Cameron Crowe has offered a “heart-felt apology” to those who were offended that Caucasian actress Emma Stone played a partially Asian character in “Aloha.”
“As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud ¼ Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearances, she looked nothing like one,” Crowe wrote on his website. “A half-Chinese father was meant to show the surprising mix of cultures often prevalent in Hawaii.”
“Extremely proud of her unlikely heritage, she feels personally compelled to over-explain every chance she gets,” he continued. “The character was based on a real-life, red-headed local who did just that.”
Crowe went on to say, however, that he worked with many Hawaiian locals on the film, “including Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele, and his village, and many other locals who worked closely in our crew and with our script to help ensure authenticity.”
“Emma Stone was chief among those who did tireless research, and if any part of her fine characterization has caused consternation and controversy, I am the one to blame,” Crowe said.
Crowe also said he felt the movie was misjudged based on comments made in leaked emails from Sony.
“From the very beginning of its appearance in the Sony Hack, ‘Aloha’ has felt like a misunderstood movie,” Crowe wrote. “One that people felt they knew a lot about, but in fact they knew very little.”