'Emancipation' Producer Apologizes Over 'Whipped Peter' Pic at Premiere - TMZ

Will Smith's 'Emancipation' Producer Apologizes ... For 'Whipped Peter' Pic astatine Premiere

12/4/2022 3:14 PM PT

One of the producers of Will Smith's caller movie astir a runaway enslaved is apologizing for bringing a photograph of the existent inspiration for the quality to the film's premiere.

Joey McFarland issued a mea culpa Sunday -- this aft determination was immoderate evident outrage implicit the information helium brought a wallet-size representation to the L.A. premiere of 'Emancipation' Wednesday ... which helium flashed to a newsman connected the reddish carpet portion discussing it.

McFarland was asked however helium came to ain the archetypal photograph of "Whipped Peter" from 1863 ... and past helium really brought retired and showed it off. His reply boiled down to seeing the value of past and wanting to curate invaluable artifacts similar this 1 truthful that they tin unrecorded and beryllium preserved -- truthful that we tin each larn a invaluable acquisition from the past.

On its face, determination doesn't look to beryllium thing incorrect with JMF's statement. But, of course, immoderate took contented with his phrasing -- similar saying helium wanted a "piece of Peter" to beryllium determination that nighttime -- and the optics of a achromatic antheral owning and parading this pic astir similar a prop.

That's however a fistful of folks interpreted his interrogation present anyhow ... and it seems McFarland caught upwind of that noise and felt compelled to explicate himself.

He writes, "I wholeheartedly apologize to everyone I person offended by bringing a photograph of Peter to the Emancipation premiere. My intent was to grant this singular antheral and to punctual the wide nationalist that his representation is not lone brought astir alteration successful 1863 but inactive resonates and promotes alteration today."

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McFarland adds, "After uncovering Peter’s root communicative with assistance from diligent historians, I spent the past fewer years moving with the Emancipation originative clip successful bid to bring his communicative to beingness truthful worldwide audiences would person an accidental to admit his heroism. I anticipation my actions don’t distract from the film’s message." He says helium simply wants to grant the bequest of Peter and others similar him, and meant nary harm successful showing disconnected the photo.

Will hasn't addressed the contention yet ... but we cognize he's successful afloat run mode.