Bradley Cooper is facing a firestorm following the trailer release of ‘Maestro.’ The actor’s portrayal of Leonard Berstein has been questioned after the ‘Jewface’ accusation. Once again, the netizens are failing to understand that artistic choices carry their significance. Not everything is meant as an attack on anyone’s religious faith.
Once again, people confuse representation and personal beliefs. The controversy has died down a little thanks to Leonard Bernstein’s children. They have come out saying that they understand the intention of the prosthetic. The children were involved with Cooper during filming and believe the backlash has no base.
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Bradley Cooper Faces Backlash For ‘Maestro’
Following the success of ‘A Star Is Born’ Bradley Cooper is back with an all-encompassing biopic of Leonard Bernstein. In addition to writing and directing, Cooper takes center stage as an iconic musical legend in ‘Maestro.’ Soon after the trailer’s release, Bradley Coope went viral for all the wrong reasons. Fans and Jewish organizations noted the actor had applied a prosthetic nose. They believe it promotes Jewish stereotypes in the media.
@StopAntisemites expressed their disappointment over a non-Jewish actor playing the Jewish icon, posting, “Hollywood cast Bradley Cooper – a non Jew – to play Jewish legend Leonard Bernstein and stuck a disgusting exaggerated “Jew nose” on him. All while saying no to Jake Gyllenhaal, an actually Jewish man, who has dreamt of playing Bernstein for decades.”
Hollywood cast Bradley Cooper – a non Jew – to play Jewish legend Leonard Bernstein and stuck a disgusting exaggerated “Jew nose” on him.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) August 16, 2023
All while saying no to Jake Gyllenhaal, an actually Jewish man, who has dreamt of playing Bernstein for decades.
Sickening. pic.twitter.com/YzudOstRAE
@shoshido is upset with Bradley Cooper’s ‘Jewface’ downgrades Leonard Berstein’s timeless good looks. She posts, “The real Leonard Bernstein did not have the funny nose that Bradley Cooper is wearing in Maestro. I’m just so tired of this. #JewFace”
The real Leonard Bernstein did not have the funny nose that Bradley Cooper is wearing in Maestro. I’m just so tired of this. #JewFace pic.twitter.com/QayHbpAIHW
— Small Fringe Shoshi 🚚🚛🚜💨 (@shoshido) August 15, 2023
@noagencynewyork is also questioning the desperation of Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose since he didn’t wear any during the production of ‘The Elephant Man’ in their post, “I saw Bradley cooper play the elephant man with no prosthetics on broadway. But then he plays a Jew and decides he needs a huge nose? (He’s the director too so don’t blame anyone else)”
I saw Bradley cooper play the elephant man with no prosthetics on broadway. But then he plays a Jew and decides he needs a huge nose? (He’s the director too so don’t blame anyone else) pic.twitter.com/w9q33JTKe5
— No Agency New York (@noagencynewyork) August 15, 2023
In Case You Missed: ‘Maestro’ Leonard Bernstein’s Top Five Works You Should Definitely Listen To
Bernstein Estate Comes Out In Bradley Cooper’s Support
Leonard Bernstein’s children don’t mind Bradley Cooper sporting a prosthetic nose to play their father in his next film, ‘Maestro.’ The Bernstein children, Jamie, Alexander, and Nina, told Insider that they don’t question Cooper’s love, respect, and commitment to telling their parents’ story.
However, the Bernstein children are disappointed that people are choosing to focus on the wrong side of the story. In their own words, their father did have a “nice, big nose.” They told Insider, “Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that,”
They added, “We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well. Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch — a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father.”
The supporting cast for ‘Maestro’ includes Matt Bomer, Sarah Silverman, Maya Hawke, Michael Urie, and Miriam Shor. The film will premiere at this year’s 80th Venice International Film Festival. It will be available in select theatres starting November 22, 2023. ‘Maestro’ will be available to stream on Netflix on December 20, 2023.
You might also like to read: ‘Maestro’ Portrays Leonard Bernstein’s Sexuality And Open Marriage. How Much Of It Is True?
