The makeup artist who worked on Bradley Cooper's film Maestro has issued an apology after facing backlash for using a prosthetic nose for the actor. The film is a biopic on composer Leonard Bernstein. Cooper plays the lead protagonist and has been accused of cultural appropriation termed&nbsp;'Jewface'.&nbsp; 
 
Kazu Hiro, the makeup artist has apologised to anyone who felt hurt by the use of a prosthetic nose.&nbsp; 
 
Speaking at a press conference at the Venice Film Festival – where Maestro premiered – Kazu Hiro said he was surprised by the backlash. 
 
He said, “I wasn’t expecting it to happen. I feel sorry if I hurt some people’s feelings. My goal was and Bradley’s goal was to portray Lenny as authentically as possible. Lenny had a really iconic look that everybody knows.

“There’s so many pictures out there because he’s photogenic, too – such a great person and also inspired so many people. So we wanted to respect the look, including what’s going on inside. So that’s why we did several different tests and went through lots of decisions and that was the outcome in the movie. That was our only intention.”

Bernstein – the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants to the US – was an influential composer and conductor, best known for composing the music for West Side Story.

Maestro marks the return of Cooper as a director after the critically acclaimed A Star Is Born. Maestro centres on Bernstein’s complicated relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan.&nbsp; 
 
Criticism over its use of prosthetics arose when the film's first look emerged last month on the internet.&nbsp;

Amid backlash, Bernstein’s children, Jamie, Alexander and Nina defended Cooper against what they called “disingenuous” criticism. They said: “It breaks out hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of (Cooper’s) efforts.

“It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that. We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well.”

Cooper was absent from Saturday’s press conference due to the actors' and writers' strike that prohibits talent from promoting films if they have been made by large studios.

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The makeup artist who worked on Bradley Cooper's film Maestro has issued an apology after facing backlash for using a prosthetic nose for the actor. The film is a biopic on composer Leonard Bernstein.

The makeup artist who worked on Bradley Cooper's film Maestro has issued an apology after facing backlash for using a prosthetic nose for the actor. The film is a biopic on composer Leonard Bernstein. Cooper plays the lead protagonist and has been accused of cultural appropriation termed 'Jewface'. Kazu Hiro, the makeup artist has apologised to anyone who felt hurt by the use of a prosthetic nose. Speaking at a press conference at the Venice Film Festival – where Maestro premiered – Kazu Hiro said he was surprised by the backlash. He said, “I wasn’t expecting it to happen. I feel sorry if I hurt some people’s feelings. My goal was and Bradley’s goal was to portray Lenny as authentically as possible. Lenny had a really iconic look that everybody knows. “There’s so many pictures out there because he’s photogenic, too – such a great person and also inspired so many people. So we wanted to respect the look, including what’s going on inside. So that’s why we did several different tests and went through lots of decisions and that was the outcome in the movie. That was our only intention.” Bernstein – the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants to the US – was an influential composer and conductor, best known for composing the music for West Side Story. Maestro marks the return of Cooper as a director after the critically acclaimed A Star Is Born. Maestro centres on Bernstein’s complicated relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan. Criticism over its use of prosthetics arose when the film's first look emerged last month on the internet. Amid backlash, Bernstein’s children, Jamie, Alexander and Nina defended Cooper against what they called “disingenuous” criticism. They said: “It breaks out hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of (Cooper’s) efforts. “It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that. We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well.” Cooper was absent from Saturday’s press conference due to the actors' and writers' strike that prohibits talent from promoting films if they have been made by large studios.

Maestro makeup artist apologises for using prosthetic nose for Bradley Cooper in Bernstein biopic

Bradley Cooper's latest film Maestro has sparked controversy just a day after the film's first teaser was released. Cooper has been called out for wearing a large prosthetic nose while playing the Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein in the film.&nbsp; 
 
Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper -- who wrote, directed and stars in Maestro -- has received criticism since a trailer for the upcoming Netflix film was released online this week.

