{"id":661206,"date":"2026-05-23T22:08:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T22:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/661206\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T22:08:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T22:08:11","slug":"lupita-nyongo-accused-of-double-standard-after-black-panther-comments-resurface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/661206\/","title":{"rendered":"Lupita Nyong\u2019o Accused Of Double Standard After Black Panther Comments Resurface"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lupita Nyong\u2019o is facing new criticism online over resurfaced comments she made about Marvel\u2019s Black Panther, African culture, and representation, as the backlash continues over her casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nyong\u2019o plays two roles in the film: Helen of Troy, the daughter of Zeus and Leda, and Helen\u2019s sister, Clytemnestra.<\/p>\n

The debate started after Nyong\u2019o defended Nolan\u2019s casting by pointing out The Odyssey is a mythological story. She also said the movie\u2019s cast is \u201crepresentative of the world\u201d and that she is not spending her time defending the decision because \u201cthe criticism will exist\u201d whether she engages with it or not.<\/p>\n

Now, critics online are pointing to past comments Nyong\u2019o made about Black Panther, where she praised the Marvel movie for pushing back against the misrepresentation of Africa.<\/p>\n

RELATED<\/p>\n


\n \"Lupita<\/p>\n

Lupita Nyong\u2019o Responds To The Odyssey Backlash: First Look Revealed
\n Lupita Nyong\u2019o is responding to the backlash over her casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey, which has included…<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"LupitaLupita Nyong\u2019o in Marvel\u2019s Black Panther<\/p>\n

Lupita Nyong\u2019o\u2019s Black Panther Comments Resurface<\/p>\n

In the resurfaced interview clip (watch below)), Nyong\u2019o talked about how Black Panther treated African culture and why that mattered to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Black Panther shows us is that there is a whole host of people who get the misrepresentation that Africa has had,\u201d Nyong\u2019o said, adding that the movie showed people who \u201crespect the continent\u201d and wanted to \u201creinvestigate the continent and re-represent the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nyong\u2019o said the issue was personal to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s important to me because I am all about the demystification of the African continent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She also explained that Black Panther was careful not to treat Africa as one generic place.<\/p>\n

\u201cOftentimes the African continent, when it\u2019s portrayed in cinema, it\u2019s very general,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd we were all hell-bent on it not being general.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LupitaHelen of Troy painting, and Lupita Nyong\u2019o as Helen\u2019s sister, Clytemnestra, in Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey<\/p>\n

Critics Accuse Nyong\u2019o Of A Double Standard<\/p>\n

One user on X, whose post has drawn more than half a million views, argued that Nyong\u2019o is upset by the \u201cmisrepresentation\u201d of African culture, but has no issue playing a Greek mythological figure in Nolan\u2019s film.<\/p>\n

The user called Nyong\u2019o a \u201chypocrite\u201d and said she has \u201cno business\u201d in The Odyssey.<\/p>\n

The argument from critics is simple: Nyong\u2019o praised Black Panther for carefully grounding the fictional nation of Wakanda in real African cultures, but is now defending a movie where she plays Helen of Troy, one of the most famous figures from Greek mythology.<\/p>\n

RELATED<\/p>\n


\n \"Christopher<\/p>\n

Christopher Nolan Explains Why Travis Scott Is In The Odyssey: It\u2019s About Rap
\n Christopher Nolan is opening up about one of the more surprising casting choices in The Odyssey, confirming Travis Scott plays a bard…<\/p>\n

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The same user also points out that Nyong\u2019o turned down The Woman King because she said it didn\u2019t properly portray African culture.<\/p>\n

So Lupita is upset by the \u201cmisrepresentation\u201d of African culture BUT has no problem blatantly doing it to Greek culture.. this woman is an absolute fucking hypocrite & has no businesses in The Odyssey pic.twitter.com\/ZRHCPkn86A<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 thatstarwarsgirl (@thatstarwarsgrl) May 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Lupita turned down the rule in The Woman King because it didn\u2019t properly portray Africa culture BUT she has no problem doing it in The Odyssey! Fucking hypocrite pic.twitter.com\/RBRNIsKmq2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 thatstarwarsgirl (@thatstarwarsgrl) May 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\"MarvelsMarvel\u2019s Black Panther<\/p>\n

Nyong\u2019o Praised Black Panther For Respecting Real Cultures<\/p>\n

Nyong\u2019o\u2019s resurfaced comments make clear she viewed Black Panther as a project that avoided turning Africa into one vague cultural idea.<\/p>\n

She pointed to Wakanda\u2019s use of Xhosa, saying the fictional nation \u201cspeaks the language,\u201d which meant the cast had to learn it and get the accent right in English.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe needed to learn that language,\u201d Nyong\u2019o said. \u201cWe needed to get the accent in English and everything, though it\u2019s a fictitious nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also said Wakanda was \u201cderived from real African cultures,\u201d and pointed to costume designer Ruth Carter researching groups including the Tuareg, Masai, Dogon, and Surma.<\/p>\n

Nyong\u2019o said the goal was to show respect for \u201cvery wealthy and diverse cultures\u201d that often \u201cget washed as one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LupitaLupita Nyong\u2019o as Helen\u2019s sister, Clytemnestra, in Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey<\/p>\n

The Odyssey Backlash Continues<\/p>\n

Nyong\u2019o\u2019s casting as Helen of Troy has already drawn backlash<\/a>, including from Elon Musk, who criticized Nolan\u2019s casting choices on X. <\/p>\n

Nyong\u2019o responded by saying The Odyssey is \u201ca mythological story.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also pushed back on the idea that Helen should only be viewed through beauty.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t perform beauty,\u201d Nyong\u2019o said. \u201cI want to know who a character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks?\u201d<\/p>\n

The new criticism shifts the debate away from just the casting itself and puts Nyong\u2019o\u2019s own past comments about representation under the microscope.<\/p>\n

\"TheMatt Damon as Odysseus and Zendaya as Athena in Christopher Nolan\u2019s The Odyssey<\/p>\n

About The Odyssey<\/p>\n

The Odyssey is written and directed by Christopher Nolan and is based on Homer\u2019s ancient Greek epic.<\/p>\n

The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong\u2019o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, John Leguizamo, and Travis Scott.<\/p>\n

The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17, 2026, from Universal Pictures.<\/p>\n

Matt McGloin is the editor-in-chief and publisher of Cosmic Book News, the independent entertainment news site he founded in 2008. He covers movies, comics, TV, video games and pop culture and has reported major industry scoops over the years, including revealing the Avengers: Endgame title ahead of its official announcement. Through Cosmic Book News, he helped Marvel Comics promote Guardians of the Galaxy and Nova through exclusive previews, artwork, and interviews, with the site also quoted in solicitations and on comic covers. He also reported on Marvel\u2019s Daredevil: Born Again retooling before it was later confirmed by the trades.<\/p>\n

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