Billy Dee Williamsbelieves actors should be able to do blackface.
Praising Olivier’s performance, Williams said, “When he didOthelloI fell out laughing.
He stuck his ass out and walked around because Black people are supposed to have big asses.”
Billy Dee Williams.Aaron Davidson/WireImage
Aaron Davidson/WireImage
Williams said of Olivier, “I thought it was hysterical.
I love that kind of stuff.”
“Heres the thing,” Maher said.
“Today, they would never let you do that.”
An incredulous Maher said, “Blackface?”
You should do it," Williams replied.
“If youre an actor, you should do anything you want to do.”
I refuse to go through life saying to the world, ‘I’m pissed off.’
I’m not gonna be pissed off 24 hours a day."
Williams has been promoting his recently-released memoirWhat Have We Here?
He famously portrayed the first Black character, Lando Calrissian, in theStar Warsuniverse.
In an interview withThe Guardianearlier this year, Williams said he didn’t concern himself with racial politics.
I never think of myself in terms of the only Black character," he said.
“Everybody else might think of it that way.
In my reasoning in my own head, Im just a character.
Ive been able to translate very well across the board.
I dont really think in terms of Black.
I couldnt care less about all that garbage.
At age of 87, I find myself a walking absurdity,” he later added.
“I chuckle at myself or about myself all the time.
At this stage in my life I dont need to apologize for anything.
Watch Williams' interview with Maher above.
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