Leonard Bernstein’s family supports Bradley Cooper amidst ‘Jewface’ allegations.
The Bernstein Family Defends Bradley Cooper’s Portrayal of Leonard Bernstein in Film
The family of composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein has come to the aid and defense of Bradley Cooper, who will portray Bernstein in a film later this year.
“It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose,” the statement read. “Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that. We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well.”
Cooper, the director and lead actor in the film Maestro, has been criticized for his choice to wear a prosthetic nose in the film, with some accusing him of using “Jewface” since Cooper is not Jewish. However, Bernstein’s three children, Jamie, Alexander, and Nina, issued a statement online to address the controversy and express their support for Cooper.
“At all times during the making of this film, we could feel the profound respect and yes, the love that Bradley brought to his portrait of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, our mother Felicia,” the statement read. “We feel so fortunate to have had this experience with Bradley, and we can’t wait for the world to see his creation.”
The Bernstein family emphasized that Cooper included them in every step of the process and that any complaints regarding his portrayal come across as “disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch.” They also noted that their own father had often been subjected to similar attacks.
Cooper’s involvement in the film came after he won a rights battle to play Bernstein against Jake Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal, who is of Jewish descent, expressed his desire to play Bernstein but acknowledged that sometimes things don’t work out in the industry.
The movie, Maestro, is set to be released in select theaters this November and will later be available on Netflix starting December 20. The streaming service referred to the Bernstein family’s statement in response to the controversy.
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