What's a Jewface? 
 
Cooper portrays legendary composer Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming biopic. While non-Jewish actors have portrayed Jewish figures before, Cooper’s use of a prosthetic nose is being slammed online as Jewface. Critics have said the decision to use a prosthetic nose plays up to Jewish stereotypes.&nbsp; 
 
The term Jewface has a negative connotation to it. It characterises stereotypical or inauthentic portrayals of Jewish people. The term Jewface is also similar to Blackface, which is a practice of non-Black performers darkening their faces for roles. 
 
Bradley, a non-jew, has also been questioned for not casting a Jewish actor to play a jew character on screen.&nbsp; 
 
Bernstein family reacts 
 
The family of Leonard Bernstein has defended Bradley Cooper's controversial decision to wear a large prosthetic nose while playing the Jewish composer in the&nbsp;film. 
 
The late Bernstein's three children said they were "perfectly fine" with Cooper's decision "to use makeup to amplify his resemblance" to their father.&nbsp; 
 
"It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose," wrote Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein in a statement on social media. "We're also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well," they added. 
 
Bernstein family praised Cooper for "the depth of his commitment" to the project. 
 
"It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts," they wrote. "Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch -- a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father." 
 
Bernstein, the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants, died in 1990 but remains one of the best-known composers and conductors of all time. 
 
He served as music director of the New York Philharmonic and wrote the Broadway musical West Side Story. 
 
Cooper, a nine-time Oscar nominee, is best known for A Star Is Born and The Hangover films.

Maestro is a biographical romance about Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, who is played by Carey Mulligan.&nbsp;Maestro is due to premiere at next month's Venice Film Festival. 
 
Cooper has already said he will not attend the premiere because of the ongoing Hollywood strike. 
&nbsp;

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Bradley Cooper's latest film Maestro has sparked controversy just a day after the film's first teaser was released. Cooper has been called out for wearing a large prosthetic nose while playing the Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein in the film.

Bradley Cooper's latest film Maestro has sparked controversy just a day after the film's first teaser was released. Cooper has been called out for wearing a large prosthetic nose while playing the Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein in the film. Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper -- who wrote, directed and stars in Maestro -- has received criticism since a trailer for the upcoming Netflix film was released online this week. What's a Jewface? Cooper portrays legendary composer Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming biopic. While non-Jewish actors have portrayed Jewish figures before, Cooper’s use of a prosthetic nose is being slammed online as Jewface. Critics have said the decision to use a prosthetic nose plays up to Jewish stereotypes. The term Jewface has a negative connotation to it. It characterises stereotypical or inauthentic portrayals of Jewish people. The term Jewface is also similar to Blackface, which is a practice of non-Black performers darkening their faces for roles. Bradley, a non-jew, has also been questioned for not casting a Jewish actor to play a jew character on screen. Bernstein family reacts The family of Leonard Bernstein has defended Bradley Cooper's controversial decision to wear a large prosthetic nose while playing the Jewish composer in the film. The late Bernstein's three children said they were "perfectly fine" with Cooper's decision "to use makeup to amplify his resemblance" to their father. "It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose," wrote Jamie, Alexander and Nina Bernstein in a statement on social media. "We're also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well," they added. Bernstein family praised Cooper for "the depth of his commitment" to the project. "It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts," they wrote. "Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch -- a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father." Bernstein, the son of Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants, died in 1990 but remains one of the best-known composers and conductors of all time. He served as music director of the New York Philharmonic and wrote the Broadway musical West Side Story. Cooper, a nine-time Oscar nominee, is best known for A Star Is Born and The Hangover films. Maestro is a biographical romance about Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre, who is played by Carey Mulligan. Maestro is due to premiere at next month's Venice Film Festival. Cooper has already said he will not attend the premiere because of the ongoing Hollywood strike. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bradley Cooper accused of 'Jewface' for using prosthetic nose in Maestro

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