# Netflix Blackwashing Parodies Netflix Blackwashing Parodies are mock show covers and stills that recast historical figures, mythological heroes or famous fictional characters as Black, ridiculing Netflix's track record of race-changed casting. The trend started in late 2017 when promotional material for Troy: Fall of a City revealed David Gyasi as Achilles, and surged again in April 2023 when the Queen Cleopatra documentary trailer flooded Facebook, Twitter and Reddit with reimagined Netflix adaptations of other world figures[1][5]. ## Origin The catalyst was Netflix's late 2017 promotional reveal for Troy: Fall of a City, the BBC One co-production that cast Black British actor David Gyasi as Achilles[6]. Headlines about Zeus and other Greek figures also being race-changed went viral in the weeks that followed[5]. Earliest known meme: on December 22, 2017, Twitter user @NationalismYes posted a parody using the then-popular We Wuz Kings template layered over Gyasi's Achilles[1]. The format was quickly copied by other accounts riffing on the same casting, establishing the fake Netflix adaptation joke as a recurring reaction whenever a new race-changed role was announced[5]. - **Platform:** Twitter (origin) / Reddit and Facebook (viral spread) - **Creator:** Unknown - **Date:** 2017 ## Overview Posts in the series take the form of fake Netflix promotional stills, show covers or title cards in which a well-known figure is reimagined as Black. Targets include Greek gods, European monarchs, anime characters and contemporary world leaders, with the humor hinging on the gap between a figure's established depiction and the mock casting choice[5]. Each wave of the parody tracks a specific Netflix release that fans accused of race-changing a role, so the memes function as reaction material rather than a fixed template. Early 2018 batches referenced the Troy: Fall of a City co-production with BBC One[6], while later rounds targeted the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Castlevania adaptations[5]. The 2023 Queen Cleopatra documentary pushed the format into its biggest resurgence, with users publishing fake Netflix biopics of figures including Volodymyr Zelensky[3]. ## How to Use Creators typically pick a historical, mythological or pop-culture figure with a strong visual identity, then photoshop a Black actor into a fake Netflix title card, trailer still or press image. Captions often parody Netflix's marketing voice, framing the fake project as an upcoming biopic or limited series. Posts land best when the subject's established depiction is well-known, which is why Greek heroes, European royalty and recent world leaders show up often[3]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Netflix Blackwashing Parodies? A meme series in which users photoshop fake Netflix show covers or stills that recast historical, mythological or fictional figures as Black, mocking Netflix's record of race-changed casting[5]. ### Where did Netflix Blackwashing Parodies come from? The trend started in late 2017 after Netflix and BBC One cast David Gyasi as Achilles in Troy: Fall of a City, with Twitter user @NationalismYes posting one of the earliest parodies on December 22, 2017[1]. ### What does Netflix Blackwashing Parodies mean? The name refers to parody posts that exaggerate Netflix's casting choices by applying the same race-change logic to figures the service never adapted, including Greek gods, European royals and modern politicians[3]. ### How do you use Netflix Blackwashing Parodies? People usually mock up a fake Netflix title card or biopic poster featuring a widely recognized figure cast with a Black actor, as with the Facebook post placing Idris Elba as Volodymyr Zelensky[3]. ### Is Netflix Blackwashing Parodies still popular? The format is resurgent, returning in force during the 2023 Queen Cleopatra documentary backlash after Netflix cast the ruler as Black despite historical sources describing her as Macedonian Greek[4]. ## References 1. [https://twitter.com/NationalismYes/status/944158225632563200]() 2. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Animemes/comments/9gp4gs/can_i_post_in_spanish/]() 3. [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=179420445030920&set=pcb.1653827488363507]() 4. [https://archive.org/details/cleopatra0000gran/page/4/mode/2up]() 5. [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/netflix-blackwashing-parodies]() 6. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZxVghfY6dk]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/netflix-blackwashing-parodies Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library