A new Netflix docudrama series depicting Queen Cleopatra VII as a black African has stirred up controversy in Egypt after an Egyptian lawyer filed a complaint against the series, accusing it of violating media laws and trying to erase Egyptian identity. The lawyer demanded that “the necessary legal measures” be taken, and he ultimately wants to block access to Netflix’s services in Egypt. He further alleged that the series included visual material and content that violated Egypt’s media laws and accused Netflix of trying to “promote the Afrocentric thinking… which includes slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity”.
However, the producer defended the casting choice, stating that Cleopatra’s heritage is a topic of debate. A top archaeologist argued that Cleopatra was light-skinned, not black, and accused Netflix of spreading false and deceptive facts to suggest that the origin of the Egyptian civilization is black. The archaeologist called on Egyptians to take a stand against Netflix.
In response to critics, the actress playing Cleopatra urged viewers who don’t like the casting not to watch the show. The controversy echoes a debate from three years ago when a planned movie about Cleopatra starring an Israeli actress (Gal Gadot) triggered criticism on social media for not casting an Arab or African actress.