The choice of a black actress to play Cleopatra, the final reigning monarch of Egypt’s Ptolemaic Kingdom, has angered Egyptians. Afrocentrism and historical fraud, according to detractors, are evidenced by the casting of a black actress in the part of Cleopatra, who is said to have no African origins.
The Netflix documentary controversy serves as an example of the ongoing discussion in entertainment concerning historical accuracy and cultural representation. Many Egyptians think the casting decision was politically driven in order to advance an untrue historical Afrocentric narrative and rewrite history.
Over 50,000 people have signed a petition asking for the film’s screening to be cancelled. This demonstrates the public’s displeasure about the documentary’s portrayal of Cleopatra.
