“Am I supposed to be mad about the Bradley Cooper situation?” That was the perplexed question I received from a non-Jewish friend recently. She was referring to the controversy surrounding Cooper’s use of a prosthetic nose to portray Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming Netflix film, Maestro. The film’s trailer had just been released online, causing a stir in my social media circles. Some argued that Cooper was perpetuating stereotypes about Jews with his exaggerated nose, while others questioned why a non-Jewish actor was playing this iconic Jewish role.
In response, I simply replied, “No, it literally doesn’t matter.” Online outrage has a way of making us feel like we must always take a stance, regardless of the cause. But whether you are Jewish or not, I grant you permission to sit this “Schnoz-gate” controversy out.
There are several reasons why this non-story shouldn’t upset us. First, there were Jewish individuals involved in the making of the film, including Cooper’s co-writer, Josh Singer, and producer, Steven Spielberg. Furthermore, Bernstein’s estate approved of Cooper’s project and his use of makeup to enhance his resemblance. Bernstein’s children even expressed their support on Twitter, stating that they believed their father would have been fine with it as well. That should be enough to put this matter to rest.
The real issue at hand is refocusing our attention on what truly matters – art. The question of why a non-Jewish actor is playing a Jewish character is simply a part of the acting profession. Actors transform themselves into different individuals, regardless of their own backgrounds. It’s about embodying the essence of a character, not perpetuating stereotypes. Cooper wore the prosthetic nose to accurately portray Bernstein, and not as an opportunity to mock Jewish features.
Instead of wasting mental energy on this trivial controversy, we should be concerned with real and pressing matters affecting the Jewish community today. The rise of antisemitism in our country is alarming, with threats being made against synagogues and real Jews being targeted. As we approach the High Holidays, we must acknowledge the real challenges and focus our efforts on combating bigotry.
Bernstein himself faced prejudice but chose to channel his Jewish identity into creating beautiful works of art. We should be inspired by his spirit and use our energy to engage more fully with our traditions and create meaningful art that honors his legacy. Let’s not get caught up in the noise – the noses and the distractions – and instead, concentrate on what truly matters.
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