Entertainment
He is not black enough! Will Smith’s role as Serena Willams father sparks colourism debate
King Richard, an upcoming biopic about Richard Williams, the father of Serena and Venus has attracted criticisms amid reports that Will Smith will play the lead role.
The 77-year-old single-handedly coached his daughters to become two of the world’s greatest tennis players, despite having no previous experience of the game.
However, some netizens are of the opinion that Will Smith cannot interpret the role well because he is not dark skinned.
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Many also opined that darker actors, like Idris Elba and Oscar-winner Mahershala Al, should be used for Williams role saying it’s like when a caucasian is picked to play a Chinese person in a movie, and ‘blacking up’ is obviously unacceptable.
Some also argued that saying Will Smith is not black enough is bizarre and racist.
Meanwhile, Will Smith has not reacted on the reported casting or the criticism.
WuzupNaij reports that the Colorism means prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.
Movie critics, fans and non-fans of Will Smith are however having a field day arguing for and against the actors’ eligibility to interpret the role of the 77-year-old Richard Williams.
One G’Challa, @thatyorubaguy said “Black People: We want to be seen for the content of our character and not the color of our skin…”
Richard Williams took tennis lessons from a man known as “Old Whiskey” and decided his future daughters would be tennis professionals when he saw Virginia Ruzici playing on television.
Williams says that he wrote up a 78-page plan, and started giving lessons to Venus and Serena when they were four and a half, and began taking them to the public tennis courts. Soon he got them into Shreveport tennis tournaments. In 1995, Williams pulled them out of a tennis academy and coached them himself.
See reactions:
No doubt I’m being ignorant and, as a white man, shouldn’t comment, but are folk really saying Will Smith shouldn’t have a role because he’s not black enough?! pic.twitter.com/ozqpxvyiJu
— Darren Jalland (@larbertred) March 5, 2019
Shut up to all the critics who are saying Will Smith is not black enough to play Richard Williams. Goooood lord, you people will cry about anything! Will Smith is an incredible actor will do this role justice! #richardwilliams
— George Denliker (@GRD18_) March 6, 2019
Is this the ‘Will Smith is the wrong shade of black’ thing? Not black enough to play Serena Williams’ Dad?
— ⚽ RG2 Gas ⚽ (@RG2Gas) March 6, 2019
Anyone else think people giving hate to Will Smith for playing Venus & Serena’s dad sounds a whole lot like saying “he’s not black enough” . . . it’s called acting and makeup. IT’S CALLED ACTING AND MAKEUP.
— franchesca (@FranchescaJane) March 6, 2019
An upcoming biopic about the father of Serena and Venus Williams has faced criticism amid reports that Will Smith will play the lead role.
Richard Williams, 77, coached his daughters to become two of the world’s greatest tennis players, despite having no previous experience. pic.twitter.com/H35CiRcUSe
— Capital Moments (@CapitalMoments) March 6, 2019
Lots of shock and debate over Will Smith playing Richard Williams father of Venus and Serena because he is light-skinned. The part that shocked me is he’s playing their dad. Dang. That means I’m a lot older than I want to admit.
— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) March 6, 2019
@chicksonright I bet NOT ONE single person who is saying Will Smith is not black enough to portray Richard Williams could actually pick Richard Williams out of a lineup. Damn, now I’m in trouble for saying “black” and “lineup” in the same sentence. #thisisf‘ingignorant
— Philip Davis (@philipndavis) March 6, 2019
Will Smith great actor great human great artist. Not black enough WTF. under these guidelines we still haven’t had a black president. #WillSmith sorry for ridiculous outrage
— It’s Okay To Be A Man (@iotbaman) March 6, 2019
So many people yelling about Will Smith starring in King Richard bc he’s not black enough? Wat? Is that all that matters now, that the skin tone is the same? I didn’t even know about this movie before this morning, what a stupid way to learn about it. All hype is gone now…
— Cannastix (@Chompstix) March 6, 2019
You have got to be kidding, Will Smith is not black enough to play a black man? Do you not see how wrong and racist this statement is????
— Monica (@burch_monica) March 5, 2019
I’m not racist, but Will Smith isn’t dark enough to play a historic black man. Jeez
— Pivon (@nolapivon) March 5, 2019
As a white guy I understand the outrage when a caucasian is picked to play a chinese person in a movie, and ‘blacking up’ is obviously unacceptable – but this is bizarre.
