Jennifer Hudson calls all-white Hollywood Reporter cover ‘unfortunate’

Jennifer Hudson talks about her Broadway debut in 'The Color Purple'...

Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson is taking her talents to Broadway.

Hudson is making her long-awaited debut on the Great White Way as Shug Avery in the revival of The Color Purple.

She appears alongside Broadway newcomer Cynthia Erivo [Celie] and Orange is the New Black star Danielle Brooks [Sofia].

Hudson spoke with theGrio about her decision to come to Broadway.

“I had done theater before, but not Broadway, and I know the demand of it,” Hudson said. “When I’m in it, I am in it. I wanted to make sure the timing was right.”

Hudson won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Dreamgirls in 2007, making her the fourth African-American woman to take home the coveted trophy.

Last week, The Hollywood Reporter received backlash after releasing its annual actress roundtable featuring all-white leading ladies, including Kate Winslet, Jane Fonda, Carey Mulligan, Brie Larson, Helen Mirren and Charlotte Rampling, and citing, “there are no minority actresses in genuine contention for an Oscar this year.”

Hudson took a moment to weigh in on the contentious cover.

“It’s unfortunate, but that’s the nature of things,” Hudson said. “That’s why I love to see stories like [The Color Purple] with major black characters. Looking at people like Taraji [P. Henson], and Viola [Davis]… making it more known and creating that platform for us to be seen in that way… it’s some strong women out there… actors that are just so powerful and inspiring me and other actresses and opening up the doors for us to be able to do more and to be seen in that way.”

“I believe it was Viola [Davis] that said, It’s about the opportunity. We can do it too, but give us that opportunity. Taking advantage of those opportunities when they’re presented to us makes more room for us in that way, and hopefully it’s the talent that’s seen and not the color.”

The Color Purple is currently in previews and opens at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on December 10.

Follow theGrio.com’s Entertainment Editor Chris Witherspoon on Twitter @WitherspoonC.

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