Nelson Peltz Had Nothing Nice to Say About 'Woke' 'Black Panther,' But Here's What He Got Wrong
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As a Black woman, I’ve been justifying my comic book fandom since I was eight-years-old and visited a comic book shop for the first time. Even at such a young age, I learned how to ignore the snarky comments and weird looks. So when someone like Nelson Peltz, the investor fighting for two Disney board seats, questions the importance of “Black Panther,” I can usually ignore him, and others like him who rant against “woke” Hollywood.
However, his comments in a recent Financial Times interview are so ridiculous, he deserves all the smoke he’s getting.
“Why do I have to have a Marvel [movie] that’s all women?” he said. “Not that I have anything against women, but why do I have to do that? Why can’t I have ‘Marvels’ that are both? Why do I need an all-Black cast?”
First of all, when you specifically clarify, “Not that I have anything against women,” that’s usually a huge red flag for women. Second, Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau are all powerful women in the comic books, so that’s who the characters are in “The Marvels.” Finally, “Black Panther” isn’t actually all-Black, as Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis and Sebastian Stan play pivotal roles. Were you just so upset they weren’t the leads, you didn’t notice?
“Black Panther” grossed 41.3 billion worldwide. Seems like there were plenty of other people who actually did need this movie. It’s one of the most influential and impactful movies of all time, offering a place for Black fans to feel seen. I know none of this means anything to the 81-year-old Peltz, but it clearly resonated with a large segment of the audience.
The way Ryan Coogler effortlessly blended Wakanda’s devotion to its history and ancestors with its technological advancements celebrated us in a way we never thought we’d see on the big screen.
For comic book fans, it was a moment we waited our entire lifetimes to see. Black heroes were never the sole focus of live action stories. They were always the best friend, villain or other supporting role. Their only purpose was to prop up the white male hero. Frankly, that’s probably what Peltz wants. When he points out that he doesn’t “need an all-Black cast,” it reminds us of the days when one or two Black characters had minimal scenes and weren’t considered essential to the story.
T’Challa was a king. He protected and ruled Wakanda, Nothing happened without his say so. Even in “Avengers: Infinity War,” when the battle comes to Wakanda, The Avengers defer to him, letting him lead the charge because it’s his country.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” made $859 million globally, “The Marvels” has been a streaming hit for Disney+ and “Captain Marvel” grossed $1.1 billion worldwide. Even if you’re not interested in seeing more on-screen representation for marginalized communities, you’d think someone vying for two board seats would be interested in making money?
In the future, Peltz should leave the moviemaking to the professionals, count his money and let the rest of us enjoy our superhero stories in peace.
