'Slave' Star Backs Out of Italian Premiere After Poster Debacle

The fallout from a marketing campaign which snubbed the black star of 12 Years a Slave shows no sign of slowing down.

Earlier this month the folks behind the publicity push for the film’s Italian debut caught heat for not including Chiwetel Ejiofor’s face on the film’s posters. The material highlighted co-stars Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt, both of whom have much smaller roles.

Now, Kenyan co-star Lupita Nyong’o has pulled out of Slave’s Italian premiere at the Capri Hollywood film festival. The actress, whose potent performance could earn her a Best Supporting Actress nomination, was supposed to attend the event but reversed her decision without explanation.

12 Years a Slave is based on the true story of a free black man who is kidnapped and sold as a slave. The movie is expected to earn a crush of Oscar nominations later next month.