With rumblings that Idris Elba might be the next actor to play James Bond appearing on news sites in the past, many detractors have decried the casting, deeming the dapper Brit “too urban” to take on the mantle currently played by Daniel Craig. However, if there is anything that Black Twitter and black media have taught us, it’s that draggings are unrepentant and aplenty, especially when ignorant, ill-informed people of the Caucasian variety are concerned.
Today’s brand of white nonsense comes courtesy of Kate Hopkins. The far-right media personality released a video on RebelMedia on Monday, August 13, listing an assortment of reasons why Idris Elba “will not” (her words) be James Bond. Standing against an odd pastiche of the American and UK flags, Hopkins, looking every bit like the GreatValue version of Cyndi Lauper that she apparently aspires to be, makes that claim that an actor of color shouldn’t play Bond because he is an upperclassman who grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.
First off, the implications in Hopkins’ reasonings are not only egregious but inflammatory. Her claim that Bond shouldn’t be played by an actor of color just because James Bond is written as an upperclassman implies she doesn’t believe that people of color can come from or live in upper-class society. However, this is not entirely surprising, considering this is the same woman who made the outrageous claim that Meghan Markle, a biracial woman, had no class. Hopkins does not realize or perhaps doesn’t care that such comments are racist.
Considering that Hopkins was a contestant on the third season of the UK version of The Apprentice, we’ll theorize that she inherited this brand of racist behavior from a particular American president. Secondly, Hopkins states that Bond was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and therefore shouldn’t be played by an actor of color, as if being spoiled and blessed with riches is an upbringing exclusive only to white people. We guess Hopkins has never researched “black upper-class” a day in her life. A simple Google search would do her mind wonders.
Ironically, Hopkins states that “it’s not about Idris or his color,” yet states it’s somehow unnecessary to “crowbar race and gender where it doesn’t fit in.” We’ll interpret this as far-right troll language to keep our Hollywood films wholly Caucasian and devoid of any diversity.
Lastly, Hopkins already made race the issue by stating that Idris Elba, a black British actor, can’t be James Bond because 007 can’t be a person of color. Bond has a specific set of traits associated with the character. Key among them are his wits, charisma and his mastery of weaponry. In the history of the character, his race/ethnicity has never been integral in the makeup of his role. With that said, his design allows for a variety of actors from different racial/ethnic backgrounds or even genders to imbue the character with their interpretation.
With her obtuse and racist thinking, Hopkins should consider becoming one of Trump’s disciple, or at the very least, passing as the not-so-fashionable aunt of Richard Spencer and Milo Yiannopoulos.
Watch Hopkins’ racist opinion of Elba’s potential casting as Bond in the video below.
