There has been widespread controversy over the casting of actress Emma Stone as a quarter-Hawaiian, quarter-Chinese woman in Cameron Crowe’s new film “Aloha,” according to the Huffington Post.
The director has since issued an apology regarding the casting, explaining his decision and the background of Captain Allison Ng in the process.
Ng is based on “a real-life, red-headed local who did just that,” according to the NY Daily News.
“As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud (one-fourth) Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearance, she looked nothing like one,” wrote Crowe on his website on Tuesday.
Crowe emphasized that Stone had done “tireless research” for her role.
“If any part of her fine characterization has caused consternation and controversy, I am the one to blame,” stated Crowe.
Emma Stone being cast as Allison Ng has touched on the bigger issue that a movie about Hawaiian independence and the lives of Hawaiian locals has an entirely white cast, aside from Bumpy Kanahele.
“Beyond Bumpy Kanahele, most of these [Hawaiian local characters] don’t even have names!,” stated Guy Aoki of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans.
“You see spiritual elder number one, spiritual elder number two, cashier, hula instructor, hula girl one, hula girl two to hula girl 12. How substantial are those parts going to be?”
Crowe is using the recent backlash as a learning experience.
“I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice,” wrote Crowe.
“I am grateful for the dialogue. And from the many voices, loud and small, I have learned something very inspiring. So many of us are hungry for stories with more racial diversity, more truth in representation, and I am anxious to help tell those stories in the future.”
