Leonard Bernstein's family defends Bradley Cooper over Maestro nose controversy

Leonard Bernstein's family defends Bradley Cooper's portrayal of the late composer in his biopic "Maestro" amidst controversy.

The family of the late composer Leonard Bernstein has come to the defense of actor Bradley Cooper amid controversy surrounding his biopic, Maestro. Cooper, who both directs and stars in the film, faced criticism over the size of his nose, with some social media users accusing him of perpetuating offensive Jewish stereotypes. However, Bernstein's family has expressed their support for Cooper's use of makeup to enhance his appearance, stating that they are "perfectly fine" with it. They have also addressed the criticism of not casting a Jewish actor to play Bernstein, asserting that their father would have been accepting of Cooper's portrayal. In a statement posted online, Bernstein's family expressed their disappointment with the complaints, viewing them as attempts to undermine Cooper's success. They praised Cooper's respect, love, and commitment to accurately portraying Leonard Bernstein and his wife, Felicia. The family expressed gratitude for being involved in the filmmaking process and eagerly anticipate sharing Cooper's creation with the world.

In addition to Maestro, another film, Golda, has also faced controversy. The upcoming release features Dame Helen Mirren as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in Guy Nattiv's production. The casting decision has drawn criticism, particularly from actress Maureen Lipman, who believes that the character's Jewishness is a crucial aspect that should have been considered in the casting process. The film is set to hit US cinemas later this month.