Egyptian Government Denies Cleopatra's Blackness in Netflix Series

The Egyptian government has accused Netflix of "falsifying Egyptian history" by presenting Cleopatra as black in their documentary "African Queens: Queen Cleopatra." The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt released a statement including evidence they say proves Cleopatra had a "light complexion" and "Hellenistic characteristics." The casting decision of a black actress as Cleopatra has inspired controversy with historians, with one even suing Netflix over the project. Director Tina Gharavi admitted that casting a black actress was "a political act."