Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres apologises for Blackface sketch from 17 years ago

nme.com:

Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres has released a statement and apology for being involved in a TV show in the past where she performed in blackface.The actor won a Golden Globe for her performance as a mother searching for her disappeared politician husband in I’m Still Here, becoming the first Brazilian to win in an acting category.

Torres has been nominated for Best Actress at the forthcoming Academy Awards, where the film is also nominated for Best Picture.In a statement to Deadline, Torres addressed her appearance in the news comedy show Fantástico, where she appeared in a sketch playing several characters, all in blackface.

The sketch aired on the long-running show in 2008.She said: “Almost twenty years ago, I appeared in blackface in a comedy sketch from a Brazilian TV show.

I am very sorry for this. I’m making this statement as it is important for me to address this swiftly to avoid further pain and confusion”.She said: “At that time, despite the efforts of Black movements and organizations, the awareness of the racist history and symbolism of blackface hadn’t yet entered the mainstream public consciousness in Brazil.