Bradley Cooper Opens Up about the Maestro Nose Controversy

Bradley Cooper addressed the initial controversy surrounding Maestro, his biopic on Leonard Bernstein, and the accusations of anti-Semitism related to his use of a prosthetic nose.

This is Cooper's second directorial project and is considered a highly anticipated film for the upcoming award season. In addition to directing, Cooper is also portraying the renowned composer in the film, with Carey Mulligan playing the role of Bernstein's wife, Felicia Montealegre.

Previous photos escaped criticism, but the first teaser trailer for the film prompted backlash over the actor's use of a prosthetic nose to portray Bernstein, with some drawing comparisons to blackface. The musician's family quickly voiced their support for Cooper, who has now addressed the controversy following the Hollywood strikes.

Bradley Cooper responds to Maestro nose controversy

In a recent segment on CBS Mornings, Cooper discussed his choice to incorporate a prosthetic into his portrayal of Bernstein. Although he contemplated not using one, he ultimately deemed it essential to accurately depict the composer’s physical features.

“I considered the idea of not doing it. But it's all about finding the right balance, and, you know, my lips and chin are nothing like Lenny’s. So we tried it without the prosthetic, but it just didn't look right,” he said.

The movie was heavily criticized for its portrayal of "jewface" and "ethnic cosplay", but the Anti-Defamation League came out in support of Cooper, highlighting that throughout history Jews have been depicted in a negative light in films and propaganda. However, the ADL stated that the film, a biopic of conductor Leonard Bernstein, does not perpetuate those stereotypes.

The Bernstein family affirmed that Leonard Bernstein had a prominent nose, and they were okay with Bradley using makeup to enhance his likeness. They expressed confidence that their father would have also been okay with it. They saw any strong objections to this as insincere attempts to diminish a successful person, a pattern they had seen too often with their father.

Throughout the production of this film, we were deeply moved by Bradley's sincere portrayal of Leonard Bernstein and his wife, our mother Felicia. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Bradley and eagerly anticipate sharing his masterpiece with the world.

Maestro will be shown in US cinemas for a limited time starting on November 22, and will be available on Netflix on December 20. Don't forget to check out our glowing four-star review!

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about Bradley Cooper's use of a prosthetic nose in the film Maestro. On the one hand, I understand his desire to accurately portray Leonard Bernstein's physical features. On the other hand, I am concerned about the potential for this to be seen as anti-Semitic.

I think it's important to remember that Jews have a long history of being stereotyped and discriminated against. The use of a prosthetic nose to portray a Jewish character could be seen as perpetuating these stereotypes.

However, I also believe that Cooper's intentions were good. He has said that he consulted with Bernstein's family and that they were supportive of his use of a prosthetic nose. Ultimately, I think it's up to each individual to decide whether or not they find Cooper's use of a prosthetic nose to be offensive.