Part 6/8:
Despite the film’s failure, director Kobe Libby remains unapologetic, defending the controversial racial messaging in interviews. In a recent appearance on Joe Blow Celebrity Interviews, Libby claimed that the "magical Negro" trope was a "compelling fantasy for white people." This defensive stance has fueled further criticism, emphasizing how out of touch much of Hollywood has become regarding its audience.
Libby's comments underscore a broader problem: the industry’s persistent belief that pushing identity politics and virtue signaling will generate success, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. The idea that a movie with an overtly woke message, designed for a niche audience, could succeed on a broad scale, has been proven wrong yet again.