Why producers of a play about black women and Kylie Jenner banned white critics from reviewing it — and the paper’s scathing disparagement of her ‘offensive’ stance prompts a furious riposte
- Major Outlet Refuses To Review Seven Methods Of Killing Kylie Jenner
- Producers of plays about black women asked for non-white critics
- Art editor’s column accompanied by controversial cartoons
A nasty row has erupted in theater circles after producers of an “awake” new play tried to block white critics from reviewing it.
The Australian producers of the internationally acclaimed Seven Ways to Kill Kylie Jenner demanded that all reviewers be “people of color”, but the art editor of The Age newspaper refused to comply, before lashing out in a fiery column.
Elizabeth Flux accused Amylia Harris and Leila Enright of “tokenism,” arguing that being forced to pick a person of color for the task is “offensive” and “undermines the health of the critical landscape.”
Written by British playwright Jasmine Lee-Jones, the play follows two young black women who respond to claims that the Keeping up with the Kardashians reality star is the world’s “youngest self-made billionaire”.
Ms Flux’s column was also accompanied by a controversial satirical cartoon depicting the stage show’s two leads, Iolanthe and Chika Ikogwe.
A nasty row has erupted in Australian theater circles over requests not to send white critics to review an ‘awakened’ new play about black women discussing Kylie Jenner (pictured).
The theater community Stage a Change described the caricature of the two black actors as “disgusting” and “absolutely disgusting” in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“Honestly, this article is immersed, strewn and flooded with electricity with so much fragility,” it said.
“Fragility that missed the point and so epically magnified itself.”
On social media, another person described the picture as a “racist caricature” and called on Ms Flux to step down for allowing it.
“She chose not to caricature the white producers. Instead, she caricatured the black actors who are just doing their job and have nothing to do with it. To resign.’
Ms. Flux’s article explained to her readers why the publication did not include a review of Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner.
The Age published a cartoon depicting the two leads of Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner, Iolanthe and Chika Ikogwe, which was described as a “racist caricature”.
“It’s not because we didn’t want to cover it — it’s because the producers refused to ‘accommodate’ reviewers who weren’t People of Color (PoC).”
Ms Flux wrote that she agrees with the goal of increasing diversity among critics, but that the show’s request was “a misguided move”.
‘[It] promotes tokenism, undermines the health of the critical landscape, and does critics, creatives, and audiences a disservice.’
But her column went further to explain her decision.
“To actively seek someone to review this production because they are a PoC would have been offensive,” wrote Ms. Flux.
Elizabeth Flux (pictured) accused the play’s producers, Amylia Harris and Leila Enright, of “tokenism” in a fiery column in The Age.
She added that it was “ridiculous and potentially dangerous” for critics to have to disclose their race in order to do a job.
Ms Flux, who described herself as “a Hong Kong-born Eurasian who grew up in Australia,” also pointed out that neither producer behind the decision was a person of color.
She included a joint statement from Ms Harris and Ms Enright, which said: “Our intention is not to be exclusive but to use this opportunity to continue to encourage media organizations to encourage representation on their teams for the benefit of artists to increase audiences and their readership. ‘
A theater source told Chron Australia there’s nothing stopping a news outlet from reviewing a show if they’re paying for their own ticket.
Chron Australia has reached out to The Age and Elizabeth Flux for comment.
Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner performed at the Malthouse Theater in Melbourne until January 29.