Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has brushed aside racist criticism over her casting in Christopher Nolan's upcoming film The Odyssey. The backlash, which included comments from tech billionaire Elon Musk, erupted after reports emerged in January that Nyong'o would play Helen of Troy—the woman whose beauty, according to Homer's epic, sparked the Trojan War—alongside her sister Clytemnestra.
In an interview with Elle Magazine, Nyong'o dismissed the controversy with characteristic poise. 'This is a mythological story,' she said. 'I'm very supportive of Chris's intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I'm not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.'
Nyong'o appears on the cover of Elle's latest issue, dedicated to the 'Women of The Odyssey.' She added: 'It's quite something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that's why the cast is what it is. We're occupying the epic narrative of our time.'
A Casting That Sparked Fury
Nolan's adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic is one of the most anticipated releases of the summer, set to hit theatres on 17 July. The ensemble cast includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya. But the announcement of Nyong'o's role drew immediate ire on social media, with some users arguing that a Black actress could not convincingly portray the 'most beautiful woman in the world.'
Among the most vocal critics was Elon Musk, who posted on X that 'Chris Nolan has lost his integrity,' responding to a post that emphasized Helen of Troy's supposed 'fair skinned, blonde' appearance. Musk has since doubled down, accusing Nolan of 'pissing on Homer's grave' and 'desecrating' the ancient writer. When Elle released a new image of Nyong'o as Clytemnestra, one user wrote: 'The Odyssey just keeps getting worse bro if this lady is Greek then I'm the president of Nigeria.' Musk responded: 'Chris Nolan is an anti-White racist.'
Nolan defended his decision in Elle, stating that Nyong'o was his first choice for the role. 'The strength and the poise were so important to the character of Helen. And Lupita makes it look effortless,' he said.
American actor Alec Baldwin also weighed in, posting a picture of Nyong'o on Instagram with the caption: 'Dear Elon… but she IS the most beautiful woman in the world…Alec.'
Nyong'o is the latest Black performer to face racist abuse for playing a fictional character widely perceived as white—even in magical or mythical settings. Earlier this year, English actor Paapa Essiedu spoke out about receiving racist death threats after being cast as Professor Snape in the new HBO Harry Potter series.
The controversy echoes broader debates about representation in European and global cinema. While the story of The Odyssey is set in ancient Greece, the mythological nature of the tale—and the fact that it has been reinterpreted countless times across cultures—raises questions about the insistence on racial authenticity in fictional worlds. As Nyong'o herself noted, 'This is a mythological story.'
For a deeper look at the film's reception, see our coverage of Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Trailer Draws Fire Over American Accents and Modern Dialogue and Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Trailer Reveals Cyclops, Beards, and a Puppy.
