Seven Methods To Kill Kylie Jenner Ban White Critics As The Age’s Elizabeth Flux Speaks
Why the producers of a play about black women and Kylie Jenner don’t want any white critic to judge it
- Major outlet refuses to review Seven Methods Of Killing Kylie Jenner
- Producers of play about black women called for non-white critics
- Art editor column accompanied by a controversial cartoon
A nasty row has erupted in theater circles after the producers of a new “awakened” play tried to ban white critics from reviewing it.
The Australian producers of internationally acclaimed Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner demanded that all critics be ‘people of colour’, but The Age newspaper’s art editor refused to comply before lashing out with a column of fire.
Elizabeth Flux accused Amylia Harris and Leila Enright of ‘tokenism’ arguing that being forced to select a person of color for the task was ‘offensive’ and ‘undermines’ the health of the critical landscape.
The play, written by British playwright Jasmine Lee-Jones, is about two young black women who react to claims that the Keeping up with the Kardashians reality star is the “youngest self-made billionaire” in the world.
Ms. Flux’s column was also accompanied by a controversial satirical cartoon showing the two main actors of the stage show, Iolanthe and Chika Ikogwe.
A nasty row has broken out in Australian theater circles over a request not to send white critics to review a new ‘woke’ play about black women debating Kylie Jenner (pictured)
Community theater group Stage a Change called the cartoon of the two black actors. ‘abhorrent’ and ‘absolutely disgusting’ in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“Frankly speaking, this item is so brittlely dipped, splashed and washed up,” he said.
‘Fragility that has missed the point and grown so epically grand.’
On social media, another person described the image as a “racist cartoon” and called on Ms Flux to resign for allowing it.
She chose not to caricature the white producers. Instead, she caricatured black actors who are just doing their job and have nothing to do with it. 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 showing the two lead actors in 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’ non-People of Color (PoC) critics.”
Ms. Flux wrote that she agreed with the goal of increasing diversity among critics, but that the show’s request was “the wrong move.”
‘[It] it promotes tokenism, undermines the health of the critical landscape, and hurts critics, creatives, and audiences alike.’
But her column went further in explaining her decision.
“Actively seeking someone to review this production on the basis that they are a PoC would have been offensive,” Ms. Flux wrote.
Elizabeth Flux (pictured), accused the play’s producers Amylia Harris and Leila Enright of ‘tokenism’ in a fiery column in The Age
He also added that it was “ridiculous and potentially dangerous” that critics would have to reveal their race to get a job done.
Ms Flux, who described herself as “a Eurasian born in Hong Kong who grew up in Australia”, also noted that neither producer behind the decision was a person of colour.
It included a joint statement from Ms. Harris and Ms. Enright saying: “Our intention is not to be exclusive, but to take this opportunity to continue to encourage media organizations to increase representation on their teams for the benefit of artists, the public and its readers. ‘
A theater source told Daily Mail Australia that there is nothing to stop any media outlet from reviewing any show if they pay their own admission.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted The Age and Elizabeth Flux for comment.
Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner is playing at Melbourne’s Malthouse Theater through January 29.