Cate Blanchett faces backlash over her middle class remarks

In May, Cate Blanchett, the renowned Australian actor, made comments about her background during a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival while promoting her work with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. She described herself as 'white, privileged, and middle class,' which sparked a considerable reaction on social media. Many critics pointed out the perceived incongruity of a high-profile actor like Blanchett labeling herself as 'middle class.' In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Blanchett addressed the backlash, expressing surprise at the uproar and emphasizing that her use of 'middle class' was defined by the British understanding of the term. This understanding suggests being above the poverty line but not immensely wealthy. She acknowledged that her experiences working with refugees have profoundly changed her view of the world and offered an apology to anyone she had offended. During the same interview, Blanchett clarified that her character in the upcoming film 'Rumours' is not based on Angela Merkel, despite the character being a female German chancellor. The film, described as a horror-comedy, portrays various leaders who are lost in the woods after a G7 Summit. This exploration critiques the incompetence of leaders in a surreal and absurd setting and is set for a UK and Ireland release in December 2024.