Actress Lupita Nyong'o is facing criticism online for a question she posed about the ancient Greek author Homer and his epic poem, "The Odyssey." During a press tour for Christopher Nolan's upcoming film adaptation, Nyong'o, who plays Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, questioned Homer's attention to female characters.
"So, Homer, how do you feel about the screen time given to these women considering how little you spent with them?" Nyong'o asked in a video shared on the Jake's Takes YouTube channel. "Remember us?"
The actress's comments quickly drew a strong reaction on social media, with some users deeming the question "idiotic" and "snarky." Others referenced Nyong'o's previous admission that she had not read "The Odyssey" before being cast in Nolan's film, with some critics linking this to her education at the Yale School of Drama.
In an interview with Elle in May, Nyong'o revealed she initially had little familiarity with the epic. "I really had no idea what The Odyssey was," she stated. "I was like, 'Oh, snap, I don’t know the first thing about this.' So it was a crash course. I picked up the books and read them immediately. I have this film to thank for my Greek mythological education."
Nolan's film, set to be released on July 17, reportedly explores the cost of war and aims to give greater perspective to its female characters. "What Chris is interested in this film is investigating the cost of war. And when you read the Iliad and the Odyssey, very little time is spent in the perspective of the women," Nyong'o explained in a separate interview with DC Film Girl. "It’s told from a very masculine side of things. But this film takes time to really consider things from the female perspective. And so we see in Helen and Clytemnestra how this war has affected them both."
Nyong'o also defended Nolan's casting choices and his approach to the material, emphasizing that "The Odyssey" is a mythological story. "You can't perform beauty," she told Elle. "I want to know who a character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks?" She added that she trusts Nolan's vision for the film.
Some social media users drew parallels between Nyong'o's press tour comments and those made by actress Rachel Zegler during her press tour for the live-action "Snow White," which also generated controversy. One user expressed strong disapproval, vowing not to watch the upcoming "Odyssey" film.