Lupita Nyong’o takes aim at Elon Musk over his race-swap role in Odyssey

Lupita Nyong’o has finally broken her silence over the heated controversy surrounding her latest Hollywood role as Helen of Troy in The Odyssey.

The Oscar-winning star was recently unveiled as part of acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of the legendary Greek epic, but the casting announcement immediately sparked fierce debate online.

Much of the backlash centered around the decision to cast a Black actress as Helen of Troy, a character traditionally portrayed as white in ancient Greek mythology.

Elon Musk Weighs In

The controversy exploded further after billionaire businessman Elon Musk joined the conversation on X.

Musk reacted to comments made by conservative commentator Matt Walsh, who had accused Nolan of making the casting choice to avoid criticism about racism in Hollywood.

Responding to Walsh’s post, Musk simply replied: “true.”

The Tesla boss later doubled down on his criticism, arguing that casting a Black woman in a major European mythological story was inappropriate.

“I agree that she is beautiful, but casting a Black woman to play a White woman in a foundational work of European literature is no righter than casting a White man to play Shaka Zulu!” Musk posted.

He further accused Nolan of allegedly altering the original material to make the film more attractive during awards season.

Lupita Refuses to Defend Herself

Despite the viral criticism, Nyong’o has made it clear she has no interest in fighting online battles over the role.

Speaking in a recent interview with Elle, the actress said she is more focused on understanding the emotional depth of the character rather than defending her appearance.

“I’m not spending my time thinking of a defence. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not,” she stated.

Nyong’o explained that her approach to acting goes beyond physical appearance and beauty.

“I want to know who a character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks?” she added.

According to the actress, The Odyssey is a widely interpreted mythological story, meaning there are many ways filmmakers and actors can approach its characters.

Supporting Nolan’s Vision

The actress also defended Nolan’s broader creative vision for the film, describing the project as a mythological adaptation rather than a strict historical recreation.

Nyong’o noted that the cast was intentionally designed to reflect a more representative world, an approach that has continued to divide audiences online.

Critics argue that mythological and historical characters should remain tied to traditional racial depictions, while supporters say modern adaptations should allow for creative reinterpretation and inclusive casting.

Despite the backlash, anticipation for Nolan’s version of The Odyssey remains extremely high, with the film already being viewed as one of Hollywood’s biggest upcoming releases ahead of its scheduled July premiere.