Sunday 7 August 2022 01:07 AM Alina Of Cuba producer hits back at John Leguizamo's criticism of James Franco ... trends now
The Alina Of Cuba producer John Martinez O'Felan is hitting back at John Leguizamo's criticism of the casting of James Franco as former Cuban President Fidel Castro, calling them 'culturally uneducated.'
The film is based on the true-life story of Alina Fernandez, played by Ana Villafañe, a Cuban exile turned social advocate who learns she is Castro's daughter at age 10, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Franco is set to star opposite Mía Maestro, who plays Natalia 'Naty' Revuelta, a Cuban-born socialite who becomes romantically involved with Castro.
Casting controversy: The lead creative producer for Alina Of Cuba, John Martinez O'Felan, hit back at John Leguizamo's criticism of Franco being hired to play Fidel Castro, calling them 'culturally uneducated'
Leguizamo, a Colombian American actor, took to Instagram on Friday and fiercely condemned the choice for director Miguel Bardem's new film, calling it yet another example of cultural appropriation, considering Franco doesn't have Latin roots.
'How is this still going on? How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well?' said Leguizamo, who has long been an advocate for the inclusion of Latin actors and their stories to be told on screen.
He continued, 'No more appropriation Hollywood and streamers! Boycott! This F'd up! Plus seriously difficult story to tell without aggrandizement, which would be wrong! I don't got a [problem] with Franco but he ain't Latino!'
While prefacing he admires Leguizamo, producer John Martinez O'Felan hit back at his comments about Franco being hired to play a Latino.
His take: Leguizamo, 62, accused the team behind Alina Of Cuba of 'excluding' Latino's while 'stealing our narrative' and then called on people to boycott the biopic
'A guy like John Leguizamo has historically been looked up to by Hispanics as one of America's earliest actors of Latin descent since the 90s and I've always admired him as a fellow underdog. But his comments are culturally uneducated and a blind attack with zero substance related to this project,' he said.
'The reality of the ignorance piece falls within his statement suggesting his personal view on being "Latino," because a land mass or living area does not determine a person's blood history or
