Tomi Adeyemi Rejects Jan. 15 Film Release, Tells Amandla Stenberg to Stop Using Her Name
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jul 5
Tomi Adeyemi Rejects Jan. 15 Film Release, Tells Amandla Stenberg to Stop Using Her Name
3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jul 5
Summary
Tomi Adeyemi said she will not watch Paramount’s Jan. 15 adaptation of Children of Blood & Bone and will not promote it, calling the situation too painful to discuss publicly.
TikTok screenshots showed Adeyemi also sent Amandla Stenberg a direct message saying, “Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again,” and to stop contacting her.
That message was dated late February, shortly after Stenberg defended her casting as Princess Amari against criticism that the role of a dark-skinned character went to a lighter-skinned actor.
Stenberg had said Adeyemi told her that racist backlash to her Hunger Games casting helped inspire the Legacy of Orïsha series, making Adeyemi’s public break with the actress a sharp reversal.
The dispute lands months before the big-screen debut of Adeyemi’s 2018 novel, which she co-wrote with director Gina Prince-Bythewood and which features a star-heavy cast.