Oh Good, Another Race Controversy, We Haven't Had One Of Those In Days

I caught a new movie trailer last week, and thought it looked promising. Well, let’s be honest, it was the giant cat mounts that did it, not the relentlessly African casting, that left me cold. Well, I did spend a lot of time in ‘World of Warcraft’!

And then of course, the racial casting controversy which no modern film is seemingly without these days:

 Adeyemi, the author of the popular YA fantasy Children of Blood and Bone, has distanced herself from the forthcoming film adaptation of her book. “There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work,” the Nigerian-American author said in group chat messages shared to TikTok.

She then went on without actually specifying her objection, all the better to drive ‘engagement’ and thus, free publicity. 

Adeyemi’s post also shares what seem to be messages sent to star Stenberg in February 2025, reading: “Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me.” 

The messages appear to be from around the time that Stenberg responded to a colorism backlash surrounding her role. Stenberg’s character of Princess Amari is described in the book as having “dark copper skin”; the actor is biracial.

Ooooh, how progressive!  But why didn't they really put the cat among the pigeons and cast a white actress? Sauce for the gander, after all...