Exclusive: Leonard Bernstein's Children Weigh in on Bradley Cooper's Maestro Controversy: Uncovering the Truth

Summary

In regards to the speculation surrounding Bradley Cooper's biopic Maestro, Leonard Bernstein's children have stepped forward to address the controversy. They have come forward to defend the utilization of prosthetics in the film and have expressed their belief that their father would have given his approval.

Critics claimed that the movie promoted offensive stereotypes by using prosthetics to portray a Jewish man. However, Bernstein's children believe that Cooper's depiction accurately reflects their father's appearance. The family's endorsement of the biopic could potentially address the worries of viewers who criticized the decision to use makeup, as consulting the actual family is regarded as a positive action.

Leonard Bernstein's children have responded to the criticism surrounding Bradley Cooper's film, Maestro. Cooper, who also stars in the movie, is returning to directing after a five-year hiatus. The recently released teaser trailer for Maestro provides a glimpse into Cooper's portrayal of the composer and his romantic relationships. Maestro is set to premiere in select theaters in November and will be available on Netflix starting December 20.

In light of the controversy surrounding Maestro, Bernstein's children have shared their thoughts. In a statement posted on their Instagram page @leonardbernsteinofficial, Jamie, Alexander, and Nina Bernstein expressed that they were actively involved in the creation of Maestro. Addressing the backlash, they viewed it as a disingenuous attempt to undermine the success of an individual, a pattern they had observed being directed towards their father far too often.

The Maestro Controversy Explained

The family also reassured critics that Maestro would have been approved by their renowned father. Regarding the physical depiction of Bernstein, they justified it by stating that "It is indeed accurate that Leonard Bernstein had a prominent, well-proportioned nose." The siblings commended Cooper's work on the biopic and asserted that the actor-director brought immense "respect" and "love" for Bernstein while on set.

The main point of controversy in Maestro revolves around the portrayal of prosthetics in the film. In the Maestro trailer, Cooper can be seen wearing a prosthetic nose that greatly alters his appearance in order to accurately depict Bernstein. Although Bernstein was Jewish, Cooper himself is not of Jewish descent. As a result, some critics argued that the movie was perpetuating offensive stereotypes by presenting a distorted representation of a Jewish man's physical features.

Social media was flooded with criticism of Maestro for the actor's makeup choice. Some viewers were fine with a non-Jewish actor portraying Bernstein, but others voiced concern over what they saw as the biopic's attempt to perpetuate Jewish stereotypes. One user pointed out the irony of Cooper not using prosthetics in The Elephant Man, where he played a character with facial disfigurement.

Despite this backlash, Bernstein's children believe that Cooper's use of prosthetics accurately portrayed their father's appearance. While the issue of using prosthetics to depict real people is complex, involving the real family in the decision is a step in the right direction. Given the recent controversy surrounding Maestro, the Bernstein family's approval may help ease the concerns of some viewers.

Source: @leonardbernsteinoffical/Instagram