Billy Dee Williams approves actors using blackface for work: ‘Why not? You should do it’
Alexandra Del Rosario April 9, 2024 Billy Dee Williams
gave fellow actors the green light to “do anything you want to do” for their work including using blackface.
Williams, who is the first Black actor to be prominently featured in the sprawling “Star Wars” franchise, shared his opinions on non-Black actors playing Black characters on Sunday. An hour into an episode of
Bill Maher’
s “Club Random” podcast, the
87
-year-old star reflected on British actor
Laurence Olivier
‘s controversial turn as “Othello” in
1965
.
In the film adaptation of the Shakespeare classic, Olivier who
wasis
white
useduses
dark makeup to resemble the titular Moor of Venice. The practice of blackface traces back to racist minstrel shows in the early 19th century where non-Black actors darkened their skin with makeup to portray caricatures of Black people who were widely shut out from mainstream entertainment spaces.
Commentary: Must Laurence Olivier’s blackface Othello be banned? I showed the film and wasn’t canceled
Williams revealed to Maher that Olivier’s inspiration for his take on “Othello” was
the
late singer
Paul Robeson
, who was Black. Olivier wanted to channel “Robeson’s stature and Robeson’s voice,” Williams said. The “Brian’s Song” actor also recalled Olivier’s physical performance for the role.
“When he did Othello, I fell out laughing. He stuck his a out and walked around with his a,” he added. “You know, because Black people are supposed to have big a. I fell out laughing. I thought it was hysterical. I loved it.”
In response, Maher told Williams that
a
blackface couldn’t be used in this generation of entertainment,
not withoutat least without fear of
backlash.
“Why? Why not? You should do it,” Williams said. “If you’re an actor, you should do anything you want to do.”
We’re not protecting the right people by removing racism from TV and film
In recent years, Hollywood production companies and studios faced a racial reckoning sparked by the murder of
George Floyd
and the Black Live
s
Matter movement for the industry’s history of racist practices, including the use of blackface and portrayals of racist stereotypes. As a result,
numerous
entertainment platforms including HBO, Hulu and Adult Swim pulled movies and TV show
s
episodes that were deemed offensive from their services
, t
hough some have since returned.
Williams’ appearance on Maher’s podcast touched on the beginning of his career and how acting opportunities were scant because of his race (Williams is Black with Native American ancestry). Still, Williams said the use of blackface “doesn’t matter
.
”
Williams said.
“The point is that you don’t go through life feeling like I’m a victim,” he added, earning kudos from Maher. “I refuse to go through life saying to the world, ‘I’m pissed off.’ I’m not going to be pissed off 24 hours a day.”
Williams, who originated the
role of Lando Calrissian
in “Star Wars,” appeared on Maher’s far-ranging podcast months
after
the release of his latest memoir, “What Have We Here? Portraits of a Life.” The book, published by
Knopf
, hit shelves in February.
