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  "path": "/celebrity/odyssey-talk-show-host-helen-of-troy-black-the-odyssey-controversy-lupita-nyongo-sunny-hostin",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-15T21:19:56.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "BBC confirms drag queen La Voix for major Eurovision role ahead of grand finale",
    "Former UK Eurovision finalist opens up on death threat ordeal after disappointing result",
    "Amazon MGM drops major James Bond update as race to claim 007 role intensifies",
    "Elon Musk",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nSunny Hostin, co-host of The View, has sparked backlash online after suggesting Helen of Troy \"can be black\" during Thursday's programme.\n\nThe remarks came during a discussion about Christopher Nolan's forthcoming adaptation of The Odyssey, with speculation over possible casting choices prompting debate among the panel.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMs Hostin argued diverse portrayals of the mythological Greek figure could be historically justified.\n\nDuring the segment, Ms Hostin referenced Black Athena, a controversial study arguing that ancient Greek civilisation was significantly influenced by African and Near Eastern cultures.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"If you think Helen of Troy cannot be Black, you don't know history,\" the presenter said.\n\nMs Hostin added there had long been an academic debate over the extent to which ancient Egyptian and North African societies shaped Greek mythology and civilisation.\n\nThe presenter also referenced her experience teaching Greek mythology to eighth-grade students, saying she had discussed such debates in the classroom.\n\nThe arguments surrounding Black Athena have remained controversial within academic circles for decades.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFellow co-host Whoopi Goldberg offered a more direct response to viewers upset by possible casting decisions.\n\n\"My question is why is this upsetting? Why don't you just not go to the movie? That's an easy solution,\" Ms Goldberg said.\n\nMs Hostin later suggested that racial prejudice often influences such reactions, particularly in modern America.\n\nShe also noted Andromea is traditionally described as an Ethiopian princess in classical mythology and cited Othello as an example of longstanding diverse representation in Western storytelling.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * BBC confirms drag queen La Voix for major Eurovision role ahead of grand finale\n  * Former UK Eurovision finalist opens up on death threat ordeal after disappointing result\n  * Amazon MGM drops major James Bond update as race to claim 007 role intensifies\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMs Hostin concluded that those rejecting the possibility of a Black actress portraying Helen of Troy lacked sufficient historical understanding.\n\nThe backlash against the presenter online was swift.\n\nOne user wrote on X: \"Helen of Troy was Greek. Cleopatra was Greek. Homer was Greek. Plato, Socrates and Aristotle, all Greek.\"\n\nAnother said: \"This show needs to go off the air. Imagine if we had a white guy play Obama, what would happen then? Cities will be on fire! But let’s steal Greek heritage and make it woke as hell!\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA third critic wrote: \"She blends Greek myth, African influence, and modern American race politics into one reheated bowl of television-grade BS.\"\n\n\"This woman is the reason why there are directions on a bottle of shampoo,\" someone else added.\n\nElon Musk has also previously weighed into the growing debate surrounding Mr Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey.\n\nThe billionaire businessman criticised reports Ms Nyong'o could portray Helen of Troy, accusing the Oscar-winning director of embracing \"woke casting\".\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Chris Nolan has lost his integrity,\" Mr Musk wrote on X earlier this year.\n\nThe tech entrepreneur also reacted furiously to rumours trans actor Elliot Page could portray Achilles in the adaptation.\n\nMr Musk described the alleged casting as \"one of the dumbest and most twisted things I've ever heard\".\n\nThere has been no official confirmation regarding which character Mr Page will portray in the film.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "US talk show host ridiculed for saying Helen of Troy was Black amid The Odyssey controversy"
}