Samuel L. Jackson has had a reputation for being a rather outspoken celebrity for quite some time. It was only last week that he was making comments about the MCU and about black British actors taking on roles he has felt black American actors should really be taking on. When he initially made this comment, he specifically pointed out Daniel Kaluuya taking on the major role in Get Out, noting that role could have gone to an African-American, instead. Now Daniel Kaluuya has come out himself to respond to what Samuel L. Jackson initially said. Here is Kaluuya's lengthy response:
I really respect African-American people. I just want to tell black stories. This is the frustrating thing, bro -- in order to prove that I can play this role, I have to open up about the trauma that I've experienced as a black person. I have to show off my struggle so that people accept that I'm black. No matter that every single room I go to I'm usually the darkest person there. You know what I'm saying? I kind of resent that mentality. I'm just an individual. Just because you're black, you taken and used to represent something. It mirrors what happens in the film. I resent that I have to prove that I'm black. I don't know what that is. I'm still processing it.
The comments, which come from an interview with Daniel Kaluuya in GQ, came with a bunch of f-bombs that were later censored, according to the outlet. Still of anyone who has responded to Samuel L. Jackson's earlier comments, Daniel Kaluuya is the most natural person to respond to Jackson's opinion, as he was specifically called out by Samuel L. Jackson. The actor noted he is still having trouble wrapping his head around the criticism and wants to move forward as a black man and a black actor--no matter which country he originates from.
He also elaborated a little further, noting he has had to deal with a lot of the struggles that black men and women do deal with in many different countries.
Here's the thing about that critique, though. I'm dark-skinned, bro. When I'm around black people, I'm made to feel 'other' because I'm dark-skinned. I've had to wrestle with that, with people going, 'You're too black.' Then I come to America, and they say, 'You're not black enough.' I go to Uganda, I can't speak the language. In India, I'm black. In the black community, I'm dark-skinned. In America, I'm British.
Samuel L. Jackson's initial comment seemed to indicate that he feels an American actor may have had a better understanding of the role in Get Out than a British actor would, but whatever his intentions, his words spread like wildfire and have caused plenty of debate. Should real-life experience play a role in casting? Or should the person who has the best audition get the role each time?
If you'd like to check out Samuel L. Jackson's original comment, head here. In the meantime, you can catch Get Out in theaters or see what else your way soon with our movies release schedule.
