William Shakespeare was a ‘black Jewish woman’, shocking new book claims

GB News reported on 24 January 2026 that a recently released book asserts William Shakespeare was a black Jewish woman. According to the narrative, portrait artists may have deliberately lightened her complexion to fit contemporary aesthetic norms. The article was written by Oliver Trapnell and appeared on the VG News website at 20:55 UTC, with a follow‑up update at 22:01 UTC the same day. The claim challenges long‑held perceptions about Shakespeare’s ethnicity and religious background, sparking debate among scholars, critics, and the general public. The book’s author and publisher were not named in the initial report.