Samuel L. Jackson Clarifies Stance On British Actors

Samuel L. Jackson caught some flack over his recent interview with Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning. The veteran actor stopped by the New York radio station to promote his latest movie, Kong: Skull Island, but took a moment to share his thoughts on box office hit, Get Out.

“I know the young brother who’s in the movie [Daniel Kaluuya], and he’s British. There are a lot of black British actors that work in this country. All the time,” the BET Lifetime Achievement Award-winner said. “I tend to wonder what would that movie have been with an American brother who really understands that in a way. Because Daniel grew up in a country where they’ve been interracial dating for a hundred years. Britain, there’s only about eight real white people left in Britain… So what would a brother from America made of that role? I’m sure the director helped. Some things are universal, but everything ain’t.”

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Jackson extended his thoughts to Ava Duvernay’s Selma, in which British-Nigerian actor David Oyelowo starred as civil rights hero Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., before offering his opinion on why the influx exists.

“They don’t cost as much. Unless you’re an unknown brother that they’re finding somewhere,” he explained. “They think they’re better trained, for some reason, than we are because they’re classically trained. I don’t know what the love affair is with all that. It’s all good. Everybody needs to work, but there are a lot of brothers here that need to work too. They come here because there are more opportunities, and they actually get paid when they work here. Which is fine.”

Black brits vs African American. A stupid ass conflict we don’t have time for.

— John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) March 8, 2017

Well, many didn’t care for the movie icon’s assessment, including Star Wars: The Force Awaken’s John Boyega. However, Jackson has since clarified his comments with the Associated Press. “It was not a slam against them, but it was just a comment about how Hollywood works in an interesting sort of way sometimes,” he said.

“We’re not afforded that same luxury, but that’s fine, we have plenty of opportunities to work,” he continued. “I enjoy their work. I enjoy working with them when I have the opportunity to do that.”

REVIEW: Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ Examines The Plight Of Black Men In A Horrifying Way