Bradley Cooper faced backlash over his use of a prosthetic nose in “Maestro,” where he plays composer Leonard Bernstein. The characterization was accused of anti-Semitism by the organization StopAntisemitism, which claimed that the “Jewish nose” used was disgusting and exaggerated. During the time of criticism, the actors’ union strike prevented Cooper from addressing the issue publicly.
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However, as the shutdown ended, the actor spoke to CBS Mornings, revealing that he originally wanted to portray Bernstein without his prosthetic nose. He explained that he considered the need to balance the different aspects of his face for a more faithful representation of the composer.
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Cooper admitted that his natural nose resembles Bernstein’s, but other details, such as lips and chin, needed adjustments to achieve a convincing resemblance. He expressed the decision to use the prosthetic as a necessary choice to capture the essence of the character.
During the controversy, Leonard Bernstein’s children, Jamie, Alexander and Nina, issued a statement in support of Cooper, noting that the use of makeup to accentuate likenesses was acceptable and that their father would likely have agreed. They also criticized the criticism as hypocritical attempts to defame a successful person. “Maestro” is set to premiere on Netflix on December 20.