Headquartered in California, USA, Netflix's 'Queen Cleopatra' series, the world's most used online series and movie platform, angered the Egyptian people and administration.
Top Egyptian officials and historians reacted to the role of a black actress in the 8-part series/documentary about the life of Cleopatra, the queen and last effective ruler of the Egyptian Ptolemaic Kingdom, saying that 'Cleopatra is of Greek origin and fair-skinned'.
According to the news of NTV Washington representative Huseyin Gunay; 'Queen Cleopatra' was brought to justice in the country for allegedly "harming the Egyptian identity".
While it was claimed that Cleopatra was "light-skinned", the producer of the documentary argued that the queen's "origin is the subject of great debate" and said, "If you don't like the cast, don't watch the production."
BRITISH ACTRESS IS TARGET
British actress Adele James, the lead actress of the series, said she became a target on social media after the Egyptian administration used its jurisdiction to broadcast the series.
British actress Adele James, who plays Cleopatra, also published statements that targeted her and contained harassment and racism in a message she shared on Twitter.
FULL SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT FROM THE DIRECTORS
Famous American actress Jada Pinkett Smith voices the drama documentary she produced.
Regarding her choice of Cleopatra, Smith said, "We don't always get the chance to see or hear the stories of black queens. It was very important to me, my daughter, and our community because there are so many examples of them." she says.
FRAGMAN CAUSED REACTIONS IN EGYPT
Famous historian Zahi Hawass, who also served as a minister in Egypt, said, "This was a complete lie, Cleopatra was of Greek origin, that is, she had fair skin."
Speaking to Al Masry Al Youm newspaper, the Egyptologist argued that in the 25th dynasty of the ancient civilization, there were only black rulers among the Kush kings.
On Sunday, an Egyptian lawyer appealed to the prosecutor's office, demanding that Netflix broadcasts be banned in the country. The same lawyer also argued that the production violated Egypt's press laws.
VII. WHO IS CLEOPATRA FILOPATOR?
According to the information in Wikipedia; VII. Cleopatra Filopator (69 BC – 10 August 30 BC) was queen and last effective ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC. A member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, Cleopatra was a descendant of Soter, a Greek Macedonian general and companion of Alexander the Great. After Cleopatra's death, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire; this marks the end of the last Hellenistic state in the Mediterranean and the period since the reign of Alexander (336-323 BC). Although his native language was Greek, he was the only Ptolemaic ruler to learn and use the Egyptian language.
The 'Feast of Cleopatra' painting completed in 1744 by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo:
Source: Wikipedia - NTV