Media mogul Robert Murdoch is a bit confused as to why people are complaining about the casting for the upcoming biblical movie, Exodus: Gods and Kings.
Murdoch, whose 20th Century Fox studio is distributing the film, tweeted his defense Friday amid criticism that the film’s all-white cast does not accurately represent the story’s Egyptian characters.
The film focuses on Moses defying Pharaoh Ramses by leading the slaves out of Egypt.
Murdoch tweeted:
“Moses film attacked on Twitter for all-white cast. Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.”
He then tweeted a follow up saying:
“Everybody attacks last tweet. Of course Egyptians are Middle Eastern, but far from black. They treated blacks as slaves.”
Murdoch also expressed that “there are many shades of color” and that his Twitter followers need to “calm down.”
Surprisingly, this is not the first time someone involved with the film has addressed the casting concerns.
Actor Joel Edgerton who stars as Ramses, stated earlier this year that he does “understand and empathize” with criticism of the casting.
He also added:
“I got asked to do a job and it would have been very hard to say no to that job.”
Exodus: Gods and Kings stars Christian Bale, Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, and hits theaters on December 12.
Moses film attacked on Twitter for all white cast. Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) November 29, 2014
Everybody-attacks last tweet. Of course Egyptians are Middle Eastern, but far from black. They treated blacks as slaves. — Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) November 29, 2014
Okay, there are many shades of color. Nothing racist about that, so calm down!
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) November 29, 2014
