On Thursday, the famous and talented actress Meryl Streep is facing a lot of criticism after a comment she made on diversity in the film industry at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Streep answered to a reporter’s question by saying that Hollywood should be more inclusive in supporting female and minority actors and filmmakers:

“The thing that I’ve noticed from the different roles I’ve played is there is a core of humanity that travels right through every culture. And, after all, we’re all from Africa, originally. We’re all Berliners. We’re all Africans, really.” “I do think inclusion is the name of the game,” she added.

Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL, AFP/Getty Images
Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL, AFP/Getty Images

The actress was at the film festival to serve as president of a jury which all seven members are white. But this fact did not help her comments to be well received.

The comments made it fast through social media and the actress became a trending topic on Twitter. She received answers from people saying things like her comment tried “to erase real Africans” or that there is a lot of prejudice. Others defended the actress, saying that her comments were being misunderstood and taken out of context.

She was also asked about the lack of diversity on the panel, to which she answered that she was committed to equality and inclusion of all genders, races, ethnicities and religions. She then pointed out to the number of females on the panel: “This jury is evidence that at least women are included and in fact dominate this jury, and that’s an unusual situation in bodies of people who make decisions. So I think the Berlinale is ahead of the game.”

But these other comments were also criticized called  “problematic” and “fundamentally saying that WoC aren’t women”.

Source: CNN