Hollywood liberals' blatant racism once again is on embarrassing display thanks to the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment computers by, according to U.S. officials, the government of North Korea.
This time, the victim is Oscar-winning screen star Denzel Washington, as an unidentified Sony producer wrote in hacked emails to Sony chairman Michael Lynton that Washington should not be cast as the lead in Sony movies because films with black lead stars do not sell well overseas,
Breitbart News reported.
"I am not saying 'The Equalizer' [a film starring Washington] should not have been made or that African-American actors should not have been used. I personally think Denzel Washington is the best actor of his generation," the producer wrote.
However, they added, "I believe that the international motion picture audience is racist — in general, pictures with an African-American lead don’t play well overseas.
"But Sony sometimes seems to disregard that a picture must work well internationally to both maximize returns and reduce risk, especially pictures with decent size budgets."
A group calling itself Guardians of Peace hacked into Sony's computers. A U.S. official says it is believed that North Korea, angry over Sony's new comedy movie "The Interview" involving the assassination of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, engineered the hack. Sony, fearing violence at theaters, has canceled release of the movie, despite its $42 million production cost,
USA Today noted.
The new hack-revealed emails are particularly damning coming on the heels of revelations of racially insensitive joking between Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin about President Barack Obama,
Radar Online notes.
Pascal also came under fire
for stating in a hacked email to Sony Television President Steve Mosko that the current practice of movie stars appearing on television is "the new black baby" of trendiness among screen stars, an apparent racist slam at actresses Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock, who have adopted black children.
"Casting him [Washington] is saying we’re OK with a double if the picture works. He’s reliable at the domestic [box office], safe, but has not had a huge success in years," the producer wrote, adding that a planned sequel to "The Equalizer" would be a "a double with a remote chance of a home run,"
The Independent reported.
"I believe whenever possible the non-event pictures, extra ‘bets’ should have a large inherent upside and be made for the right price. Here there isn’t a large inherent upside."
African-American economist Dr. Boyce Watkins wrote, "It’s unfortunate that an actor as successful and talented as
Denzel Washington must endure such a scathing and unfair critique. Based on what we’re reading, it seems that Denzel’s only mistake is being born with black skin."
Radar Online noted that "The Equalizer" made a profit of $191 million worldwide, but only 47 percent of the profits came from overseas, as compared to other films where an average of 65 percent of profit comes from overseas ticket sales.
"Despite the fact that profits may not always be maximized with African-American leads, quite a bit of money is still being made, so perhaps they can focus on doing the RIGHT thing instead of the most profitable thing," Watkins wrote.
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