Rupert Murdoch is Pretty Sure Egyptians are White, Not That You Asked
What is whiteness? It's a question that both ethnic studies scholars and stoned ethnic studies freshman have pondered for decades. But for News Corp magnate Rupert Murdoch, the answer is simple: whiteness is what Rupert Murdoch says it is.
Moses film attacked on Twitter for all white cast. Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) November 29, 2014
Addressing the controversy behind Ridley Scott's extra Anglo adaptation of the Book of Exodus, Murdoch weighed in on Twitter with a provocative (if not particularly convincing) "some of my best friends are white Egyptians" argument, writing, "Since when are Egyptians not white? All I know are."
But while Middle Easterners have been considered white at various times in the past (including on the 2000 U.S. Census), Murdoch's observation seemed to miss the spirit of the criticism directed at Scott's melanin-deprived Exodus.
In any case, Murdoch soon backpedaled, first clarifying that what he really meant was that Egyptians are "far from black" before acknowledging "there are many shades of color."
Everybody-attacks last tweet. Of course Egyptians are Middle Eastern, but far from black. They treated blacks as slaves.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) November 29, 2014
Okay, there are many shades of color. Nothing racist about that, so calm down!
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) November 29, 2014
Move along, folks. Nothing racist to see here.
[Images via AP Images]