Renowned actor Bradley Cooper has recently come under fire on social media for allegedly perpetuating Jewish stereotypes in his upcoming film "Maestro."
However, family members of the late conductor Leonard Bernstein, whom Cooper portrays in the film, have come forward to defend the actor.
The controversy ignited following the release of the film's trailer on Tuesday, with several social media users accusing Cooper of 'Jewface' - a term used to describe offensive Jewish caricatures. This accusation, as reported by NBC News in an article titled "Bradley Cooper accused of Jewface over prosthetic nose in Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro," was primarily based on speculation that Cooper had used a prosthetic nose to resemble Bernstein.
NBC News highlighted the growing backlash against Cooper, citing a social media user who labeled the film as an instance of "Jewface." However, a social media account representing Jamie, Alexander, and Nina Bernstein, Leonard Bernstein's children, has commended Cooper for his portrayal of their father.
In a statement, the Bernsteins expressed their disappointment at the misinterpretations of Cooper's efforts. They acknowledged that their father did have a prominent nose and approved of Cooper's decision to use makeup to enhance his resemblance to Bernstein. They also expressed their belief that their father would have approved of this portrayal.
The Bernstein family further criticized the "strident complaints" about Cooper's physical appearance in the film as disingenuous attempts to undermine a successful individual, a practice they claim was frequently directed at their father.
Prior to the release of the Bernstein family's statement, NBC News included data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) indicating a record-high 3,697 reports of antisemitic incidents across the U.S. The news outlet also quoted actress Sarah Silverman, who has previously criticized Hollywood's "long tradition of non-Jews playing Jews."
Login