The director of Peter Andre‘s new film has spoken out after the pop star was accused of ‘posing in modern blackface’ in his new Jafaican film trailer.
British/Nigerian writer and director Fredi Nwaka didn’t directly address the controversy and backlash, but while on the publicity trail for the film, he insisted that the world needs comedy now more than ever.
‘We live in a world that is so serious man, it’s like people have forgotten how to laugh’ he told Adelaide Now.
‘We’ve forgotten how to smile and we’ve forgotten how to really leave the negative behind, even if it’s for a moment’ he continued.
‘Comedy allows us to escape from our everyday life. Laughter – that’s the most infectious thing.’
Andre stars as Gary Buckle in the crime-comedy, a con artist pretending to be a Jamaican gangster.
The director of Peter Andre’s new film has spoken out after the pop star was accused of ‘posing in modern blackface’ in his new Jafaican film trailer. Andre is pictured in the film
British/Nigerian writer and director Fredi Nwaka (pictured) didn’t directly address the controversy and backlash, but while on the publicity trail for the film, he insisted that the world needs comedy now more than ever
Gary, also known as Gazza, must master Jamaican culture in 21 days in order to execute a fraud in London and Jamaica and earn the £35,000 (AUD $72,321) he needs to pay for his grandmother’s care.
With the film set to release later this year, its trailer showed Peter wearing dreadlocks and putting on a Jamaican accent – something which fans have called ‘profoundly disrespectful‘.
The trailer made fans question: ‘Did I wake up in 1998?!’
‘Peter Andre starring as the lead character of a film called JAFAICAN where he’s pretending to be a Jamaican and wearing a dreadlock wig is not something I was expecting to see in the year of our Lord 2025 but here we are…’ another said.
‘There’s a movie coming out with Peter Andre in a dreadlock wig pretending to be Jamaican. Is this really what we’re doing in 2025?’ one more chimed in.
‘Why on earth has YouTube just recommended me a trailer for a film starring Peter Andre about a man posing as a fake Jamaican? Did I wake up in 1998?’
One fan noticed Peter had deleted his tweet in light of the negative response and asked: ‘So Peter Andre deleted his tweet, does that mean Jafaican is being scrapped?’
However the trailer didn’t receive all negative comments after other social media users shared their excitement ahead of the film’s release.
The controversial trailer for Jafaican sees the Australian star donning a dreadlock wig before putting on a Jamaican accent, and fans have not reacted well to the project
‘We live in a world that is so serious man, it’s like people have forgotten how to laugh’ the director insisted
Peter first posted the trailer on his Instagram over the weekend as he announced: ‘The OFFICIAL trailer for JAFAICAN has just dropped! Coming to cinemas soon….’
Revealing his upcoming promo work for the film he confirmed the world premiere will be at the Gold Coast Film Festival on May 9 and teased that news on a UK premiere would be coming soon.
One excited fan penned: ‘Peter that looks amazing can’t wait to see this brilliant’.
Another wrote: ‘Oh yes!!!! looking forward to this @peterandre can’t wait’.
‘I wish I could have watched this being filmed’ someone else said.
The father-of-five, 52, has been enjoying a sun-soaked holiday in the Middle East weeks after being accused of ‘posing in modern blackface’ in his new Jafaican film trailer.
He shared the slew of photos on his Instagram on Tuesday after jetting off to the plush Yas Island resort in the United Arab Emirates with his large family.
The compilation showed Mysterious Girl singer Peter and his wife, Dr Emily MacDonagh, enjoying an activity-filled vacation with his two children Junior, 19, and Princess, 17, who he shares with Katie Price, and the three they share together, Amelia, 11, Theo, 9, and Arabella, 13 months.
