Sponsors found it inappropriate to portray the title character of Shakespeare’s play as the 45th president of the US.
New York’s Public Theater has lost two sponsors – Bank of America and Delta Air Lines – due to this resemblance. The theatre’s interpretation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar portrays the Roman emperor as a blond-haired man wearing a business suit with an American flag pin. His wife Calpurnia, in her turn, resembles the wife of the US president, Melania. She has a similar accent and wears designer clothes. The scenery also resembles a White House room.
Delta Air Lines said the interpretation of Shakespeare's play with the main character’s assassination crossed the line on standards of good taste. “No matter what your political stance may be, the graphic staging of Julius Caesar at this summer’s Free Shakespeare in the Park does not reflect Delta Air Lines’ values,” the company said in a statement.
Bank of America said it withdrew funding for the production. The bank’s spokesman doesn’t specify if the move affect the theatre’s other shows. The company says in a statement that the theatre presents the titular character in a way intended to provoke and offend.
We are withdrawing our funding pic.twitter.com/MlaONF82FN
— Bank of America News (@BofA_News) June 12, 2017
Another theatre’s sponsor, American Express, hurried to say their financial support for the Public Theater doesn’t include funding for the scandalous production. The company also notes it doesn’t condone the portrayal of the main character in the production.
A Statement from American Express: pic.twitter.com/Ig0Ju3B2dP
— American Express (@AmericanExpress) June 12, 2017
Donald Trump’s son responded to the production with a sarcastic tweet. Trump Jr asked how much taxpayers pay for this art, putting the word “art” in quotes. He also raised a serious question that has become especially relevant since his father took his office: “When does ‘art’ become political speech & does that change things?”
I wonder how much of this "art" is funded by taxpayers? Serious question, when does "art" become political speech & does that change things? https://t.co/JfOmLLBJCn
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 11, 2017
Delta Air Lines, Bank of America and American Express are key sponsors of New York’s Public Theater.
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