Cleopatra Controversy: Netflix Accused of Erasing Egyptian Identity

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OTT giant Netflix has come under fire for the portrayal of Queen Cleopatra as a black African in the documentary series “African Queens: Queen Cleopatra”. The depiction has sparked criticism from Egyptians who have accused Netflix of attempting to erase their identity.

The controversy escalated when a lawyer filed a complaint against the series, claiming that it violates Egypt’s media laws and promotes Afrocentric thinking that aims to distort and erase the Egyptian identity. The debate surrounding Cleopatra’s ethnicity has been ongoing for years, with some historians believing that she was of Greek descent, while others suggest that she was an indigenous Egyptian or from elsewhere in Africa. Zahi Hawass, a prominent Egyptologist, and former antiquities minister has asserted that Cleopatra was Greek and light-skinned. The actress playing Cleopatra in the show responded to the controversy by saying that if viewers didn’t like the casting, they shouldn’t watch the show. Meanwhile, the producer of Netflix production has stated that Cleopatra’s heritage is highly debated.

Re-reported from the story originally published in.. https://www.wionews.com/