Boots Riley Says Spike Lee Yelled at Him Over ‘BlacKkKlansman’ Critique
Written by SOURCE on February 24, 2019
Boots Riley isn’t a fan BlacKkKlansman.
The director/musician took to Twitter back in August to share his three-page critique of the Spike Lee-directed film. Though Riley referred to Lee as one of his biggest influences, he blasted BlacKkKlansman for its “fabricated story notes” and how it essentially served as pro-police propaganda.
“It’s a made-up story in which the false parts of it to try to make a cop the protagonist in the fight against racist oppression,” Riley wrote in the essay. “It’s being put while Black Lives Matter is a discussion, and this is not coincidental. There is a viewpoint behind it.”
BlacKkKlansman is based on the true story of Ron Stallworth, a black Colorado Springs detective who infiltrated local chapter of the KKK with the help of his white partner, Philip “Flip” Zimmerman.
Lee eventually responded to Riley’s criticism in an interview with the Times UK.
“Look at my films: They’ve been very critical of the police, but on the other hand I’m never going to say all police are corrupt, that all police hate people of color. I’m not going to say that,” Lee said. “I mean, we need police. Unfortunately, police in a lot of instances have not upheld the law; they have broken the law.”
It was a respectable, and fair response; but according to Riley, Lee had more to get off his chest.
During his red carpet appearance at Saturday’s Independent Spirit Awards, Riley recalled the time Lee had yelled at him during a recent industry event.
“He yelled at me as he walked away, saying ‘I’m Miles Davis, you’re Chet Baker!” Riley told Variety. “Then I saw him at the DGA luncheon and he said, ‘Come here’ and said Squashed? Squashed.'”
BlacKkKlansman is heading to the Academy Awards this Sunday with six nominations. The film is up for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Adam Driver), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing.
