Jennifer Hudson Facing Protest, Moratorium From Actors Union
Date: 12/07/09 | Newsroom
Filed under: Hollywood, Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson welcomed the opportunity to portray the ex-wife of South Africa's first black president Nelson Mandela weeks ago. Today, however, local actors say Hudson should not be casted when there is plenty of talent in South Africa.
"It can't happen that we want to develop our own Hollywood and yet bring in imports," Mabutho Sithole, President of The Creative Workers Union of South Africa, said in The Citizen newspaper recently..
"This decision must be reversed, it must be stopped now," union secretary general Oupa Lebogo said in The Times.
According to Lebogo, members of the union are prepared to go further than issuing a complaint. He says 'Winnie' could face a moratorium if changes are not made.
"If the matter doesn't come up for discussion, we will push for a moratorium to be placed on the film."
As previously reported, both Jennifer Hudson and Morgan Freeman are expected to star in 'Winnie'.
News of disdain towards casting from the union comes just days before the release of 'Invictus,' a film also starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela.
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Listen, Jei! For Norma to say that Jennifer Hudson would need to dig down really deep and way dirty to play the role of Winnie Mandela and that she is to beautiful and classy does not suggest that she is RACIST! The controversy that once shadowed Winnie at one point of time is what she meant! Winnie Mandela has been through so many scandals from murder to conspiracy! Jennifer Hudson roles have all been based on her danty appeal. I don't believe she made that comment because she is playing an African! Oh, and I just wanted to enlighten you with the facts that Europeans colonilism has shaped the worlds perception-negatively about Africa. We, Americans didn't have anything to do with that! I just brought it up just to enrich your way of thinking. Now can I get a rebuttal?
M.Wahington i didnt say anything about black americans i just said that her comment sounded racist and it is. you are going so far with this european colonianism i dont know why...she is racists saying that you cant be african, classy and beautiful but dirty. if thats not being racist tell me what it is to be ?
I don't think NORMA comments is RACIST! Yeah, Jennifer Hudson is a Black American portraying a Black African and to some if not a lot of Black Africans; you guys feel the need to always try your hardest to down play your resentful hatred towards Americans, especially Black Americans! JEI and SONTI, Jennifer Hudson was cast for the role because of MONEY! I feel that the union is contriving racism and nationalism by protesting and trying to induct a memorandum on the film, just because an American is playing an African. The movie industry is all about making money. So it's only common sense to cast a well known Actress like Jennifer Hudson who happens to be black and an American to make that movie refurbish some money. An African actress will not be able to do that! You people kill me with the whole resentment that you guys seems to have towards Black Americans. You guys always feel that Americans are beating up on your culture. See, who you should be beating up on is European colonist!
Yeah Norma u sound racist, taking about Africans like they are dirty, let me ask you something do you think Akon is dirty and class less...? News Flash he is from Sengal, a tiny country in the West of Africa. Im sick of Americans, especially black Americans, refering to Africa as if its one Country, there are over 70 countries in Africa..... South Africa is a nation of 45 million which is situation at the South tip of Africa, we have beautiful beaches, hotel to die for (we even have ceasars place), oh yeah btw, "y'all" didnt help us win the 2010 Soccer World Cup either, you think you have helped us so much by mining out gold and diamonds from our land? i think not, South Africa has never ever needed aid from the US, have other Africa countries needed aid, yes. So if you do you research you will see how South Africa is a self suffcient country which has the largest economy in Africa, the next country's economy(Eqygpt) is 4 times small than South Africa's.
You sound very racist norma...
First, of all there will never be a hollywood of anything in South Africa. I believe if the director who is from Africa would have wanted one of them to play Winnie. He would not have asked Jennifer to play the role. Now, hear she is being blind side with some mess from actors there. I do understand what they are saying and coming from. However I don't like how they are handeling it. This should have been talked about durning a meeting with the director and the union. The media should have been excluded. All the people we have over here have helped Africa and is still doing. Jennifer is not the reason why you did not get casted for the role. The director did not want one of you for the role. Jennifer Hudson is way to classy and beautiful for the role anyway. She would have had to dig down really deep and way dirty to play the role anyway.