Title: Bradley Cooper Faces Criticism for Using Facial Prosthetics in Biopic “Maestro”
In the forthcoming biopic “Maestro,” directed by Bradley Cooper, the actor has come under fire for his use of facial prosthetics to portray legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. The trailer for the film revealed Cooper’s altered appearance, leading to accusations of cultural insensitivity.
Leonard Bernstein, renowned for his musical contributions, was the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants who settled in the United States. He is best known for composing the music for “West Side Story” and his tenure as the music director of the New York Philharmonic. Cooper, who not only stars in the film but also directs and co-writes it, is not of Jewish descent, and his noticeable fake nose in the trailer has sparked controversy.
Tracy-Ann Obermann, a British actor and activist, took to social media to criticize Cooper’s portrayal. Obermann equated the use of the prosthetic nose to the offensive practice of blackface or yellowface. She argued that if Cooper could portray the Elephant Man on stage without any prosthetics, he should be able to play a Jewish character without relying on altering his appearance.
Daniel Fienberg, the chief TV critic for The Hollywood Reporter, previously voiced concerns about the prosthetic use, describing it as “problematic” when set photos started circulating in May. He later referred to the film as “ethnic cosplay.”
This controversy is not isolated, as it follows similar objections raised regarding casting choices in other projects. For instance, Cillian Murphy, a non-Jewish actor, was cast as Jewish physicist J Robert Oppenheimer in a biopic directed by Christopher Nolan. Comedian David Baddiel criticized these casting decisions, accusing the industry of neglecting proper Jewish representation and perpetuating “Jewish erasure.” Baddiel also questioned the casting of Helen Mirren as Israeli prime minister Golda Meir in a separate film.
As conversations around representation and inclusion intensify, these instances of casting non-Jewish actors in notable Jewish roles have sparked concerns about the industry’s commitment to accurately representing minority communities and avoiding offensive stereotypes.
The controversy surrounding Bradley Cooper’s use of facial prosthetics in “Maestro” highlights the ongoing need for more authentic casting choices and the careful consideration of cultural sensitivity in the film industry.