The death of colonialism, as seen through a child's eyes
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Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' movie under fire for filming on 'occupied' Indigenous land
Director Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie "The Odyssey" is already facing backlash for allegedly filming on indigenous land under "military occupation" in the Western Sahara. After the picture wrapped up shooting in the area last week, the Sahrawi Government expressed "deep concern and strong indignation" that the "Oppenheimer" director's follow-up project was filming in the city of Dakhla, a location it claims is currently under "illegal military occupation by the Kingdom of Morocco." "The Ministry firmly expresses its strong condemnation and unequivocal rejection of the decision to select an occupied territory as the location for a major international film production, without any form of consultation or coordination with the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, internationally recognized as the Polisario Front," its statement read. The statement continued, "This act constitutes a dangerous form of cultural normalization with the occupation, and an unethical exploitation of art and cinema to whitewash the image of a colonial situation that is still imposed by force and met daily with the steadfast resistance of a people struggling for freedom and dignity." The Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara) similarly put out a statement urging Nolan and Universal Pictures to "stop filming in Dakhla and stand in solidarity with the Sahrawi people who have been under military occupation for 50 years and who are routinely imprisoned and tortured for their peaceful struggle for self-determination." "By filming part of 'The Odyssey' in an occupied territory classified as a 'journalistic desert' by Reporters Without Borders, Nolan and his team, perhaps unknowingly and unintentionally, are contributing to Morocco's repression of the Sahrawi people and to the Moroccan regime's efforts to normalize its occupation of Western Sahara," María Carrión, the festival's executive director, said. Actor Javier Bardem, who has appeared in FiSahara before, shared the festival's statement on his Instagram account last week. "For 50 years, Morocco has occupied Western Sahara, expelling the Sahrawi people from their cities. Dakhla is one of them, converted by the Moroccan occupiers into a tourist destination and now a film set, always with the aim of erasing the Sahrawi identity of the city. Another illegal occupation, another repression against a people, the Sahrawi, unjustly plundered with the approval of Western governments, including the Spanish. #FreeSaharaNow," Bardem wrote. Meanwhile, Reda Benjelloun of the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, a public administrative film agency in Morocco, called the film "extremely important" as the first major Hollywood project to shoot in the area. "Dakhla will indeed offer extraordinary opportunities in the future to foreign productions which will find human resources there as well as a geography very different from other regions of Morocco," Benjelloun said in an interview. "Today, Morocco's strength lies in being very responsive to demand and also having very efficient local executive production companies that do a great job." Fox News Digital reached out to Universal Pictures and a representative for Nolan for comment. "The Odyssey" spent at least four days filming in the area which has been classified as a "non-self-governing territory" by the United Nations. Seventy percent of the land is currently controlled by Morocco, though Morocco has proposed a plan to give the country autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. President Donald Trump recognized Morocco's claim to the land and endorsed its plan in a statement during his first term in 2020. "The Odyssey" is set to be released on July 17, 2026, and adapts Homer's ancient Greek epic poem of the same name. It has also filmed in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland and Iceland and is expected to continue filming in Ireland and the UK.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Johnny Eblen on Costello van Steenis' upset: 'I wouldn't want to win that way'
Johnny Eblen is the first guest of the day, coming off his title stunner at PFL Africa against Costello van Steenis. He discusses what went wrong in the fight, why the PFL won't book the rematch, his long layoff and more.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Robin Roberts Shares Why She Has Been Missing From 'Good Morning America'
is taking a well-deserved summer break from "Good Morning America," and for a very special reason. The beloved broadcaster revealed that she's been away from the morning show to mark her 20-year anniversary with wife Amber Laign. Robin Roberts and Amber Laign, who tied the knot in 2023 after two decades together, chose to celebrate the milestone in unforgettable fashion with a trip to Rwanda. Robin Roberts Explains Her 'GMA' Absence While Celebrating 20 Years With Wife Amber In Rwanda Roberts addressed her absence in an Instagram post on Sunday, sharing photos of her travels with Laign. "We're in #Rwanda as guests of @inmuwetrust_ & @giantsofafrica celebrating young basketball players across Africa," she wrote, adding that the trip coincided with the country's monthly national day of service. "Wonderful way for the two of us to celebrate 20 years as a couple…it certainly has been an adventure!" Amber Laign Reflects On 20-Year Love Story Laign also reflected on their anniversary in a heartfelt post, captioning a video of a joyous group dance in Rwanda. "20 Years, 20 Countries, One Incredible Journey," she said. "Robin and I celebrated our 20-year anniversary in a way we'll never forget. In Rwanda, with Giants of Africa, surrounded by the energy, joy, and spirit of youth from 20 African countries." She continued, "From dancing to community service that touched our hearts, this experience reminded us what truly matters: connection, purpose, and giving back. We're beyond grateful to have shared this milestone in such a powerful and uplifting way. Thank you, Giants of Africa, for letting us be part of something so meaningful." Roberts and Laign's African getaway comes nearly a year after their star-studded New England wedding, which was attended by "GMA" co-anchors and close friends. Robin Roberts And Amber Laign's Love Story Began On A Blind Date Robin Roberts and Amber Laign's nearly two-decade romance started with a blind date that almost didn't happen. During a 2014 appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," the "Good Morning America" anchor revealed that she and Laign first met in July 2005 after friends set them up. "She doesn't really like the spotlight," Roberts said at the time, "but she's very, very supportive. She's been right there beside me every step of the way." For their 15th anniversary in 2020, Laign offered a rare glimpse into those early days, sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. "15 years ago, I met you for drinks on a blind date that both you and I tried to cancel … twice," she wrote, recalling how Roberts' "grace" immediately caught her attention. Their evening flowed into dinner, sparking a connection that quickly deepened. Roberts Reflects On Coming Out Roberts has previously opened up about the fears she carried before publicly sharing her truth. In a candid conversation with IT Cosmetics founder and "Worthy" author Jamie Kern Lima, the "Good Morning America" anchor revealed that her biggest hesitation in coming out was the potential impact it could have on the show and her colleagues. "It's not the 'Robin Roberts Show', it's 'Good Morning America,'" she explained at the time. "And there are so many people whose livelihoods depend on the success of our show. If I do something that hurts the show, that hurts them. I thought about that constantly. I didn't want to do anything to hurt the people I work with and absolutely adore." Robin Roberts Admits She Feared Being 'Shunned' For Being Both Gay And Christian While Roberts said she never tried to hide her relationship with Amber Laign, even introducing her when they were spotted in public, she admitted she wasn't fully ready to go public. A large part of that hesitation, she shared, stemmed from reconciling her faith with her sexuality. "I was afraid that people would think you can't be gay and a Christian. And I am both," Roberts confessed. "I was so fearful that I would be shunned." That fear turned out to be unfounded. After her 2013 announcement, she received an outpouring of love and even a supportive letter from the Presbyterian Church. Looking back, Roberts reflected with some regret, "I think about all those years I wasted, worried… it was needless worry." Fans missing Roberts on their morning screens won't have to wait much longer. Sources say she is expected to return to "Good Morning America" on August 4. Solve the daily Crossword
