Joey McFarland has apologized after sparking controversy for walking the red carpet at the premiere of Emancipation with the original photograph of an enslaved man named Peter that inspired the film.
“I apologize from the bottom of my heart to everyone I offended by bringing a photo of Peter to the Emancipation premiere,” the Oscar-nominated producer said in an Instagram post on Sunday. “My intention was to honor this remarkable man and to remind the general public that his image not only led to change in 1863, but continues to resonate and encourage change today.”
The photo shows a man named Peter who escaped enslavement, with scars on his back from being repeatedly whipped. The photo was known as both “Whipped Peter” and “The Scourged Back.”
“Having uncovered Peter’s origin story with the help of conscientious historians, I’ve spent the last few years working with Emancipation’s creative time to bring his story to life so that audiences worldwide have an opportunity to appreciate his heroism. I hope my actions don’t detract from the message of the film, from Peter’s story and how much of an impact he’s had on the world,” McFarland continued in the post.
“During the research and development of Emancipation, I discovered photographs of overlooked and historically important people whose stories also needed to be told. A photograph by Martin Delaney is on loan to the National Portrait Gallery and is currently on display. My plan has always been to donate the photos to the appropriate institution in consultation with the community and I believe there is no better time to start this process than now.”
The Emancipation producer ended his statement by saying, “These photos that existed before me will exist long after I die; You belong to the world. My goal has always been to find the right permanent home and ensure they are accessible to honor their importance. And most importantly, the people depicted in the photographs are remembered and their stories are told with the utmost dignity and respect.”
McFarland was heavily criticized online by members of the entertainment industry including #OscarsSoWhite creator April Reign and The Black List founder Franklin Leonard following his appearance on the November 30 premiere carpet. Both expressed desperation and “disgust” at the producer’s decision to show the photo, which the producer said in a video posted online that he brought with him so that “a piece of Peter” would be with him.
Leonard questioned the producer’s interest in and reasoning behind collecting artifacts related to enslaved Black Americans. “Why do you own the photo? Why did you bring it to a film premiere when the intent is to respectfully preserve it? You wanted ‘a piece of Peter’ here? You collect slave memorabilia that will be donated after your death? What are you doing with it in the meantime? So many questions,” he tweeted at the time.
McFarland told on the carpet before the film’s Los Angeles premiere that photos like Peter’s were “so poorly curated, preserved and protected. And so, over the past few decades, I have sought out and acquired as many forgotten and lost photos as possible.”