The kids of composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein are defending actor Bradley Cooper‘s portrayal of their late father in an upcoming biopic.
After the primary trailer for Maestro was launched this week, some critics on social media raised issues a prosthetic nostril worn by Cooper to painting Bernstein in the movie reinforce hurtful anti-Semitic stereotypes, labelling it ‘Jewface’.
Other critics have questioned the casting in the primary place contemplating Bernstein’s heritage. He was born in Massachusetts to Jewish immigrants from Russia, whereas Cooper isn’t recognized to be of Jewish ancestry.
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Old photographs of a younger Bernstein present a placing resemblance to the Hollywood heartthrob, which additionally raised query of a necessity for the prosthetic make-up in the primary place.
Bernstein’s three kids Jamie, Alexander and Nina took to Instagram on Wednesday to share an announcement in regards to the backlash Cooper has confronted for the reason that launch of the trailer a day earlier.
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“Bradley Cooper included the three of us along every step of his amazing journey as he made his film about our father,” their assertion reads.
“We were touched to the core to witness the depth of his commitment, his loving embrace of our father’s music, and the sheer open-hearted joy he brought to his exploration. It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts.”
They additionally immediately addressed criticism about Cooper’s bodily look as their father.
“It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that,” the assertion continues.
“We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well. Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch — a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father.”
The Netflix movie follows Bernstein and his 25-year marriage to Felicia Montealegre, performed by Carey Mulligan.
In addition to the lead function, Cooper additionally co-wrote, co-produced and directed Maestro, in response to IMDb.
It’s his first directorial work since 2018’s Oscar-winning A Star is Born, which included Lady Gaga.
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Hollywood heavyweights Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are additionally among the many movie’s producers.
Cooper has not but publicly commented on the controversy. CNN has reached out to his representatives.
“At all times during the making of this film, we could feel the profound respect and yes, the love that Bradley brought to his portrait of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, our mother Felicia,” the family assertion concluded.
“We feel so fortunate to have had this experience with Bradley, and we can’t wait for the world to see his creation.”
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Leading the backlash was Jewish British actress Tracy-Ann Oberman who revealed why she felt the make-up alternative was fallacious, in an emotive put up.
“If Bradley Cooper green lights your film to play the Jewish composer Bernstein and you want him over a Jewish A-Lister who can equally play that role – then let Bradley Cooper’s acting be so magnificent and truthful that the character of Bernstein shines through what he already looks like.
“If he must put on a prosthetic nostril then that’s, to me and plenty of others, the equal of Black-Face or Yellow-Face.”
The EastEnders actress added: “Bradley Cooper managed to play the ELEPHANT MAN with no single prosthetic then he ought to have the ability to handle to play a Jewish man with out one.’
However, West Wing star Joshua Malina held a special standpoint and mentioned Cooper hasn’t finished something offensive in his opinion.
‘I don’t take challenge with Bradley Cooper being made to appear like an actual particular person,” the Jewish actor told Page Six.
“Were an actor to don an enormous hooked nostril to play Shylock, or a random, fictitious Jew, I believe I’d have an issue with the propagation of a well-worn antisemitic stereotype.
“Jews do not, in fact, have bigger noses than other people do; Leonard Bernstein did. That’s the end of the story for me.”
Maestro is ready to make it is debut in the course of the Venice Film Festival subsequent month. However, it isn’t recognized if Cooper will attend as a result of on-going strikes in Hollywood.
– Reported with CNN.
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