard angered critics who say he is ‘too light-skinned’ for the part.
Colourism is a term used by critics to describe lighter-skinned black people being favoured over those with darker skin.
Sports writer Clarence Hill Jr tweeted: ‘Colourism matters… Love Will Smith but there are other black actors for this role.’ Another Twitter user wrote: ‘Sure Will Smith is black but he is a light-skinned black who is palatable to white audiences.’
Many asked why the role had not gone to an actor with darker skin such as Idris Elba or Mahershala Ali.
The reported casting has not yet been confirmed by the actor or the biopic’s producers.
The film will tell how Mr Williams helped his two young daughters rise from amateur courts in Compton, California, to winning 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them. Together, they have won 14 Grand Slam doubles championships.
When the sisters were four years old, he gave them lessons in public parks near their house and drew up a 78-page plan for their professional tennis careers.
It is not the first colourism row to hit the film industry in recent years.
Zoe Saldana, who is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, was cast as Nina Simone, the musician and African-American civil rights activist, in 2016. Filmmakers were criticised for giving the actress dark makeup and a prosthetic nose to play the role.