Bradley Cooper’s Prosthetic Nose in ‘Maestro’ Is Not Antisemitic, Anti-Defamation League Says
variety.comEthan Shanfeld Bradley Cooper caught backlash for wearing a large prosthetic nose to portray Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro,” his upcoming biographical romance film about the late conductor.
The controversy sparked the latest discourse about “Jewface,” Hollywood’s stereotypical or inauthentic portrayal of Jewish people.
But the Anti-Defamation League, the notable Jewish organization fighting against bias and bigotry, has come to Cooper’s defense, stating that his depiction of Bernstein is not antisemitic. “Throughout history, Jews were often portrayed in antisemitic films and propaganda as evil caricatures with large, hooked noses,” the ADL said in a statement to Variety. “This film, which is a biopic on the legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein, is not that.” The film, which premieres Sept.
2 at Venice Film Festival, centers on Bernstein’s tumultuous 25-year marriage to Felicia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan.
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