The upcoming Warner Brothers movie Towelhead is getting a lot of press lately, and it's not the good kind. Muslim leaders are outraged and are requesting the name of the movie be changed because the word "Towelhead" is considered "offensive and exploitative."
LA members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) view the word as a racial slur against American Muslims and Arab-Americans. They want WB to change the name of the film to Nothing Is Private, which is what it's being called at the Toronto Fim Festival.
CAIR executive director Hussam Ayloush says, "The word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin… We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any film you wish. However, I ask you to take the above concerns into consideration and examine the social implications of releasing the film under its current title. It is unfortunate that a major film studio would choose to exploit an ethnic slur as a sensational promotion for a movie. Mainstreaming a bigoted term in this manner will only serve to legitimize and normalize anti-Muslim prejudice in our society."
All controversy aside, the movie looks great. It's about a young Arab girl Jasira, who struggles with her father's lifestyle, and is obsessed with her married neighbor. Check out the trailer here, and tell us which side you're on regarding the name changing controversy.
LA members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) view the word as a racial slur against American Muslims and Arab-Americans. They want WB to change the name of the film to Nothing Is Private, which is what it's being called at the Toronto Fim Festival.
CAIR executive director Hussam Ayloush says, "The word is commonly used in a derogatory manner against people of the Muslim faith or Arab origin… We have no desire to inhibit the creative process or your right to produce any film you wish. However, I ask you to take the above concerns into consideration and examine the social implications of releasing the film under its current title. It is unfortunate that a major film studio would choose to exploit an ethnic slur as a sensational promotion for a movie. Mainstreaming a bigoted term in this manner will only serve to legitimize and normalize anti-Muslim prejudice in our society."
All controversy aside, the movie looks great. It's about a young Arab girl Jasira, who struggles with her father's lifestyle, and is obsessed with her married neighbor. Check out the trailer here, and tell us which side you're on regarding the name changing controversy.
Mark Preston
