Is the 'Straight Outta Compton' casting call racist, or just stupid?
Universal has apologized after an agency working on its behalf issued an offensive casting call for the N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton, asking for woman in four different categories based on their attractiveness and ethnicity.
Sande Alessi Casting posted the open call earlier this week, inviting L.A based woman to audition in one of four categories. The call, quoted by Gawker.com, requested A, B, C or D girls. It read:
"A) "Hottest of the hottest. Models" (open to women of any race)
B) "Fine ... Beyonce is a protoype here" (light-skinned women)
C) African American girls ... Medium to light skinned with a weave
D) "These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone."
Universal Pictures and the filmmakers behind the biopic have distanced themselves from the casting call. The company issued a statement late Thursday that "...the filmmakers ... did not approve and do not condone the information in this casting notice. We regret and sincerely apologize for being in any way associated with the offensive descriptions it contained."
A representative for Sande Alessi Casting told TMZ that the ad was an "innocent mistake" that that when it comes to casting the "poor" people, they're also looking for women of various skin tones and body types. The company says the A, B, C, D grouping system is its usual method to look for different types of people and is not meant to offend.
Directed by F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job), Straight Outta Compton is set for release in 2015 and will focus on N.W.A's huge influence on rap music. Relative newcomers O'Shea Jackson Jr, Jason Mitchell and Corey Hawkins will play Ice Cube, Easy-E and Corey Hawkins respectively.
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