Filmmaker Will Packer, known for blockbuster hits like Girls Trip and Straight Outta Compton, recently shed light on the behind-the-scenes challenges of his first major film Stomp the Yard.
In his upcoming book, Who Better Than You?: The Art of Healthy Arrogance and Dreaming Big, set to release on February 18, Packer talks about why Stomp the Yard was almost shelved and why the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities were not directly represented in the film.
Stomp the Yard is set at Truth University, a fictional HBCU, and focuses on the world of stepping and Black Greek life.
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In a social media video post, Packer reveals that the film faced some challenges, though surprisingly, they did not come from Hollywood, as is often the case.
Stomp the Yard is set at Truth University, a fictional HBCU, and focuses on the world of stepping and Black Greek life. Despite the film’s focus on showcasing Black culture and the traditions of Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs), early attempts to involve these organizations met with silence.
“I reached out to all the Black Greek letter organizations. I started with the Alphas, my beloved Alphas, and weirdly, nobody responded,” said Packer. “The Qs [Omega Psi Phi] eventually responded, which was a surprise, but the majority of the Divine Nine didn’t engage.”
Did you know THIS story about Stomp The Yard?? HAPPY MLK DAY! #WhoBetterThanYou pic.twitter.com/fiLLlpPXZh
— Will Packer (@willpowerpacker) January 20, 2025
Being a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Incorporated, Packer explained that he went to great lengths to ensure the film portrayed Black Greek life with respect and authenticity. However, when the first trailer was released, it led to backlash.
“I got reached out to by the Alphas, my own beloved Alpha, my own fraternity, and they led all the other members of the Divine Nine in threatening to boycott,” Packer recounted. “They sent a cease-and-desist to the studio.”
As a result of the controversy, Packer decided to remove the symbols of real-life fraternities and sororities from the film. “Even though I didn’t have to, I agreed to remove all the actual symbols of the real fraternities and sororities in Stomp The Yard,” he said. “That’s why you didn’t see them. They were in there at first. There were actual fraternity and sorority members.”
Despite the hurdles, Stomp the Yard became a cultural phenomenon, debuting number-one opening weekend and grossing over $75 million worldwide.
Dr. King himself was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., making the donation particularly meaningful.
Packer also explains that he got Sony to donate to the construction of the MLK Memorial in Washington, DC.
“I got Sony to agree to donate a percentage of the proceeds of the opening weekend of Stomp The Yard to the then-in-progress Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial,” he shares. “As you know, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is an alpha man my frat brother.
Dr. King himself was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
“So, next time you go to D.C., visit the MLK Memorial, and you and I will know Will Packer had just a little something to do with that,” Packer shares.
Pre-order Will Packer’s Who Better Than You?: The Art of Healthy Arrogance and Dreaming Big here.
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