Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

Egyptians lodge complaint vs. Netflix series starring Black Cleopatra

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 May 2023 15:52
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

In the wake of a “blackwashing” controversy over a new Netflix docuseries on the life of Cleopatra, Egyptians filed a complaint demanding the banning of the show.

  • x
  • The Netflix logo is pictured on a television in this illustration photograph taken in Encinitas, California, U.S., January 18, 2017. (Reuters)
    The Netflix logo is pictured on a television in this illustration photograph taken in Encinitas, California, US, January 18, 2017. (Reuters)

The Egyptian Prosecutor General's office has received a complaint today, Sunday, against Netflix's new documentary series "Queen Cleopatra" seeking its prohibition due to alleged "cultural insensitivity and historical fallacy," as per El-Watan newspaper citing the document.

The four-part docudrama debuted on Netflix on May 10. The series sparked outrage because it featured multiracial British actress Adele James as Cleopatra, Egypt's final pharaoh who ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom until its subjugation by Romans in 30 BC.

The complaint filed by an official from the Egyptian Culture Ministry said Netflix modified a renowned historical image, resulting in historical fraud.

The official ordered that the series be withdrawn from the streaming portal and permanently prohibited, as per media reports.

Related News

US returns stolen ancient artifacts to Egypt

Researchers recreate balms used on ancient Egyptian mummy

The documentary's creators should have contacted archaeologists and anthropologists to develop an accurate depiction of Cleopatra, the complaint stressed.

Even before it debuted, Netflix's show made a fuss, as tens of thousands of people signed a petition in April criticizing the casting of a Black actress as the Ancient Egyptian queen. The critics argued that the series promotes "Afrocentrism" in an attempt to "claim Egypt's history and rob the actual Egyptians from it" and accused the creators of "blackwashing" history.

#Netflix has been under fire after it debuted the trailer for the upcoming four-episode docudrama Queen #Cleopatra last week.
Social media users and historians criticized the creators and the streaming giant for "rewriting history".#CleopatraNetflix pic.twitter.com/AWyLIE1cWI

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 19, 2023

It is worth noting that Cleopatra's racial ancestry became a source of contention in the late twentieth century, with some African-American researchers portraying the ancient queen as a Black African.

Cleopatra is descended from a Macedonian Greek dynasty established by Ptolemy, a general in the army of Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, she had little Egyptian ancestry and was the first member of the Ptolemaic family to study Egyptian.

  • Ancient Egypt
  • Egypt
  • Netflix
  • Cleopatra

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS