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'Witcher' fans want Henry Cavill out after GF Natalie Viscuso 'tribal' pic

After Viscuso's black-up pictures from her 2008 Namibia trip resurfaced online, fans asked Netflix to drop her beau Cavill from his role in the show

Henry Cavill's girlfriend, Natalie Viscuso, was forced to apologize after she was accused of "cultural appropriation" after her old reemerged pictures showed her dressed in an east African tribal attire with her skin colored from the neck down, which prompted 'The Witcher' fans to start a petition for the actor's removal from Netflix's hit show. 

The 'Justice League' actor, 38, started dating Viscuso, 31, earlier this year. After Viscuso's black-up pictures from her 2008 Namibia trip resurfaced online, fans asked Netflix to drop Cavill from his part in the show because of his association with her. In the pictures in question, Viscuso, from Roswell, New Mexico, dressed in an east African tribal attire. According to Daily Mail, she appeared to have painted the top half of her body using Otjize, a dark-colored pigment – made out of butterfat and ochre - which is traditionally used by the Himba community of Namibia to protect themselves from the harsh climate. The photos were taken when Viscuso was 18 and she participated in an MTV reality show where she spent time with an African tribe in Namibia. 

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Apologizing for the pictures, Viscuso told Daily Mail on Friday, June 18: "Firstly, I'd like to say that I'm sorry if this image surfacing has caused any offense. It is a photo from 2008 for a TV show in Namibia. The tribe I was living with painted my skin as part of an initiation ceremony and an acceptance into their culture. Never in a million years did I think that this would be offensive, in fact, I felt honored that they would initiate me. However, with the lessons that we are all learning in today's climate, it is important that I recognize that this is potentially hurtful. My deepest and most sincere apologies."

'Henry Cavill is dating another racist'

However, her apology did not seem to have cut it with a lot of social media users who branded both Cavill as well as Viscuso "racists." "The plastic bottled water is part of the tribe’s tradition? B*tch… #henrycavill #natalieviscuso #bothracists #henrycavillracist #natalieviscusoracist," one of them said, while another noted, "#HenryCavill's (PR Stunt) 'girlfriend' thought she could get away with a disgracefully insensitive act, and has only now 'apologized' because she was FORCED to. #Disgrace #Racist #NatalieViscuso #NatalieViscusoRacist."

A third commented, "So Henry Cavill is dating another racist. FFS bro how many racist girlfriends equals himself being racist. First @ginacarano and now Natalie Viscuso. #HenryCavill is looking very problematic." One more said, "Force to apologize are you kidding me? This is more about herself and her relationship with Henry that a sincere apology. What an a**hole both of them #natalieviscusoracist #henrycavill." A person reacted with, "Now there are two photos of natalie viscuso. In a racist picture. God I hope she doesn't post the one in black face. Its bad enough with this one. What kind of a person does this. I am sick to my stomach and henry cavill post this twice is this his personal beliefs as well."

Petition to remove Henry Cavill from 'The Witcher'

A Change.Org petition was set up earlier this week to pressure Netflix to drop Cavill from 'The Witcher'. "Henry Cavill the star of the Netflix hit show The Witcher is dating Natalie Viscuso, a woman who did a 'blackface' and wore African indigenous tribal outfits while she was shooting a television show in Namibia. She was 25 years old. The N-word is used casually by her group of friends. If Henry Cavill can associate with this bunch, it means his beliefs are not far off. He himself claims that the people you keep around are a reflection of yourself."

It also added: "His controversial comments in Man of the World Magazine were widely covered and a topic of great criticism. He questioned whether the Oscars push for diversity was racist. On #OscarsSoWhite : 'Maybe the solution is to have more diversity in the members. But does that mean we are saying that to have more black academy members would result in more black nominations? Is that not RACIST itself?' I feel Henry Cavill should go to school and learn about racism. What toll it takes on people when the people he associates with say the N-word out loud or like his gf do a 'blackface'. His blatant disrespect for the Black community should not be tolerated. Please join hands with me in signing this petition if you feel the same. I request Netflix his removal from the show with immediate effect."

One insider in the entertainment industry had branded the campaign to remove Cavill from his role as "cancel culture gone mad." The source told Daily Mail: "It feels very extreme to punish Cavill for something his girlfriend did 13 years before they even met. It's likely Viscuso's actions were led by a TV director and all very innocent at the time. She would have been following orders. Obviously, it hasn't aged well, but to remove her boyfriend from a huge TV series, as a result, is cancel culture gone mad."