Apparently Will Smith is not black enough to play the father of the Williams sisters?!
Down to shades now? https://t.co/Ri0gnJmlwv
— MrM (@Superfind) March 5, 2019
Obviously nothing against Will Smith, but why is he playing Venus and Serena’s Father?? Yes, the man can act but for the love of God there are dark-skinned Black men that can act too.
They can get one these men to do it or maybe even give an unknown actor a shot. pic.twitter.com/CTdxVTMT2v
— Neysha ? #SXSW (@La_Ney_sha) March 5, 2019
The permanently offended snowflakes of our generation get out the Colour Swatch to complain Will Smith isn’t dark enough to play Richard Williams. GTF over yourselves bitches!! pic.twitter.com/ZkATNbjdnT
— philthrill69 (@philthrill69) March 5, 2019
Scratching my head at the Will Smith casting but also… congrats to the writer who put their script on @theblcklst and now has Will Smith in their film! https://t.co/ltUGNo2wXx
— Driadonna.com (@DreeTV) March 5, 2019
If Will Smith isn’t dark enough I know the perfect actor for the role. pic.twitter.com/5agMfLKRsP
— Black Hebrew Israelite (@satoshiksutra) March 5, 2019
Are you blind? This has nothing to do with “how black” Will Smith is, and unless you’re blind or developmentally delayed, you knew that before you made this stupid & divisive comment. Smith is not old enough to play the real-life father of Williams.
— Nikolette Adams (@nkanow) March 5, 2019
Man I can’t keep up with shit these days, so Will Smith is now not black enough to play the Williams sisters black father?? ?♂️?♂️?♂️ pic.twitter.com/uv92gHjOYb
— ??BIG ROB?? (@thatguyBIGROB) March 5, 2019
The main thing that holds us back, is us. Always has been. Not black enough? What?? Nobody had a problem with Chadwick playing Thurgood though, right? Fuck outta here, hypocrites.
Will Smith’s casting announcement receives mixed reactions https://t.co/RZCoMPrq5p
— O’s fan, Machado stan (@W_R_R) March 5, 2019
How is that even close to being the same thing? Seriously? You’re really going drag Will Smith for not being black enough??? I would never give another Asian grief for not being “yellow enough”…can’t we all just fucking get along for once? pic.twitter.com/fsX5pLTOKb
— CrazyMiddleClassAsian (@CrayAsianGirl) March 5, 2019
How is that even close to being the same thing? Seriously? You’re really going drag Will Smith for not being black enough??? I would never give another Asian grief for not being “yellow enough”…can’t we all just fucking get along for once? pic.twitter.com/fsX5pLTOKb
— CrazyMiddleClassAsian (@CrayAsianGirl) March 5, 2019
In the news today: Will Smith isn’t black enough for the job he’s been hired to do. 2019. What an age we live in, where not being ‘black enough’ is a hindrance to employment. Just think about it, he gets a role and people want him removed because of his skin colour. #willsmith
— Ronan Doyle (@rodoyle86) March 6, 2019
Are you blind? This has nothing to do with "how black" Will Smith is, and unless you're blind or developmentally delayed, you knew that before you made this stupid & divisive comment. Smith is not old enough to play the real-life father of Williams.
— Nikolette Adams (@nkanow) March 5, 2019
Black People: We want to be seen for the content of our character and not the color of our skin.
*BREAKING NEWS: Will smith has signed on to play Richard Williams in upcoming movie.*
Also Black People: ??? COLORISM!!! He's not even black enough to play that role!!! pic.twitter.com/Tq8WB8M6Gj
— G'Challa (@thatyorubaguy) March 5, 2019
Anyone want to ask Serena Williams if she has a problem with one of Hollywood's most famous (not) black (enough) actors playing her dad?
There's only one issue here… And if you think that Will Smith's casting is it then, sorry to say, you're it. #SerenaWilliams #colorism https://t.co/wOHgQLeefa
— Matthew D. Kirk ?? (@MattKirkPhDish) March 6, 2019
Shut up to all the critics who are saying Will Smith is not black enough to play Richard Williams. Goooood lord, you people will cry about anything! Will Smith is an incredible actor will do this role justice! #richardwilliams
— George Denliker (@GRD18_) March 6, 2019
I miss the old days of casting outrage when people would flip their shit on like "Michael Keaton as Batman?!"
Now it's "Will Smith is not black enough to play that role!"
— Hedy (@HyderMahmood) March 6, 2019
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