Veteran Reggae DJ Daddy Ernie: Says They Will Not Give Bob Marley the correct accent

Veteran reggae DJ Daddy Ernie has joined a number of non-authoritarian actors in Britain's Kingsley Ben-Adir starring actor Bob Marley in a biographical film Bob Marley from Hollywood.

The 35-year-old British actor Ben-Adir will star as a famous Jamaican reggae singer but many experts feel the responsibility should have gone to the Jamaican heritage actor to ensure Marley's performance is as realistic as possible.

Speaking to a station in Jamaica, a veteran reggae music presenter and DJ Ernie Harriott, better known as Daddy Ernie, said: play Marley really.

"They certainly won't get the same accent, we know that, because they don't get the same Jamaican accent, whether it's Marley, Peter Tosh or Daddy Ernie.

"I don't know in my head a Jamaican actor who could play that role, but there are a lot of talent in Jamaica I'm sure they could find someone in the UK or America that is Jamaican heritage."

Marley's eldest son, Ziggy Marley, his wife Rita Marley and daughter Cedella Marley, will serve as producers for the film, on behalf of Tuff Gong.

Ben-Adir was born in London and is of mixed race heritage. His mother is black and he is from Trinidad and his father is white English.

News of the film has been criticized, with many social media users asking why one of Marley's sons or grandchildren was not cast out to play as the Reggae hero.

On Twitter, @BadGalJazzie wrote: "Skip Marley is right there. RIGHT. THERE. And you all ignored him like this ??? !!"

Social media users from Jamaica have expressed their dismay at the act, with many saying they feel "stolen" as Ben-Adir is not of Jamaican origin.

Some have raised concerns about how the film will represent Marley, who was a proud Rastafarian and had long hair.

Writing on Twitter @_romeko he said: "They always want to hurt our culture but they don't want to use people in that culture. So you're going to put fake dreads on a British actress and call her Bob Marley? Get back to the sender!"

His sons might be too old to play him but his grandson Skip is literally THERE. They always wanna bite our culture but don’t wanna use people within the culture. So you gonna put fake dreads on a British actor and call him Bob Marley? Return to sender! https://t.co/K9fyyjP4qI
— NeKo RoMane ✨🇯🇲 (@_romeko) February 11, 2022

The film, which is currently unnamed, will reportedly be directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who starred in the 2021 film King Richard. Ben-Adir has previously played with Malcolm X on ‘One Night in Miami’ and President Barack Obama on the Showtime episode of ‘The Comedy Rule’. "Sources say that the executives and Green saw many trials and met several actors who were vying for the position, but in recent weeks Ben-Adir began to put himself in a good position before winning the position," Deadline reported. But some Marley fans want Paramount Pictures - who are making a film about the Reggae music star - to relinquish that role. Another Twitter user @kingbealestreet said: “When are we going to hold some of these celebrities accountable for allowing such a riot to happen? Putting the debate aside, is there not a single Jamaican in Bob Marley's biography or biography? " and Malcolm X on 'One Night in Miami' and President Barack Obama on the Showtime episode of 'The Comedy Rule'. Ben-Adir recently started to put himself in a good position before winning the position, "Deadline reported. kingbealestreet said: "When are we going to hold some of these celebrities accountable for allowing such a riot to happen? debate, there is not a single Jamaican in Bob Marley's biography or biography. "
Mr Harriott told The Voice, he welcomes the film but said he would like to see more Reggae music founders transform their stories into films and theatrical productions.

“There are so many artists who were an integral part of those early days in Reggae music, who deserve to be told their story, Toots of Toots and the Maytals, Bunny Wailer, Gregory Isaacs, Peter Tosh and Alton Ellis all deserve to have a story told on big screen, "he said.

Marley died at the age of 36 in 1981, but music and its cultural influence continue to have a global impact on popular culture and politics.

No release date for the film has been announced