HBO issued a statement in reply to Kelli Amirah's claims that the makeup department of Lovecraft Country intentionally darkened her skin for her role in the series.
The network said it was "very disappointed" to hear of Amirah's experience in a reply to THR. Amirah alleged that makeup was used on her hands and face to more closely resemble the younger version of the darker-skinned actress she was portraying. HBO stated, "This should not have happened, and we are taking steps to ensure this doesn’t occur again in the future."
Amirah first posted a video on TikTok where she described the ordeal, noting, "The makeup artists were just kind of talking around me and I hear one of them mention how like 'She's a little lighter than the actress' and the other makeup artist was like 'Yeah, you're right. But like, facial features wise, right here, she's a dead match.'"
Amirah continued, "I noticed my foundation is getting darker and darker." Amirah then proceeded to show multiple pictures of the makeup layering from the show.
After receiving criticism for not speaking up while on set and therefore being complicit in the act of blackface, Amirah wrote that those are "valid critiques" on Twitter. She recalled her thoughts at the time, stating, "So here I am, in the makeup trailer of a major network production with the lead stars of the show, and they’re putting me in blackface. Now as this was happening I had so many conflicting thoughts in my head. This is wrong. Why did they hire me? I should say something. What would I say? What would happen?"
Amirah clarified that if she'd known about the makeup beforehand, she never would have accepted the role, stating, "I always thought that ethically I would never be the type of light-skinned actress stealing roles better suited for darker women. I don’t submit for things that I *know* aren’t a fit for me." She closed her statement with the hope that the entertainment industry learns from this mistake, noting, "The entertainment industry needs to do better. I need to do better. I didn’t show up in the way I should have, and again, I’m sorry for that."
Lovecraft Country's Michael K. Williams recently won a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Although isn't renewed for a second season yet, HBO and HBO Max's Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys stated he's "very hopeful" for one.
Executive produced by Jordan Peele, Yann Demange and J.J. Abrams, Lovecraft Country stars Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Aunjanue Ellis, Abbey Lee, Jada Harris, Wunmi Mosaku and Michael Kenneth Williams, with Courtney B. Vance, Jamie Chung, Jamie Neumann, Jordan Patrick Smith and Tony Goldwyn. Season 1 is streaming on HBO Max.
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