Bradley Cooper’s Makeup Designer Responds to Backlash Over Prosthetic Nose in Netflix’s “Maestro”

Netflix’s upcoming film “Maestro” has faced backlash over Bradley Cooper’s use of a nose prosthetic to portray Leonard Bernstein, the iconic conductor. Makeup designer Kazu Hiro addressed the controversy during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, expressing surprise at the negative reaction and apologizing to those who felt offended. Hiro explained that their goal was to portray Bernstein as authentically as possible, respecting his iconic look. The decision to use a prosthetic nose has been criticized for being stereotypical and inauthentic, but Bernstein’s daughter, Jamie Bernstein, defended Cooper’s portrayal in an interview with Vanity Fair. She called the backlash an annoying distraction and stated that her family supported Cooper’s efforts. Hiro also discussed the process of applying Cooper’s makeup, revealing that it took several hours depending on the age of Bernstein being depicted. Cooper was not present at the press conference due to the ongoing strikes in Hollywood, preventing him from promoting the film. “Maestro” is set to premiere on Netflix on December 20th.