Yahoo Movies HBO responds after Lovecraft Country star recalls skin-darkening experience
HBO has responded to Lovecraft Country star Kelli Amirah after she told fans that her skin was deliberately darkened on set – with the network saying that it's "disappointed" to learn of her experience.
Kelli was employed as an extra on the series – which blends supernatural and real-world horror – and had to pose for a photo as a young Ms Osberta on her wedding day.
Revealing her "wildest" experience as a background actor, Kelli told followers on TikTok that the hair and make-up department used "darker" foundation on her skin because she was "lighter" than original actress Carol Sutton.
Related: HBO's Lovecraft Country is a beautiful, dark, twisted, must-see fantasy
In response, a spokesperson for HBO told The Wrap that it is "taking steps to ensure" the incident is not repeated. "We were very disappointed to learn of Ms Amirah's experience," they said.
"This should not have happened, and we are taking steps to ensure this doesn't occur again in the future."
Recalling her on-set experience, Amirah told followers: "I hear one of them mention how, 'She's a little lighter than the actress'. And I notice my foundation is getting darker and darker."
Related: Lovecraft Country season 2: Cast, release date, plot and everything you need to know
The actress admitted that she felt "so uncomfortable" about her make-up, and insisted that she would not have taken the job if she had known her appearance would be altered.
"I was so uncomfortable," she said in the now-viral video. "I had no idea they were going to do this to me, and if I had known beforehand I would not have accepted the job...
"As soon as we wrapped I went right back to hair and make-up and asked for some wipes because I refused to go out in the world like that."
Lovecraft Country aired on HBO in the US and Sky Atlantic/NOW TV in the UK.
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