The controversy sparked by Queen Cleopatra is only being fueled by attorney Mahmoud al-Semary, who is suing Netflix
There has been a lot of criticism directed at the titular role’s casting since the Queen Cleopatra teaser debuted on Netflix on April 12. Adele James plays the renowned Egyptian empress in Queen Cleopatra, the second installment in Jada Pinkett Smith’s African Queens series. Her reign, one of the most important in Egyptian history, will be outlined.
Who is Egypt lawyer Mahmoud Al-Semary suing Netflix over portrayal of Queen Cleopatra in new series
And now for something completely different…
Lawyer Mahmoud al-Semary wants to shut down Netflix in Egypt over the "Queen Cleopatra" doc. that portrays Cleopatra as a black woman. He argues that it promotes Afrocentrism and distorts Egyptian identity and history. She was Greek. pic.twitter.com/0XhhknFvPc
— Tactical News PL 🇵🇱 (@tac_pl) April 19, 2023
Following the publication of the Queen Cleopatra trailer, Mahmoud al-Semary allegedly filed a petition with the Public Prosecutor for shutting down Netflix in Egypt. According to a complaint made against Netflix, “most of what Netflix platform presents is contrary to Islamic and societal values and principles, especially Egyptian ones,” according to the Egyptian Independent. This complaint was submitted to the Public Prosecution and included the following statement: “There must be pride in the making of such work in order to maintain the Egyptian national and cultural identity amongst Egyptians all over the world.”
More people raising their complaints
It’s become clear that a good number of people aren’t pleased with the way the fabled Egyptian pharaoh is portrayed since the Queen Cleopatra teaser was released. Zahi Hawass, a former minister of Egyptian antiquities, also provided his opinion on the impending documentary to the Egyptian Independent. Queen Cleopatra has been criticized for “falsifying facts.” Hawass continued to speak to the media source, “Netflix is trying to create confusion to promote erroneous information that the genesis of Egyptian civilization is black.
Queen Cleopatra’s cancellation petition
Following the release of the teaser, a Change.org petition was also started with the aim of stopping the documentary before it airs next month. On May 10, 2023, it is planned for streaming platform distribution. The second installment of the African Queens series on Netflix. African Queens: Njinga, which was published in February 2022, is followed by Queen Cleopatra. The rise to power and reign of Angolan Queen Njinga is chronicled in this documentary series.
Both Maha Shehata and Aikk Yasser, members of the Egyptian diaspora, pushed for the documentary’s cancellation because it was “falsifying history.” Before being removed from the website, this petition apparently gathered close to 85,000 signatures in less than two days.