Race row as actor Robert Downey Jr 'blacks up' for new film


Actor Robert Downey Jr has in the past been applauded for his edgy roles.

But his latest may be a step too far - as the actor dons make-up to play a rather convincing looking black man in a new Hollywood film starring comic actor Ben Stiller.

In a still from film Tropic Thunder, Downey Jnr is sandwiched between Ben Stiller, and a blonde Jack Black.

With his afro hair and brown skin, he is virtually unrecognisable as the 42-year-old star of stage and screen.

Downey Jr plays a worthy Oscar-winning actor taking on a role originally written for a black actor, and rather than re-write the part, he goes method.

Clearing anticipating a backlash, Downey Jr told a US magazine: "If it's done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago. If you don't do it right, we're going to hell."

But the backlash has clearly begun as one comment on a showbiz blog Just Jared said: "I'm not black and I find it offensive; are there not any talented enough black actors out in the world that they feel the need to hire a white guy to do a black guy?"

"They are infering that there are no good enough black actors to play a black person.

"What is the significance of hiring a white guy to play a black part? what are they trying to prove? I bet its to get more publicity."

But in support of Downey's satirical role another comment on the blog said: "I'm black too, and if they were satirising black people yes it would be offensive. but they're not.

"It's FUNNY because they're NOT legitimising negative racial stereotypes, anyone with a brain in his/her head can see how painfully clear that is."


The film centres on a group of pompous actors making the most expensive Vietnam war movie ever made.

Fed up with their self-involved cast, the film's makers drop them into the jungle to take care of themselves, where they get caught up in a conflict they don't realise is real.

The cast also includes Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte and cameos from Tom Cruise and Tobey Maguire.

Stiller said he was "trying to push it as far as you can within reality," with the intent of satirising over-the-top actors, not African-Americans.

"I had no idea how people would respond to it," Stiller told the magazine. But at a recent screening, black viewers liked the film", he said.

The film, Stiller's first as director since Zoolander, also sees his character adopt an Asian baby but worries "that all the good ones have gone".

Paramount is set to release 'Tropic Thunder' in the U.S. on 15 August.

Race row as actor Robert Downey Jr 'blacks up' for new film | the Daily Mail

Veeerrry stupid. The idiotic black person who commented that they're okay with the idea needs to be bitch slapped.

white people are already ringing up 'white chicks' in this debate

I was just thinking of white chicks. It may be offensive to whites, but it is different. The two 'white' girls in the movie were nothing but black men in disguise. This role here does not require a white actor.

I've just seen the picture and wondering, if nobody said that was Downey Jr in make up would anyone realise it was a white man? You need to see the picture to understand.

The problem I have with the bloggers attitude is that the role should have been given to a black actor so why go to the trouble and expense of dressing up a white actor? Or are they trying to prove a point. Maybe black actors should start worrying.

Wow....

Don't you see the difference?

White Chicks was satire/parody. The whole point of it WAS the BLACK guys playing WHITE girls. There have been several films where white guys have donned black make-up to play a black, and one of the things those films all had in common was that the COMEDY came from the white guy 'pretending' to be a black guy. Those films relied on the fact of the viewer KNOWING ALL ALONG that it was a white pretending to be black; as was the case in White Chicks where it would not have worked...not that it did particularly because it was a pathetic film in my book....if people BELIEVED they were REAL white girls.

This on the other hand (by the sound of it) is not using parody, comedy or whatever where the central theme of the film IS the playing of a black man by a white man. Neither is it relying on the the viewer KNOWING a white man is playing a black man for the 'thing' (e.g. the joke) to work.

If you look at it another way, films like White Chicks and the other comedies I was referring to, did not give black/white parts to actors of the opposite race, because the very nature of the parts required that the actor WAS the race they were. Think about it, what would have been the point of White Chicks if the parts were played by real white women?
This film on the other hand is using a white actor to play a part that really requires a black actor.
Yes this is very different indeed.

Respect

He is more out of work than any black actor. I say let the man collect his donation and be done with it.
Ever think maybe no black actor wanted the part? At least no one who's had recognized working experience.

Well Afriki, if no black actor wanted the part then they shouldn't do the movie it all. It's just stupid.

Ben Stiller is in it. The premise of stupidity has already been set.

Ironman says no.

This may or might not be a meaty role.... not too sure before i make comments as maybe none of the A-list African actors wanted anything to do with this..on the real though I just cannot see why a AA cannot play this role..YT people surely would not be happy if African actors started painting their faces to take the so called YT roles...they so hyprocritical its unreal i can see them has been commented bringing in 'YT chicks' just as they justify using the N' word!!...

with ben 'still-here' starring in the movie you know the plot will be a comedy one ... i wonder if this is ta return to th era of the minstrel... does any one remember
angelina jolies make up???