Idris Elba will be producing a documentary titled Paid In Full: The Battle for Payback, shedding light on the exploitation of Black artists within the music industry. The documentary, to be broadcasted on the BBC and CBC networks, aims to uncover the historic injustice faced by these artists and explore avenues for reparations. Idris Elba’s […]
The post Idris Elba Set To Produce Documentary Exposing Exploitation Of Black Artists In The Music Industry appeared first on SOHH.com.
Idris Elba recently reflected on the backlash he received from fans in response to his comments on being a “Black actor” during an interview with Esquire in February. Now, speaking with The Guardian for a new piece, he says that his statements were taken out of context.
Elba recalled the Esquire interview, explaining that the outrage was caused because his quote was “overly scrutinized, taken out of context,” and “thrown into some sort of bullshit, zeitgeisty social media argument.” He added: “Me saying I don’t like to call myself a Black actor is my prerogative. That’s me, not you. So for you to turn around and say to me, I’m ‘denying my Blackness.’ On what grounds? Did you hear that? Where am I denying it? And what for? It’s just stupid. Whatever.”
As for what exactly Elba said during his conversation with Esquire, he remarked: “As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be.” He continued: “I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: It’s just skin. Rant over.”
The remarks caused quite an uproar on social media with users taking both sides. One prominent voice to react to Elba was fellow actor John Boyega. “I think we should fixate on who is typecasting and putting actors in boxes because of this. Not on making weird adjustments for them,” Boyega wrote on Twitter. “We continuously focus on what we have to do so they don’t do this or that. Very worrying. We BLACK and that’s that.” In the immediate afterward, Elba also released a clarification of his statement on the platform.
[Via]
Idris Elba is clapping back at critics who claim he denied his Blackness when he denounced the label, “Black actor.” The British actor explained to Esquire UK that referring to yourself as a Black actor can limit role opportunities and growth in Hollywood.
Elba shared, “I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be, We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: It’s just skin. As you get up the ladder, you get asked what it’s like to be the first Black to do this or that,” Elba continued. “Well, it’s the same as it would be if I were white. It’s the first time for me. I don’t want to be the first Black. I’m the first Idris.”
During a new interview with The Guardian, Elba added that he purposely lives a “sheltered life” because social media often chooses to contort the words of celebrities.
“It’s really difficult to have an opinion if you’re in the public eye because it gets overly scrutinized, taken out of context, and thrown into some sort of bullshit, zeitgeisty social media argument.”
The 50-year-old described social media as a “conflict incubator” and noted that his anti-Black actor label is his choice, and he’s sticking to it because it’s his prerogative.
“Me saying I don’t like to call myself a Black actor is my prerogative. That’s me, not you. So for you to turn around and say to me, I’m ‘denying my Blackness’. On what grounds? Did you hear that? Where am I denying it? And what for? It’s just stupid. Whatever,” he told The Guardian.
“There isn’t a soul on this earth that can question whether I consider myself a BLACK MAN or not. Being an ‘actor’ is a profession, like being an ‘architect,’ they are not defined by race. However, If YOU define your work by your race, that is your Prerogative [sic]. Ah, lie?”
Thoughts?
#IdrisElba is totally right in not wanting to describe himself as a Black Actir. He’s an Actor. White actors don’t get called white actors. Why all the labels, which perpetuate divisions & tensions? Its 2023 & nobody should be in a category.
— LemonTrifle
(@LemonTrifle) March 4, 2023
The post Idris Elba Slams Critics For Accusing Him Of ‘Denying His Blackness’ appeared first on The Source.
John Boyega took to Twitter to defend Idris Elba, who sparked a conversation online when he told Esquire UK that he no longer refers to himself as a “Black actor.” According to Elba, the label puts him in a box and limits his career. He said that “as humans, we are obsessed with race and that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be.”
He continued, saying “I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: it’s just skin. Rant over.” After the interview, people accused Elba of renouncing his Blackness with the statement. However, some individuals came to Elba’s defense to agree. Hollywood’s need to put labels on actors and performers plays a huge hand in the way they are able to stereotype actors. John Boyega responded to the discussion on Twitter.
When Elba realized that the statement was causing backlash, he responded to the negative comments on Twitter with an overall response. He said, “There isn’t a soul on this earth that can question whether I consider myself a BLACK MAN or not. Being an ‘actor’ is a profession, like being an ‘architect,’ they are not defined by race. However, If YOU define your work by your race, that is your Perogative. Ah lie?”
Soon after, someone said that “[Elba]’s not wrong lmao. Many Black and POC actors have talked about being typecast into stereotypical roles because of their race.” Boyega said, “I think we should fixate on who is typecasting and putting actors in boxes because of this. Not on making weird adjustments for them. We continuously focus on what we have to do so they don’t do this or that. Very worrying. We BLACK and that’s that.” The biggest highlight from Boyega’s statement is that more individuals should be paying attention to and questioning the typecasting that happens in Hollywood. It, like Elba said, puts Black actors into boxes.
[Via]
Idris Elba says that he no longer refers to himself as a “Black actor.” He explained why he doesn’t like the description during an interview with Esquire magazine, published earlier this week. Elba says that being called a “Black actor” makes him feel like he’s being put “in a box.”
“I stopped describing myself as a Black actor when I realized it put me in a box. As humans, we are obsessed with race. And that obsession can really hinder people’s aspirations, hinder people’s growth. Racism should be a topic for discussion, sure. Racism is very real. But from my perspective, it’s only as powerful as you allow it to be. We’ve got to grow. We’ve got to. Our skin is no more than that: It’s just skin.” From there, he added: “I’m not any more Black because I’m in a white area, or more Black because I’m in a Black area. I’m Black. And that skin stays with me no matter where I go, every day, through Black areas with white people in it, or white areas with Black people in it. I’m the same Black.”
