Daniel Kaluuya has turned down a fashion campaign because a brand wanted to team him with white actors who “had not achieved as much” as he has in their careers.
Daniel Kaluuya has turned down a fashion campaign because a brand wanted to team him with white actors who ‘had not achieved as much’ as he has in their careers.
The ‘Get Out’ actor, 34, who won an Oscar for his role in ‘Jesus and the Black Messiah’ also declared he wanted to make sure he was “representing right” with his brand choices.
He told British GQ about refusing offers from the fashion industry: “I said no to them. I didn’t understand it. If it’s not a (big) yeah, it’s a no.
“They wanted to put me against two white actors that hadn’t achieved as much as me.
“And I was all, ‘I wanna be on my own. Because that’s not gonna look good’.
“I’ve done things. I just feel like I have a certain position. It’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m so cool.’ I’m just like, ‘I don’t like that.’
“It’s got to be because of what it means, because I want to be out there and make sure I’m representing right.”
He also said: “No one’s gonna make me feel like that. I thought, Why would I shrink myself? My mum didn’t raise me like that. Why do I shrink myself to make people feel comfortable?
“I want to do some good, cool (stuff.)
“I want to help people, and I want to bring jobs. I want everyone to grow artistically. I want to do amazing things.
“Why would I shrink? Why would I dim?”
Along with his acting, Daniel has also been named associate artistic director of The Roundhouse in Camden, London.
His first act in the role was announcing the formation of a new youth theatre company that will create pathways into the industry for actors of all backgrounds.
He said about his plans: “Bro, chest out. Let’s do this.”
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