Whoopi Goldberg Responds to Transphobic Critics of ‘The Odyssey’ Casting
Whoopi Goldberg has addressed the backlash regarding Elliot Page’s casting in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’, advising critics who disagree with the decision to simply opt out of watching the film.
During Tuesday’s episode of ‘The View’, Goldberg tackled the ongoing criticism directed at the film’s cast, including remarks from conservative commentators who have taken issue with Page’s role. This conversation was sparked after the show aired a clip of Ben Shapiro criticizing the choice to cast Page as a male character in the Greek epic adaptation.
Goldberg recognized that not all viewers may support the casting decisions, but questioned why those critics would invest their time attacking a movie they have no intention of watching.
“Listen, a lot of conservatives who see this are going to feel the same way. That’s okay,” Goldberg stated. “But I don’t understand. Why go see the movie? If you don’t want to see it, then don’t go see it. Why do you care who’s cast in it?”
She further criticized the notion that individuals should persuade others to dislike a film simply because they have personal disagreements with certain choices.
“I don’t understand this idea that if we hate it, everybody must hate it because we hate it for this reason,” Goldberg remarked. “You don’t like Elliot Page? Don’t go see the damn movie. Don’t do it. We will be okay if you don’t go see it.”
These comments come as ‘The Odyssey’ continues to excel at the box office. The Christopher Nolan film has already surpassed $300 million globally after a significant opening weekend, making it one of the year’s top releases.
Other panelists on ‘The View’ also defended the film against the criticism. Alyssa Farah Griffin asserted that the movie’s themes should resonate with a wide audience, including those who have critiqued it prior to viewing.
Griffin characterized ‘The Odyssey’ as a narrative centered on family, faith, responsibility, and the repercussions of war. “It’s about devotion to family, it’s about faith, it’s about upholding institutions. It’s about how war is dangerous and has repercussions for all of us,” she explained.
She expressed surprise that some critics dismissed the film based on the term “woke” rather than engaging with its actual narrative. Joy Behar noted that some individuals remain fixated on that label, while Griffin contended that the film does not contain the issues critics allege.
The panel also explored the criticism of Page’s role from another perspective. Sarah Haines remarked that people should view a film before forming opinions about its quality.
“There’s a unique ignorance to someone who comments on something they’ve never seen,” Haines stated. “You cannot not see the film and complain about how awful it is, when you haven’t seen the film.”
The casting debate surrounding ‘The Odyssey’ has persisted since before the film’s release. In addition to Page’s role, other casting choices, including Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Travis Scott’s appearance, have also ignited online discussions.
Nolan has previously addressed the backlash, indicating that the criticism does not concern him and that controversy is part of adapting a significant piece of existing mythology.
‘The Odyssey’ follows Matt Damon as Odysseus during his arduous journey home after the Trojan War. The film also features Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and many other prominent actors.
As the movie continues its successful run in theaters, the discussion surrounding its casting is unlikely to fade anytime soon. However, Goldberg and other advocates believe that audiences should evaluate the film itself rather than getting caught up in the online debates surrounding its production.
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