Tomi Adeyemi Severs Ties to Blood & Bone Film
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- Tomi Adeyemi announced via TikTok-shared group chat messages that she will not promote, has not seen, and will not watch the Paramount film adaptation of her 2018 novel Children of Blood and Bone, scheduled for a 15 January 2027 release.
- Adeyemi shared what appear to be messages she sent to lead actor Amandla Stenberg in February 2025 reading: "Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me," coinciding with Stenberg's colorism backlash over playing Princess Amari.
- Stenberg responded to the controversy in a now-deleted TikTok, asserting that Amari was described in the book as having lighter skin that stands out from the "darker chestnut and mahogany hues" of other characters; the novel itself describes Amari as having "dark copper skin."
- Adeyemi co-wrote the screenplay with director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King) but said she is "officially separating my name" because she "can't keep being hurt and attacked behind the scenes."
- The film's ensemble cast includes Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Regina King, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Viola Davis, with The Guardian reaching out to Paramount, Prince-Bythewood, and Stenberg's representative for comment.
- Adeyemi told the Guardian around the book's 2018 release that she wrote it "for black teenage girls growing up reading books they were absent from," and the novel debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times YA bestsellers list, earning her a Forbes 30 Under 30 spot.
Why it matters: Adeyemi wrote a book celebrating Black girls' visibility, yet she now refuses to attach her name to the high-profile film adaptation of that very work — a split that puts Paramount in an awkward position heading into a 2027 release built on the author's personal brand and fanbase, which she is actively asking not to be conflated with the production.
