Zoe Saldana 'not dark enough' for lead role

Controversy hits Hollywood as Zoe Saldana is dubbed 'not dark-skinned enough' to play Nina Simone

By Jennifer Ruby, Daily Mail

She's one of Hollywood's hottest rising stars, but apparently not everyone is a fan of Avatar actress Zoe Saldana.

Since it emerged that the Dominican-Puerto Rican actress was to play jazz legend Nina Simone in eagerly anticipated biopic, Nina, they has been backlash about the colour of her skin.

Not dark enough? Hollywood producers have faced criticism for casting Zoe

An article by The New York Times states that there has been a concerted attempt by certain members of the online community to have Zoe removed from the role, as they don't believe her to be dark-skinned enough for the part.

Tiffani Jones, who runs Coffee Rhetoric, raised the issue on her blog: '

Hollywood and the media have a tendency to whitewash and lightwash a lot of stories, particularly when black actresses are concerned.

'When is it going to be OK to not be the delicate looking ideal of what the media considers blackness to be?'

The blog links to an online petition run by Change.org , which has nearly 3000 supporters, calling for director Cynthia Mott to dismiss Zoe from the film and hire an actress whose skin tone is closer to Nina's.

There has also been disapproval from those who were closest to the late, iconic singer.

Nina's daughter Simone Kelly has taken umbrage with the decision to cast Zoe, and has taken to her Facebook page to voice her concerns:

'Appearance-wise this is not the best choice,' she wrote.

Although Simone went on to say that she had no problem with the star's acting ability, she admitted that she would like to see a darker-skinned actress such as Viola Davis or Kimberly Elise take the part and suggested that her mother would have wanted Whoopi Goldberg to play her.

Zoe, who is hot property in Hollywood at the moment, has seen her profile rise after starring in a string of blockbusters and dating the likes of Bradley Cooper. She is rumoured to be starring in the forthcoming Avatar sequel.

Spanish-dominant Hispanics satisfied with racial representation

Spanish-Dominant Hispanics Most Satisfied with Multicultural Representation on TV Low Ratings Among Other Key Multicultural Segments

LARCHMONT, N.Y. -- In our increasingly multicultural world, how is mainstream media perceived by multicultural consumers who are quickly becoming the new general market? In Horowitz Associates' 13th annual State of Cable and Digital Media: Multicultural Edition study, White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian urban consumers were asked how well TV represents racial and ethnic groups in terms of quality (accuracy in comparison with reality) and quantity (proportionate with reality). One-third (32%) say TV does a good job with quality, but a comparable number (27%) give unfavorable ratings; two in five (40%) give favorable ratings for quantity and one-quarter (23%) give unfavorable ratings. Across total multicultural consumers, neutral ratings fall between 37% (quantity) and 41% (quality). 

The study reveals important dynamics across races, particularly among key Hispanic segments. Spanish-dominant Hispanics are the most satisfied with racial representation in the media, reporting the highest favorable ratings and lowest unfavorable ratings for quantity (53% favorable; 11% unfavorable) and quality (46% favorable; 13% unfavorable). Spanish-dominant Hispanics watch 69% of their TV in Spanish, however, making their evaluation reflective of the content on Spanish networks. On the other hand, English-oriented Hispanics, who watch 92% of their programming in English, give the media high unfavorable ratings for quality (35%) and quantity (29%). 

Asians are the least satisfied with multicultural representation, giving the lowest favorable ratings for quantity (24%; 31% unfavorable) and quality (22%; 27% unfavorable). Asians are the only segment that gives higher unfavorable ratings than favorable ratings for both quantity and quality. 

"Multicultural audiences have always been the best customers for television and entertainment. Tokenism and stereotypical representation of ethnicities in the media will not pass muster among this new general market for media," notes Adriana Waterston, Horowitz's VP of Marketing and Business Development. "Our findings, particularly the dramatic differences between key segments of the Hispanic market, help underscore the value viewers place in seeing themselves represented in the stories, voices, and faces they watch on TV." 

State of Cable and Digital Media: Multicultural Edition: An annual, syndicated survey tracking key trends regarding attitudes and adoption of television, broadband, and mobile technologies among urban, multicultural consumers. The 2012 survey was conducted among a national sample of 1,532 urban (cities with a population of 50,000+) heads of household 18+. Published by Horowitz Associates Market and Multicultural Research. 

SOURCE Horowitz Associates, Inc.