May 24, 2015
The Media Action Network for Asian-Americans (MANAA) criticized the upcoming film "Aloha" for not including Asian-Pacific Islanders in a movie that's based in Hawaii.
The group sent a press release to The New York Post that said the movie reserves almost all of its major roles for white actors despite the island state having a caucasian population of about 30 percent. MANAA also notes that the roles given to native Islanders in the film are mostly non-speaking, minor parts.
MANAA has been active on social media, taking less-than-discreet shots at the movie as well as writer and director Cameron Crowe.
@CameronCrowe how can u say u wanted to honor Hawaii's history when you hired 30+ white actors & 3 Asians who barely speak? #screwAloha
— Media Action Network (@manaaLA) May 20, 2015
@CameronCrowe @AlohaTheMovie If u care so much about Hawaiian history why didn't u give APIs major roles in your film?Hypocrite! #ScrewAloha
— Media Action Network (@manaaLA) May 21, 2015
@IMDb @AlohaTheMovie @CameronCrowe How cute-Hawaiians as window dressing who barely get 2 speak Even Sony hates it! http://t.co/lsb4WA5yzG
— Media Action Network (@manaaLA) May 21, 2015
@gfreemaui @michellebvd Yep, Blue Crush, Pearl Harbor, 50 Dates, etc: Haoles coming to Hawaii with their people & acting like tourists
— Media Action Network (@manaaLA) May 20, 2015
"Aloha," stars Philadelphia native Bradley Cooper as well as Emma Stone, John Krasinski, Rachel McAdams, Alec Baldwin, Bill Murray and Danny McBride, all of whom are white.
The criticism for its lack of ethnically accurate characters is not the only issue the film has run in to. Leaked Sony emails show that former studio head Amy Pascal viewed the script as "ridiculous," saying that the movie worked "not even once."
Sony has reportedly placed an embargo on critics who previewed the film last Tuesday, restricting publication of reviews until the day of the movie's release on May 28.
