Austin woman discusses Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ on first date. Then her date mentions Helen of Troy: ‘my stomach dropped’

A first date in Austin, Texas, took an unexpected turn after a conversation about Christopher Nolan‘s blockbuster The Odyssey led to a disagreement over one of the film’s most talked-about directorial decisions. TikTok creator Grayson Smith (@grayson.smith12) shared the story in a viral video, saying the alleged encounter ended moments after her date criticized the casting of Helen of Troy.

“I was on a first date the other day, and it was going fine, and I brought up the new Odyssey movie. I was like, oh my god, I’m so excited to go see it,” Smith said in the video. According to Smith, her date replied that the film was “actually gonna be a pass” for him.

When she asked why, she said he answered, “cause Helen of Troy is a black woman,” played by actress Lupita Nyong’o. Smith said the remark immediately changed the tone of the conversation. “And I literally, my stomach dropped,” she said. “I looked at him and I said, ‘you don’t think a black woman could do that?'” According to Smith, her date replied, “no.”

Smith said she felt immediately ill and left the date early

“My stomach turned to knots and I felt so sick and uncomfortable,” Smith continued in her post. “I just looked at him and I said, ‘oh, I’m actually gonna leave right now.'” Smith said the pair had been meeting at Barton Springs in Austin, Texas, a popular public recreation area. She said she gathered her belongings and left.

While recounting the experience, Smith said she has become more willing to walk away from uncomfortable situations rather than continue conversations with people whose views she finds incompatible. “Recently, I just made it so clear to myself that I’m not giving a drop of time or energy into anybody who I would never want to be associated with,” she said.

Smith also acknowledged that leaving a first date can feel intimidating. Still, she said, “I think we really just have to normalise immediately leaving. Leave anywhere safely, of course,” she said.

The video sparked thousands of reactions from TikTok users. One comment read, “They can’t stand Helen of Troy being black, but are A-OK with Jesus being white…” Another commenter referenced the actress directly, writing, “Regardless of anything, if you don’t think Lupita Nyong’o is one of the most beautiful women in the world, I don’t trust your judgement.”

Nyong’o is aware of her casting backlash

Nyong’o’s casting as Helen of Troy generated online debate months before the movie premiered. Some critics questioned the casting, while others defended the decision, arguing that ancient mythology has long been interpreted in different ways across film, theater, and literature. Nyong’o later addressed the criticism, telling The Guardian that the film’s cast is “representative of the world” and that she was not focused on defending the casting.

The discussion surrounding Nyong’o was only one of several controversies tied to The Odyssey before its release. Online debate also focused on other casting decisions, including Elliot Page’s role in the film.

Any online backlash appears to have had little impact at the box office. Universal’s adaptation posted a $124.5 million domestic opening and a $264.1 million global debut, making it Christopher Nolan’s biggest opening weekend to date and one of the strongest theatrical launches of 2026, according to the Los Angeles Times.