US actor Billy Dee Williams defended acting with blackfacing in a new podcast.
“Star Wars” actor Billy Dee Williams (87) apparently has no problem with blackfacing being used in film and theater. The Lando Calrissian actor explained in a podcast with Bill Maher (68) that, in his opinion, an actress should do whatever he or she wants.
Blackfacing refers to the painting of the face of light-skinned people with dark paint to portray black characters on stage or in films and series. Blackfacing is considered racist due to often derogatory previous representations and the use of negative stereotypes and prejudices.
Williams apparently sees things differently. In an issue of the two talk about the British actor Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) and his role of Othello with blackface in a 1965 film adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Williams practically fell over laughing when he saw this. “He stuck his butt out and walked around like that because black people are supposed to have big butts. […] I thought it was hilarious. I loved it. I love stuff like that.”
“Why not? You should do it”
When Maher notes that this wouldn’t be possible for actors today, Williams asks, “Why not? They should do it. If you’re an actor, you should do whatever you want to do.” The moderator also points out that the 87-year-old “lived in a time when he couldn’t play the roles he should have played.” Williams sees it this way: “The point is that you don’t go through life feeling like, ‘I’m a victim.’ […] I refuse to go through life telling the world, ‘I’m pissed off.’ I’m not going to be mad 24 hours a day.”
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
