This week the trailer for the new Nina Simone biopic staring Zoe Saldana received huge backlash after Zoe appeared in blackface and a prosthetic nose [click here if you missed that].
BET founder Robert Johnson, and the Nina Simone biopic distributor, speaks out in Zoe's defense...
The statement from RLJ Entertainment reads,
“Zoe Saldana delivers an exceptional and mesmerizing tribute to Nina Simone. She gave her heart and soul to the role and displayed her extraordinary talent. The most important thing is that creativity or quality of performance should never be judged on the basis of color, or ethnicity, or physical likeness. Quality entertainment should be measured by the sheer force of creativity and the commitment that an actor or actress brings to the performance. We are proud to distribute the film headlined by Zoe Saldana and David Oyelowo on April 22, 2016.”
