Why Cameron Crowe Is Apologizing For Casting Emma Stone in Aloha

Updated on 6/3/2015 at 11:42 AM

Aloha has had a pretty rough time. First, the Cameron Crowe film opened opposite Dwayne Johnson's disaster flick San Andreas, which crushed it. Now, Crowe is coming under fire for casting Emma Stone in the role of Allison Ng, a character who is supposed to be one-quarter Hawaiian and one-quarter Chinese. Critics pointed out that the fair-skinned, blue-eyed Stone is far from a proper choice. Director Crowe has finally addressed the controversy, posting "A Comment on Allison Ng" on his website on Tuesday. In the entry, he talks specifically about his reasoning for casting Stone and thanked people for "the dialogue." Take a look at his explanation:

"Thank you so much for all the impassioned comments regarding the casting of the wonderful Emma Stone in the part of Allison Ng. I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice. As far back as 2007, Captain Allison Ng was written to be a super-proud quarter Hawaiian who was frustrated that, by all outward appearances, she looked nothing like one. A half-Chinese father was meant to show the surprising mix of cultures often prevalent in Hawaii. Extremely proud of her unlikely heritage, she feels personally compelled to over-explain every chance she gets. The character was based on a real-life, red-headed local who did just that."

He goes on to talk about how grateful he felt to employ many locals during the shoot and accepted that he is to blame for the consternation — not Stone. What's your take on the controversy?