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Meryl Streep: “We’re All Africans Really”

Actress Meryl Streep has come under fire after telling a jury at the Berlin International Film Festival that she thinks that “we’re all Africans, really”, when asked to comment on racial diversity in the film industry. The response came during a news conference on Thursday where Streep was asked to weigh in on the #OscarsSoWhite debate, and why the Berlin jury had no black members. Washingtonpost.com reports: “I am very committed to equality and inclusion of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions,” Streep said. “There should be inclusion and this jury is evidence that at least women are included and, in fact, dominate this jury.” She added: “So I think the Berlinale is ahead of the game,” she added, according to AP. From the wire service: Asked by an Egyptian reporter whether she understood films from the Arab world and North Africa, Streep said that while she didn’t know much about the region, “I’ve played a lot of different people from a lot of different cultures.” “There is a core of humanity that travels right through every culture, and after all we’re all from Africa originally,” she added. “Berliners, we’re all Africans, really.” The comment has earned her criticism online and a [...]