Published on April 10, 2024, 12:57 am

“Star Wars” icon Billy Dee Williams has publicly positioned himself in favor of actors wearing blackface, if deemed necessary for their respective roles. This noteworthy supporter of theatrical freedom expressed his view during recent times that witness many questioning the acceptability of such measures.

Williams voiced his stance during an engaging session on “Club Random with Bill Maher,” a widely followed podcast bringing real news to the audience. The conversation veered toward changes in societal perceptions and attitudes when Williams fondly reflected on Laurence Olivier’s performance in the 1965 film ‘Othello’. In the iconic flick, Olivier embraced blackface, sparking intrigue and discussions across spheres.

Unfazed by contemporary sentiments, Williams candidly admitted, “When he did ‘Othello,’ I fell out laughing.” He found it amusing that “he stuck his a** out and walked around … because Black people are supposed to have big a**es”. For him, this was more than merely humorous – it was fascinating.

Bill Maher’s response indicated an alignment with your typical modern stance; “Today, they would never let you do that.” Enter twist – Williams posed a simple query – ‘Why?’ He questioned why there should be any restrains on an actor’s portrayal of their role just because it included blackface. In Williams’ perception, “If you’re an actor, you should do anything you want to do.”

The discussion powerfully illustrated differing perspectives imbibed across different eras. Driving home this point was when Maher highlighted that Williams belonged to times where often “you couldn’t play the part you should’ve played.” Discarding the victim’s card conscientiously avoided by many from his era, Billy Dee answered saying he didn’t want to live life like a “victim”.

He stressed upon nurturing a headstrong disposition instead – “You don’t go through life feeling like, ‘I’m a victim,’” he said firmly. The celebrated actor epitomized stoicism by refusing to let bitterness cloud his existence – “I refuse…to the world, ‘I’m pissed off.’ I’m not going to be pissed off 24 hours a day.”

Williams is renowned for his portrayal of Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars franchise. He first stepped into those shoes in the sequel, “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980), returning in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” (1983). He reprised this signature role once more in Episode IX “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019), reflecting Hollywood’s affinity for trusted characters.

When it comes to the broader issue of blackface in Hollywood, Daily Wire host Andrew Klavan has raised eyebrows recently. Citing Hollywood’s ‘wokeness’ and its seeming ambivalence towards racism during his stint on “The Megyn Kelly Show” podcast, he stirred up quite a debate. Their animated conversation traversed recent events such as the Academy Awards ceremony featuring Jimmy Kimmel as host – a comedian with past instances of donning blackface.

Kelly further highlighted that comedian Billy Crystal also appeared “on the Oscars in blackface”, besides the celebration of movies like “Tropic Thunder” where actor Robert Downey Jr. wore blackface. Such instances are glaring contrasts that reflect differing perspectives towards blackface within our society, from Billy Dee Williams’ unwavering support encapsulating an older worldview, to more contemporary outlooks promoting racial sensitivity and respect.