After
President Obama,
Kevin Hart, and
Angelina Jolie came under fire from
racist Sony executives, RadarOnline.com has learned that
Denzel Washington is the latest target to be revealed in the explosive hacker email leak. According to emails from the execs, two-time Oscar winner Washington should not be cast in films that will get play overseas — because he is black.
The unbelievable e-mail thread was sent soon after Sony released Washington’s latest film The Equalizer, and was posted online by
hackers who are demanding the studio not releaseThe Interview, a comedy about the assassination of North Korea’s
dictator.
The producer who sent the e-mail to Sony Chairman
Michael Lynton said he or she hoped the incredible statement wasn’t “inappropriate or provocative.” But the producer — whose name was erased from the emails — suggested Sony should avoid casting black actors to appeal to an international market that the producer deemed “racist.”
“No, I am not saying The Equalizer should not have been made or that African American actors should not have been used (I personally think Denzel is the best actor of his generation),” the producer wrote.
“Casting him is saying we’re ok with a double if the picture works,” the producer wrote, using a baseball analogy. “He’s reliable at the domestic [box office], safe, but has not had a huge success in years. I believe whenever possible the non event pictures, extra ‘bets’ should have a large inherent upside and be made for the right price. Here there isn’t a large inherent upside.”
Washington’s The Equalizer grossed $191 million at theaters worldwide, with 47% of the ticket sales coming from outside of the United States. Still, the e-mail chain suggested that the overseas box office percentage was not good enough. Other films should expect 65% of the sales abroad, the analysis said. The reason for the disparity? According to the producer, it was Washington’s race.