Oscar-winning actor Lupita Nyong'o has dismissed right-wing backlash surrounding her casting as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey.
Critics, including billionaire Elon Musk, targeted the casting choice for the $250 million film, which is set for release on July 17.
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The ensemble cast also features Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, and Zendaya.
In an interview with Elle, Nyong'o addressed the online criticism from conservative figures about a Black woman portraying a mythical Greek character.
Musk had labeled the decision a diversity hire aimed at winning awards.
Nyong'o firmly supported Nolan's vision and said she refuses to expend energy defending her participation. "This is a mythological story," she said.
"I'm very supportive of Chris's intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling.
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Our cast is representative of the world."
She emphasized the grand scale of the adaptation as the reason for its diverse casting.
"It's quite something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it is so grand. So that's why the cast is what it is."
The controversy sparked defenses from prominent figures.
Jimmy Kimmel told Musk to stay in his lane, Alec Baldwin complimented Nyong'o on Instagram, and Whoopi Goldberg challenged Musk on The View, saying, "You don't have to actually go to the movie."
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Nyong'o also reflected on her career after winning an Oscar for 12 Years a Slave, noting that subsequent offers were predominantly for roles depicting enslaved women—a trend she found disappointing but not unexpected.
