Dakota Fanning Speaks Out Amid Backlash to Her Role As a Muslim Woman in New Movie

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Dakota Fanningis breaking her silence about her controversial new role in her upcoming filmSweetness in the Belly.

The actress, 25, shared a statement on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday to give insight into why she accepted the role of a Muslim woman in the drama. Her statement came on the heels of some users protesting her casting on Twitter believing she had taken the role from black Ethiopian actresses.

Dakota Fanning Instagram Stories Sept 4, 2019

She added, “I hope you enjoy the film somewhere, somehow after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival!”

Writer Muhammad Butt critiqued the casting on Twitter, writing, “So many talented Muslim actors out there and you cast… Dakota Fanning????????????????? And to play an ETHIOPIAN??????????? I BEG YOUR PARDON???????????”

Another user wrote, “The problem with this film isn’t Dakota Fanning, the issue is that the pain of the refugee experience, of civil war, and the beauty of Islam, are only palatable to Hollywood when the protagonist is a white woman. If you prick us, do we not bleed?”

“She hasn’t taken a role from a black actor,” Dunphy continued. “The character is white in the book. It really wouldn’t take much research to find this out before raging about it.”

Sweetness in the Bellywill be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday.

source: people.com