UPDATE: Beyonce’s representatives have confirmed to us that she will not be taking part in the production, but that it is an important story that should be told.

Beyoncé’s upcoming film about slavery has been slammed by a South African chief, who claims that she “lacks the basic human dignity” for the project. 

The news follows yesterday’s reports that the singer was planning on writing her first ever screenplay, in a new bid to be taken seriously as an actress and filmmaker. According to various reports, the star has allegedly already started work on a biopic based on the life of Saartjie “Sarah” Baartman – a South African woman enslaved in a 19th century freak show.

Baartman, who was exploited by Europeans for her “unusual” colouring and body shape, has since become a major symbol of colonialist objectification – which has made some question Beyoncé’s suitability to the role. One South African chief has even demanded that the singer forget the project, stating that “it’s not her story to tell”.

“She lacks the basic human dignity to be worthy of writing Sarah's story, let alone playing the part,” chief Jean Burgess of the Ghonaqua First Peoples told South Africa News 24. “Why Sarah Baartman? Why not a story about an Indigenous American woman?”

“I can only see arrogance in her attempt to tell a story that is not hers to tell.”

Beyoncé has yet to confirm her attachment to the project – we’ve reached out to her for comment