Yesterday, Joseph Fiennes became the target of outrage when it was announced that the white actor -- best known for playing William Shakespeare in the 1999 Best Picture winner Shakespeare in Love -- would be playing black musical icon Michael Jackson in a new telefilm for the U.K. network Sky Arts. Not a joke! Now, the actor is speaking out in defense of his casting in the film, which would dramatize an alleged post-9/11 roadtrip Jackson took with friends Elizabeth Taylor (to be played by Stockard Channing in the film) and Marlon Brando (Brian Cox).

"[Jackson] definitely had an issue -- a pigmentation issue -- and that's something I do believe," Fiennes said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. "He was probably closer to my color than his original color." Additionally, the actor defended the film by saying it's "a light comedy" that's "not in any way malicious. It's actually endearing."

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Originally posted by vamp Maybe they just wanted a talented actor to portray the role regardless of skin color. This is going to be a mess regardless. Imagine MJ with a British accent.

I don't get what's the big deal of this?

MJ changed his skin colour to WHITE, therefore a WHITE actor is playing him. What did people want, a black actor in whiteface?

Originally posted by Gui Blackout I don't get what's the big deal of this? MJ changed his skin colour to WHITE, therefore a WHITE actor is playing him. What did people want, a black actor in whiteface?

Originally posted by ryanpittman97 Are you insinuating that black actors aren't talented?