British actor Joseph Fiennes will play the role of Michael Jackson in an upcoming movie about a road trip with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando. When news hit Twitter on Tuesday (and once several people googled Joseph Fiennes) the tweets started pouring in.
Reactions ranged from confusion.
Joseph Fiennes is playing Michael Jackson pic.twitter.com/YkT9UDZVFZ
— nada (@overloved) January 27, 2016
I’m *very* confused about the Joseph Fiennes/ Michael Jackson thing. It’s like it’s April 1st, except we’re still in January
— Katya Shipster (@Publicistkatya) January 27, 2016
Twitter: “Joseph Fiennes to play Michael Jackson” Me: pic.twitter.com/o20MuCzvYX
— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) January 27, 2016
To sarcasm.
Remember in 1995 when Joseph Fiennes floated a statue of himself down the Thames? Oh right, sorry. It’s just that they look so alike
— Michael Hogan (@michaelhogan) January 27, 2016
Congratulations to noted African-American actor Joseph Fiennes on being cast as Michael Jackson…
— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes can play Michael Jackson. (A real person). But Idris can’t play James Bond (a fake spy for a fake agency)? Cool, cool, cool.
— Prentice Penny (@The_A_Prentice) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes is playing Michael Jackson? Fab. Now we can all shut up about lack of diversity.
— Shappi Khorsandi (@ShappiKhorsandi) January 27, 2016
To denial.
I’ve decided that Joseph Fiennes thing isn’t real. Even if it is real I’m pretending it doesn’t exist. Only way.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) January 26, 2016
Followed by anger.
joseph fiennes better NOT play Michael Jackson if he knows whats good for him. What a fucking insult.
— little simz (@keyedhiscar) January 11, 2016
Like… this is so ridiculous that it’s ALMOST funny. White people are now trolling us. Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson, dude.
— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) January 26, 2016
Whose on board with boycotting the whitewashing of Michael Jackson in a show where Joseph Fiennes has been casted to play him?
— shadeoncé (@tawnybananas) January 27, 2016
Which soon turned into bargaining.
So Joseph Fiennes (A WHITE DUDE!) is gunna play Michael Jackson… I say Denzel Washington plays Elvis in the next movie just to be fair.😒😡
— Nico Madden (@_nicomadden) January 27, 2016
I’m TOTALLY on board with Joseph Fiennes playing Michael Jackson IF AND ONLY IF Angela Bassett is cast as Elizabeth Taylor
— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) January 27, 2016
Plus, a little acceptance (or trolling).
@The_A_Prentice Why not? They’re practically the same colour. No problem with Idris as Bond when Daniel Craig is done, MI6 is a real agency.
— Dean Stoner (@thor6580) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes playing Michael Jackson? Black people shouldn’t get mad since there are few black people with light enough skin to play him.
— Jim Lucio (@JimLucio) January 27, 2016
And ALOT of shade.
Over her? RT @billboard: Joseph Fiennes is set to play Michael Jackson in a British TV movie pic.twitter.com/NxXlqExqsm
— abes (@ab_obi) January 27, 2016
Joseph Fiennes is playing Michael Jackson, but I’m really looking forward to James Franco portraying both Whitney Houston & Bobby Brown.
— Glenn Mann (@yourdamnnews) January 27, 2016
Oddly enough, it won’t be the first time I’ll see Joseph Fiennes portray a man of color. I saw him 20 years ago as Jesus in a London play.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) January 26, 2016
Joseph Fiennes is playing Michael Jackson. Who’s playing Diana Ross? Benedict Cumberbun?
— Petey RobLowe (@jteeDC) January 27, 2016
Charlie Hunnam will play a Mexican drug lord and Joseph Fiennes is set to play Michael Jackson. How’s that for diversity in casting?
— AwardsWatch (@awards_watch) January 26, 2016
Let’s never forget, Michael was very proud of being Black.
Michael Jackson outraged about allegations that he wanted a white child to play him in a commercial #JosephFiennes pic.twitter.com/kh8wSeMs8p
— Taylor A. Jackson (@ThatJacksonGal_) January 27, 2016
