Dakota Fanning’s forthcoming role as a Muslim woman in the film Sweetness in the Belly has been met with controversy. Now, the actress has taken to Instagram to defend her part.
Fanning clarified her role, writing, “I do not play an Ethiopian woman. I play a British woman abandoned by her parents at seven years old in Africa and raised Muslim.”
She continued, “My character, Lilly, journeys to Ethiopia and is caught up in the breakout of civil war. She is subsequently sent 'home' to England, a place she is from but has never known. Based on a book by Camilla Gibb, this film was partly made in Ethiopia, is directed by an Ethiopian man and features many Ethiopian women. It was a great privilege to be a part of telling this story."
She added, “The film is about what home means to people who find themselves displaced and the families and communities that they choose and that choose them.”
After Deadline Hollywoodtweeted a short clip from the film, people began dragging Fanning. Without knowing the premise of the book, some wondered why Fanning was cast in the role, instead of an Ethiopian or Muslim actor. Others equated the casting to Scarlett Johansson’s propensity for taking on roles that should be filled by the minorities they portray. The film was also accused of “whitewashing,” per Cosmopolitan.
The film is directed by Zee Mehari, who is Ethiopian—and the actors speak Amharic, Arabic, and English in the film. Sweetness in the Belly is set to premiere at Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 7.
