Chris Evans' latest project aims to put the focus on how power and influence work in the Middle East. However, the Avengers: Endgame star is coming under fire after people realized that it lacks the presence of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) voices.
Back in 2020, Evans co-created A Starting Point with filmmaker Mark Kassen and technology entrepreneur Joe Kiani. The "video-based civic engagement platform" aims to create a bipartisan channel of communication between Americans and their elected officials. ASP also creates content that informs Americans about what is happening around the world.
ASP's latest projectInfluence and Power in the Middle East is set to focus on the generations of people in the region who were affected by decades of war and instability. However, people noticed that the show only features figures from the American government. These include former UN Ambassador John Bolton, CFR President Dr. Richard Haass, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Former Saudi Arabia Ambassador Joseph Westphal, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The lack of MENA representation didn't go over well with people who believe the show is only focusing on one side of the story. Netizens pointed out that the voices of those who actually live in the regions should be heard since the project is supposed to focus on the effects of U.S. policy on people living in the Middle East and North Africa.
For now, Evans and ASP have not commented on the backlash. In the meantime, Influence and Power in the Middle East is expected to stream exclusively on the A Starting Point website on August 30, 2021.
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