'We’re all Africans really': Meryl Streep defends all-white film jury, sets Twitter alight
Hollywood actress Meryl Streep has set Twitter ablaze with her comments on race, claiming that “we’re all Africans really”.
The actress - who is currently the head of the Berlin International Film Festival jury - is being hounded by the Twitterati after she made the comment on diversity Thursday, according to AP.
Streep was taking questions from journalists about the festival’s all-white seven-member jury when she made the comment, saying she was committed to equality and the inclusion "of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions".
When pressed on her understanding of films from North Africa and the Arab world, Streep responded: “I've played a lot of different people from a lot of different cultures. There is a core of humanity that travels right through every culture and, after all, we're all from Africa originally.”
"Berliners, we're all Africans really," she added.
Cue a social media storm...
Yes, according to mtDNA, we are all descendants from the motherland. But Meryl's are from 10,000 years ago. Mine are on earth right now.
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) February 11, 2016
We're all Africans, really, because we all make 64 cents on the dollar to a white man like black women do. #MerylStreep
— Little Fat Girl (@KivaBay) February 11, 2016
I want to be shocked by what Meryl Streep said, but she's an older white woman. Shame she can't be Barack Obama in his life story anymore.
— Kanye Pest (@CorporateBarbie) February 11, 2016
So Meryl Streep: "We're all africans" "I'm not a feminist because I love men"
— Ethel (@Ethelmonster) February 11, 2016
WHO DROPPED MERYL STREEP ON HER HEAD
Meryl Streep's right, you can barely see the difference https://t.co/BSnDppSWLmpic.twitter.com/lgS6DBnGKW
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) February 11, 2016
Since according to Meryl Streep we're all Africans I can't wait to see Wesley Snipes play George Washington!
— Bougie Black Girl (@BougieBlackGurl) February 11, 2016
Today I think Meryl Streep has never been luckier that she's not on Twitter.
— Travon Free (@Travon) February 11, 2016
Diversity in Hollywood is a hot topic at the moment as all Oscar nominees in acting categories for both this year and 2015 are white.
Following protests and calls for an Oscars boycott, the Academy made significant moves to foster greater diversity, including changes to its membership, governing bodies, and voting members.
National treasure Meryl Streep just solved the #OscarsSoWhite dilemma in one sentence https://t.co/5EfkNOMnIT
— TwitchyTeam (@TwitchyTeam) February 11, 2016
READ MORE: #OscarsSoWhite debate sparks diversity changes at Film Academy
