# Bradley Cooper accused of “Jewface” **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 17, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729 "2023-08-17T16:15:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/81 "2023-08-20T08:24:39Z")
I feel _Fantasia_ belongs in there as well. Stokowski had to be probably the second most recognizeable conductor after Bernstein. Good enough for both Bugs to parody and Mickey to shake the hand of… [![](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bb_lhh.png) ](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bb_lhh.png) [![](https://media.wnyc.org/i/800/0/c/85/2020/12/image_bXNabwA.png) ](https://media.wnyc.org/i/800/0/c/85/2020/12/image_bXNabwA.png) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/82 "2023-08-20T11:08:58Z")
That was an awful episode. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/83 "2023-08-20T12:42:37Z")
This is just wild speculation, but if the movie touched on Bernstein’s experiences with antisemitism, maybe there was a decision that he needed to have some stereotypical features as part of that exchange. Meaning, if the movie has scenes where he has to win over people, or overcome dismissive comments about (for example) a “hook nosed Jew”, _perhaps_ it was decided that he needed to have a noticeably large nose to make the slights believable. (I’m not saying it was indeed necessary, but I can imagine that this might be a reason to add a prosthetic nose to Cooper’s face) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/84 "2023-08-20T15:54:02Z")
If I’m looking at the pictures right, Cooper’s actual nose is rather hook-nosed but the prosthetic is entirely straight-nosed. Maybe they were actually trying to avoid the stereotypical nose? (If so, the attempt has obviously backfired.) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/85 "2023-08-20T17:36:37Z")
[Ahem.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/61) 😁 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/86 "2023-08-20T17:58:24Z")
Maybe the whole controversy was dreamed up for publicity. As much as people admire Leonard Bernstein for his musical career and philanthropy I don’t think all that many people are sure who he was. His name is associated with music, but not modern music). Many people would confuse him with Elmer Bernstein (unrelated) who scored numerous movies, and not have any clear recollection of what either one of them looked like, or ever knew at all. People who knew what he looked like may or may not be satisfied with the attempted resemblance between Bernstein and Cooper. If this film is at all successful then the vast majority of viewers won’t have any recollection to compare to and will make up their own minds based on something else. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/87 "2023-08-20T19:13:37Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > If I’m looking at the pictures right, Cooper’s actual nose is rather hook-nosed but the prosthetic is entirely straight-nosed. Maybe they were actually trying to avoid the stereotypical nose? > [@commasense](#): > > [Ahem.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/61) 😁 Whoops! yes, you were ahead of me. And it’s even possible that I read your post, remembered the sense, but forgot that I’d read it in this thread. Apologies! ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/88 "2023-08-20T19:33:49Z")
No worries, I’ve done the same thing! ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/89 "2023-08-20T19:36:04Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Many people would confuse him with Elmer Bernstein (unrelated) who scored numerous movies, and not have any clear recollection of what either one of them looked like, or ever knew at all. I think even fewer people would know who Elmer is, unless they’re a film buff. I guess I’m surprised Leonard has been so seemingly forgotten. He was huge. I was always a fan, because he had a certain pace in his conducting that appealed to me very much. I have two recordings of his score for _Candide_, for example, because I wanted the original Broadway cast recording, but I also wanted Bernstein’s studio recording. I love them both equally. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/90 "2023-08-20T19:39:30Z")
For me it is Leonard’s Bernstein’s Rhapsody in Blue and American in Paris. I grew up on the album and have the CD. [![](https://i.discogs.com/VED2ZainOqyFeKUEo2cTU5Co5AwhL7y905tYnl_8vCw/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI4MDI2/MjktMTQwMzUyNDQ2/Ni02OTMzLmpwZWc.jpeg) ](https://i.discogs.com/VED2ZainOqyFeKUEo2cTU5Co5AwhL7y905tYnl_8vCw/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTI4MDI2/MjktMTQwMzUyNDQ2/Ni02OTMzLmpwZWc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/91 "2023-08-20T19:41:10Z")
Yes! That’s a great one. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/92 "2023-08-20T19:41:31Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I was always a fan, because he had a certain pace in his conducting that appealed to me very much. His performance of Gershwin’s _Rhapsody in Blue_ with the New York Philharmonic (conducting from the keyboard) is my favorite, precisely because of his pacing. And his piano performance. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/93 "2023-08-20T20:30:06Z")
This feels like what happens all to often nowadays and is passed off as a form of journalism. “People are saying” then a bunch of tweets of some people saying. Report that enough and people start talking about it. I very well know what Leonard Bernstein looks like. It seemed like towards the end of his career he was on tv a lot so I remember. I get that he was not famous for his looks so on some level it doesn’t matter what the actor looks like. However Bernstein is known for not looking like Bradley Cooper. I do see a point in separating Cooper from his leading man look. Loach- not Jewish but people think I am ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/94 "2023-08-20T22:29:15Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Many people would confuse him with Elmer Bernstein (unrelated) who scored numerous movies, and not have any clear recollection of what either one of them looked like, or ever knew at all. Which one did they name the bears after? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/95 "2023-08-20T22:45:24Z")
Depends on the Mandela effect. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/96 "2023-08-20T23:35:04Z")
If resemblance to LB is the issue, shouldn’t the concern be more about Cooper’s piercing blue eyes? Bernstein’s image is familiar to me, but only in black and white, so I may be mistaken but I picture him with brown eyes. Ditto Oppenheimer. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/97 "2023-08-20T23:43:03Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > If resemblance to LB is the issue, shouldn’t the concern be more about Cooper’s piercing blue eyes? Bernstein’s image is familiar to me, but only in black and white, so I may be mistaken but I picture him with brown eyes. Idk about Bernstein’s eye color, but a lot of Jews (even dark-haired Jews) have blue eyes (my entire extended family, for example). ETA: I see they’re greenish-brown. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/98 "2023-08-20T23:49:52Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Idk about Bernstein’s eye color, but a lot of Jews (even dark-haired Jews) have blue eyes (my entire extended family, for example). > > ETA: I see they’re greenish-brown. Very true. Since you mention it, I’m the only one in my immediate(Jewish) family that has dark eyes (and a small nose). ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729/99 "2023-08-21T04:02:31Z")
I have a cousin with green eyes. We have an Irish great(x4)-grandfather who was Irish. I don’t know exactly what color his eyes were, because there is only 1 extant picture of him, and it’s B&W, but his eyes are clearly light-- gray, green or blue. So we go on, generation after generation producing the dominant gene brown eyes, until one uncle marries a German Jew with hazel eyes, and they produce a green-eyed child. She otherwise looks like me, and we are always mistaken for sisters, even occasionally twins, but I have the usual brown eyes. She married a man whose mother was an Ethiopian Jew, and whose father is Sephardic. Their child are identified as biracial by most Americans, but they reject it-- they are ethnically Jewish, and do not identify with African Americans-- they are just Jews, as far as they are concerned. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bradley-cooper-accused-of-jewface/988729.md?page=4)