You can count President Barack Obama as a big fan of Lee Daniel’s new movie The Butler.
In a radio interview at the White House earlier today, the commander in chief revealed why he’s such a big fan of the Civil Rights biopic. Hint: It’s partly due to his good pal Oprah Winfrey!
“You know, I did see The Butler, and I did tear up,” Obama admitted. “I teared up just thinking about not just the butlers who have worked here in the White House, but an entire generation of people who were talented and skilled, but because of Jim Crow, because of discrimination, there was only so far they could go.” He continued, “And yet, with dignity and tenacity, they got up and worked every single day, and put up with a whole lot of mess because they hoped for something better for their kids.”
Obama admits there were definitely a few standout performances in the flick. “But all of the acting was terrific, and I thought Forest Whitaker was wonderful,” he said, adding, “And Oprah, my girl, she can act.”
We agree! “She’s just a wonderful actress,” Obama continued. “So I’m glad they did it. And I will tell you that the butlers who are now here in the White House, when we first arrived, when Michelle and the girls just first arrived, they could not have been kinder to us and warmer to us. And part of it, I suspect, is they look at Malia and Sasha and they say, well, this looks like my grandbaby, or this looks like my daughter. And I think for them to have a sense that we’ve come that far was a powerful moment for them, and certainly a powerful moment for us. We love them to death. They look after us just wonderfully.”