Elba also said that he didn’t choose to go into the entertainment industry for representation. He said he “didn’t become an actor because I didn’t see Black people doing it and I wanted to change that. I did it because I thought that’s a great profession and I could do a good job at it.”
Elba later addressed the backlash he has been receiving to the comments in a statement posted on Twitter. He wrote: “There isn’t a soul on this earth that can question whether I consider myself a BLACK MAN or not. Being an ‘actor’ is a profession, like being an ‘architect’, they are not defined by race. However, If YOU define your work by your race, that is your Perogative. Ah lie?”
Idris Elba’s next film, Netflix’s Luther: The Fallen Sun, hits theater later this month before being added to the streaming platform in March. Elba is best known for his role as Stringer Bell in The Wire, as well as his roles in Beast, Three Thousand Years of Longing, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, The Suicide Squad, and more.
[Via]
Idris Elba is well known for his role in the 2007 film American Gangster starring Denzel Washington. The British actor was also featured on the intro track of the Jay-Z 2007 album of the same name. During a recent interview on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Elba spoke about how he “hustled” his way onto the album
“So I was in American Gangster and at the time I heard Jay was about to do an album associated with the film and I was like, ‘I need to get on that.’ As you do. No idea why JAY-Z would be like, ‘Yeah, sure! Do it,” Elba said.
The actor added, “So Lenny S., who works with Jay, was a good friend of Oronde [Garrett, Elba’s manager]. I wrote this long poem [with] a friend of mine, we put it to a beat — actually it was a rap, but it didn’t sound good as a rap, so I said, ‘Maybe I should speak this.’ ‘Cause Jay might be a little more accommodating to my speaking voice.”
Elba then said that he sent it to Jay-Z who texted him back “I don’t love this. I f*cking love it.”
You can check out the clip below as well as the song.
The post Idris Elba Shares How Got To Be Featured On Jay-Z’s “American Gangster” Album appeared first on The Source.
Idris Elba makes a memorable appearance on Jay-Z’s 2007 album American Gangster, speaking on and producing “Intro.” Now Elba has spoken a bit more about how that came to be, telling Jimmy Fallon he “hustled [his] way onto” the album
On The Tonight Show yesterday, Elba (who was in the American Gangster movie on which the album was based) said:
“I was in American Gangster and at the time, I heard Jay was about to do an album associated with the film and I was like, ‘I need to get on that.’ As you do. You’re like, ‘I’m Idris, I need to be on that Jay-Z album!’ I had no idea why Jay would be like, ‘Yeah, sure, do it.’ So Lenny S., who works with Jay, was a good friend of Oronde and Oronde’s my guy, and I said, ‘Yo, I’m gonna write this thing.’ And I wrote this long poem… a friend of mine, we wrote this long poem, we put it to a beat. Actually, it was a rap, but it didn’t sound good as a rap. […] I said, ‘Maybe I should speak this,’ because Jay might be a little more accommodating to my speaking voice. And I sent it to him and we got this text back from Jay saying, ‘I don’t love this… I f*cking love it.”
Check out the full interview above.
Idris and Sabrina Elba partners in life and now business were one of the first to go public when they contracted the Corona virus which they both battled together. Within months of staying in place and quarantining with the rest of the world, the two launched and created The Hub by S’able Labs, a website discussing interpersonal relationships and partnerships and how they pertain to self-care, in 2020, followed by an Audible podcast, ‘Coupledom’. As the Elbas began to build out conversations around coupledom and partnership, and how it relates to self-care, their attention turned to skincare and how couples and families overall traditionally share skincare products. And S’able Labs skincare line was born. “We’re a partnership, and skincare is something we can share. We are both on the same page about feeling good externally and it helps us approach our day,” Idris in an interview S’able which is the “Elbas” spelled backwards is designed to be a genderless multi-use skincare with responsibly sourced ingredients in collaboration with small farmers from around the globe specifically Africa. “I think if we learned anything in the pandemic, it’s that we really have to be working together to get through anything,” Sabrina states in an interview.
The debut assortment consists of a line of three products a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer with ingredients like Qasil harvested from the leaves of the Gob tree, baobab from the African baobab, also referred to as the “Tree of Life,” and black seed with anti-inflammatory properties. Each of the products is infused with The Elba’s experiences. “Somali women have been using qasil, [a powder made from the leaves from the gob tree], for centuries,” says Sabrina Elba. “I’ve watched my mom put this green stuff on her face forever. It’s a great natural soap full of antioxidants,” she tells ‘Allure’. The resulting product line will reportedly be affordable but luxury, and formulated to specifically target hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and overall skin health. It will also extend beyond product offerings with eventual partnerships and wellness events that will connect customers with S’able Labs for a more personal experience. Click HERE for more information.
The post Idris and Sabrina Elba Enter The World of Beauty And Wellness With A Skincare Line S’able Labs appeared first on The Source.
We all know Idris Elba from “The Wire” or even the “The Office”, but what many don’t know is something he recently revealed on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Podcast. He joined the podcast to promote his latest project “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” which is currently in theaters now.
The podcast spoke on topics outside of his latest project. Like many celebrities, he did not make it big right away. They spoke about the start of his career. When he was in London there were plays and side projects that he would take on. However, when he moved to America and a lot changed for him. There were things he had to do to make sure he could “pay the way”, and some of those things used to be selling weed.
Dave Chappelle only recognized him at first due to the fact that he previously purchased weed from Idris. But selling weed was not the only side hustle he had. He also DJ’ed and was a doorman at Caroline’s Comedy Club.
Selling weed is legal now and is a side hustle he can always revisit.
The post Idris Elba Reveals He Used to Sell Weed Before Finding Fame appeared first on The Source.
