Earlier this week, rumors began swirling that Beyoncé is set to make her screenwriting debut with a film surrounding the life of Saartijie (Sarah) Baartman, a South African woman who rose to fame after being put on display at British freakshows in the 1800s for her large buttocks. Now that the unconfirmed news has spread, Chief Jean Burgess is weighing in, saying that Queen Bey is "not worthy" to play the iconic figure.
"She lacks the basic human dignity to be worthy of writing Sarah's story, let alone playing the part," Burgess of the First Indigenous Peoples of South Africa, said. "Ignoring the fact that the KhoiKhoi is alive and that Sarah's story would have an impact on how we are protrayed, is a mistake of great magnitude."
According to News24, Burgess continued, saying that 'Yoncé's efforts would make more sense if she were to focus on an American subject. "Why Sarah Baartman? Why not a story about an Indigenous American woman? I can only see arrogance in her attempt to tell a story that is not hers to tell."
Unlike Burgess, Gamtkwa Khoisan Council member Kobus Reichert said they have no problem with a movie being created or Beyoncé acting in it, once the community that is being represented — Eastern Cape, where Baartman was born — is not shut out.
It should be noted that neither this project nor Beyoncé's alleged involvement has been officially confirmed by the singer's camp.
