Seth Rogen-Produced Film Company Defends Putting Child Actor in Blackface

The production company insists this is not an example of blackface, and darker makeup was used on the African-American stand-in to match skintones for lighting purposes.

A child actor’s stand-in on the upcoming Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg-produced movie Good Boys has been pictured in what appears to be blackface, per TMZ. The actor was standing in for Keith L. Williams, 11, while he was on a break. Besides makeup intended to darken his skin tone, the stand-in was also wearing an afro wig and a fat suit. 

'Good Boys' Producers Put Child Actor in 'Blackface,' Studio Says for Lighting https://t.co/iEjaUsLrJj

In response, the movie’s production company insists the darkening of a stand-in actor’s skin tone “for lighting purposes” is “not uncommon.” More importantly, they assert this is not blackface. 

The child actor in question is African-American himself, though he is lighter skinned than Williams. In addition, the kid's father is a stunt performer and is working on the set. He is reportedly “offended by the claims being made regarding his son.” 

TMZ tapped some industry insiders who suggested that in their experience, casting directors will try to cast stand-ins who match their corresponding actors’ skin tones so that makeup is not needed.   

At least one person on set was made uncomfortable after seeing the child in blackface, and a complaint was filed. The producers are now in the process of looking into said complaint. 

Good Boys will be an R-rated comedy centering around four 12-year-olds on the edge of adolescence who find themselves alone on a mission from their suburb to the city to fix a broken drone. Variety describes it as a cross between Sausage Party and Superbad. Besides Williams, the movie will star Jacob Tremblay, Molly Gordon, Midori Francis, and Brady Noon. 

Latest in Pop Culture