Lupita Nyong’o Is “Not Spending My Time” On Racist ‘Odyssey’ Criticisms

After the casting that launched a thousand trolls, Lupita Nyong’o isn’t wasting her energy on acknowledging haters.

The Oscar winner recently shared her response to racially-fueled online criticisms of her casting as Helen of Troy and Helen’s sister Clytemnestra in Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic.

“This is a mythological story,” she told Elle. “I’m very supportive of Chris’ intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. 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.”

Nyong’o added, “It’s quite something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time.”

After criticisms from the likes of Elon Musk and Matt Walsh over her casting as “the face that launched a thousand ships,” Nyong’o offers a more nuanced approach to the character of Helen.

“You can’t perform beauty. I want to know who a character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks? That’s the thing about doing such a well-known text, which has been studied and interpreted and derived from. The research could be endless. The good thing about working with a writer like Chris is that it’s on the page. The investigation starts with the pages you’re given. That’s what I based it on.”

Last week, Walsh took to social media to complain that “not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world,’” adding that Nolan “is technically talented but a coward.” Musk agreed, accusing Nolan of changing the character’s ethnicity because “he wants the awards.”

Others have also criticized Nolan for casting black musician Travis Scott and trans actor Elliot Page.

The Odyssey is slated to premiere on July 17, 2026, depicting Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. The film also stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo and more.