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Why It’s Not Funny That Julia Roberts Almost Played Harriet Tubman
I wasn’t going to even attempt to chime in on the latest revelation that’s bound to horrify actress Julia Roberts until the foreseeable future, but after taking some time to digest the shit, it was clear that there are other elements to this viral sensation that deserve highlights.
There was already much controversy surrounding the casting of Harriet, the highly-anticipated biopic, starring EGOT contender, British-Nigerian actress Cynthia Erivo in the epic role of the real life iconic freedom fighter, and abolitionist, Harriet Tubman.
The backstory of Erivo has been scrutinized by a bevy of disapprovers, who believe an American-born Black actress, with direct lineage to descendants of slaves would’ve been a wiser choice, in order to provide the authenticity and unparalleled homage to the historical figure of our times.
Erivo’s enviable portfolio, which includes the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her critically-acclaimed delivery as Celie Harris in the Broadway version of The Color Purple, has been…