Cynthia Erivo to Play Tupac’s Mom Afeni Shakur in New Film and Black Folks Online Are Not Pleased
Cynthia Erivo will be back on our big screens soon, thanks to a new role she’s just been cast in: Afeni Shakur in the upcoming Snoop Dogg biopic. But sadly for her, fans online aren’t too thrilled about it, and they’re wasting no time speaking out about it. Let’s get into it!
If you missed it, on Wednesday, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Erivo would be portraying the well-known poet, former Black Panther Party member, and mother of the late rapper, Tupac Shakur. She now joins the already fleshed-out cast that includes stars like Lauren London, Jonathan Daviss, Olly Sholatan, Myles Bullock Be, Corey Champagne, Jonica Booth, and SwayvoTwain.
However, once the news of Erivo’s involvement began making the rounds on social media, many felt as if it was a bad choice due in large part to the Oscar-nominated actress’ past demeaning comments about Black American culture—despite her history of portraying iconic Black cultural figures like Harriet Tubman and Aretha Franklin.
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In particular, they referenced her past tweets mocking a “ghetto American accent,” her liking tweets that expressed how Black Americans were jealous of Africans immigrants who came to the United States, and other instances where she seemingly minimized or downplayed the Black American experience. And let’s not forget the weariness and cringey feelings folks experienced during her “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good” press tours with costar Ariana Grande.
As a result, many Black people took to TikTok and X/Twitter to express their frustrations with the actress and this casting choice.
“Who the f*ck keeps employing Cynthia Erivo in Black American roles?… Y’all didn’t have no one else to give this role to? Who selected her? She don’t even look like Afeni. Let alone sound like her,” TikTok user Alfonzo J Jones explained. “She already played motherf*cking Harriet Tubman. Why is she getting more Black American roles? You disrespect Black Americans; why do you want to play us?”
“I’m cool on the Snoop Dogg biopic. Afeni doesn’t deserve this disrespect. Why every powerful Black American woman has to be played by Cynthia Orivo,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
“I wouldn’t cast an actress that talked shit about black Americans as a fucking Black Panther but hey, do you,” said another.
One other user wrote: “Absolutely not. Not after what she said about Black Americans. Wanna talk all the shit but actively plays and advocated to play Black Americans.”
Added another: “Honestly, why would you cast a British black to play a f*cking BLACK PANTHER. This is stupid and disrespectful. She was beloved in the black community, and a part of our history. Why would Mrs. Peanut even take the role when she always talks about hating black americans? This is really a slap in the face. I hate how they play with the culture of black Americans. Won’t be seeing this shit. Tupac and Tupac’s mother deserve better. Did they not study the story of his mother? Are us black Americans some joke?”
