Updated July 21, 2026, 11:41 a.m. ET
Colman Domingo has some thoughts on some “The Odyssey” detractors.
Domingo, the latest guest host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” amid the late-night host’s summer break, reacted to backlash over Lupita Nyong’o playing Helen of Troy in the film.
The “Michael” star played a clip of podcaster and One America News Network producer Chris Cella, who said, “Casting a Black woman as Helen of Troy is like casting a Black man to play Abraham Lincoln or a White dude to play MLK.”
“Well, not exactly,” Domingo responded. “Because MLK was real, and Helen of Troy is as real as Harry Potter.”
The actor continued, “But I’ll be honest, I agree with that strange little dude. Helen of Troy shouldn’t have been played by a Black woman. She should have been played by a Black man, specifically me,” Domingo said to cheers. “Daddy wants his Oscar!”
Domingo, 56, then gave naysayers another viewing option instead of the Christopher Nolan epic.
“I have a message for everyone who was upset about diversity in ‘The Odyssey.’ If you want to see a film with a cast of all white people who are cursed by the gods,” he said, pausing for dramatic effect, “the ‘Melania’ movie is currently streaming.”
The actor then did a quick vaudeville jig for comedic effect.
Helen of Troy is a Greek mythological character who doesn’t appear in Homer’s epic. She is only described as one of the most beautiful women in the world and “the face that launched 1,000 ships,” whose abduction starts the Trojan war. She is not a historical figure.
Nyong’o responded to complaints to her casting in an interview with Elle in May.
“I’m very supportive of Chris’ intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling,” the actress said. “Our cast is representative of the world. I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”
