Thandiwe Newton has come under fire for an interview in which she tearfully apologised to “darker-skinned actors” for being “the one chosen”.
Fans have been left “perplexed” by Thandiwe Newton’s remarks on colourism after the Star Wars actor burst into tears during an interview about her upcoming film.
In comments that have been dragged online, the BAFTA winning actress, 48, broke down while apologising for being chosen for Hollywood roles over darker-skinned actors.
“I’ve wanted so desperately to apologise, every day, to darker skinned actors,” she said while explaining that she struggled with accepting the part in her new movie, God’s Country, on Sky News.
“I’m sorry that I’m the one chosen.”
She continued: “My mum looks like you … It’s been very painful to have women that look like my mum feel like I’m not representing them. That I’m taking from them.
“Taking their men, taking their work, taking their truth.”
Pausing as she continued to sob, she added: “I didn’t mean to, you know.”
The viral interview snippet left some social media users particularly confused over Newton’s comments about “taking” black men, given she has been married to white director Ol Parker for 26 years.
“Thandiwe Newton saying ‘taking their men’ when she’s been married to a white man since 1998 is SENDING me,” one tweeted.
“What’s the context of that Thandiwe Newton video pls because what the hell was that? “Taking WHOSE men isn’t she married to a white man?,” said another.
“Who are these supposed dark-skinned black women telling Thandiwe Newton that she’s ‘taking our men,’ when her husband ain’t even black???”
Satirist Coconut Kels mocked the video, mimicking Newton’s apology while joking that her tears came from eye drops.
Newton was promoting upcoming film God’s Country, which is based on author James Lee Burke’s short story Winter Light.
It tells the story of a grieving black professor who confronts two white hunters on her property.
Newton has spoken out in the past about the lack of representation of black women in Hollywood, slamming Star Wars creators for killing off her character.
In an interview for Inverse last year, the actor reflected on her role as Val in 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story, for which she made history as the first black woman to have a major role in a Star Wars film.
But while it had the potential to be a monumental moment in pop culture, Val was killed off by the end of the film.
“You don’t kill off the first black woman to ever have a real role in a Star Wars movie,” Newton said. “Like, are you f***ing joking?”
Originally published as Thandiwe Newton dragged for tearful apology to ‘darker-skinned actors’
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