Netflix recently unveiled its trailer for its upcoming western film “The Harder They Fall.” The movie is based on real historical outlaws and cowboys and features an all-Black cast, but one star’s inclusion has sparked outrage from fans eager to see the project.
FX’s “Atlanta” actress Zazie Beetz is set to play Mary Fields, better known as Stagecoach Mary or Black Mary. The plus-size, dark-skinned, reportedly 6-foot female was the first Black woman to take on the dangerous role as a stagecoach mail carrier in the late 1800s, protecting the mail against thieves while driving across America.
Critics slammed the streaming giant for opting for Beetz who is biracial, fair-skinned, and noticeably much slimmer than the real-life Stagecoach Mary in its casting. They also pointed out Netflix’s, but more specifically Hollywood’s, favoritism toward light-skinned talent.
“It’s one thing when it’s a fictional character but it is so much more disgusting when they do this bullsh-t with real people,” wrote one person on Twitter.
Another person commented, “Love Zazie Beetz but yea this casting is more evidence that Hollywood is afraid to showcase talent, especially in female roles, that doesn’t have some Venn diagram overlap with European features.”
