'Aloha' Movie Controversy Reaches New Heights; Sony Releases Official Statement In Defense!

The new Cameron Crowe movie "Aloha" has been embroiled in quite a controversy over its casting and storyline.

The movie is accused of a lack of diversity in its casting choices, and a "whitewashed" representation of the island of Hawaii.

In a press release, the Media Action Network for Asian-Americans (MANAA) said, the movie "uses Hawaii for its exotic backdrop but goes out of its way to exclude the very people who live there."

"Caucasians only make up 30 percent of the population [of Hawaii], but from watching this film, you'd think they made up 99 percent," said Guy Aoki, the head and co-founder of MANAA.

"This comes in a long line of films - "The Descendants," "50 First Dates," "Blue Crush," "Pearl Harbor" - that uses Hawaii for its exotic backdrop but goes out of its way to exclude the very people who live there," Aoki continued. "It's an insult to the diverse culture and fabric of Hawaii."

And now Sony, the studio that is backing up the movie, has released a statement addressing these accusations.

"While some have been quick to judge a movie they haven't seen and a script they haven't read, the film "Aloha" respectfully showcases the spirit and culture of the Hawaiian people," the statement obtained by Entertainment Weekly read.

"Filmmaker Cameron Crowe spent years researching this project and many months on location in Hawaii, cultivating relationships with leading local voices," it continued. "He earned the trust of many Hawaiian community leaders, including Dennis 'Bumpy' Kanahele, who plays a key role in the film."

"Aloha" follows the story of a character played by Cooper, who is a military contractor that has moved to Hawaii and falls in love with an Air Force member (Emma Stone). The movie also stars Rachel McAdams, Alec Baldwin, and Bill Murray.

The movie is set to hit theaters on May 29.