Critics Snap at Andrew Garfield For Saying He’s a ‘Gay Man’ But Without the Sex
Andrew Garfield is getting some eye rolls from LGBT people today after saying he’s a “gay man right now, just without the physical act” and also revealing he prepared for a new role in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America by watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.
The play, of course, is a timeless piece of art about the experiences gay men went through during the AIDS epidemic.
Andrew said during a NT Platform that his big concern was “what right did I have to play wonderful gay role” as someone who identifies as straight.
“As far as I know, I am not a gay man,” he said. “Maybe I’ll have an awakening later in my life, which I’m sure will be wonderful and I’ll get to explore that part of the garden, but right now I’m secluded to my area, which is wonderful as well. I adore it. I had to trust that it was the right thing and Tony had asked me and maybe if he’d asked me, it was the right thing. It was as about doing honor, doing justice and knowing my herstory.”
He added: “[The play is] as much devoted to my friends in the gay community as it is those that passed during the epidemic… My only time off during rehearsals – every Sunday — I would have eight friends over and we would just watch Ru. This is my life outside of this play. I am a gay man right now just without the physical act – that’s all.”
As it turns out, not a lot of people were pleased.
I like how Andrew Garfield’s view of being gay is having friends over to watch RuPaul.
— Eric M. (@thefilmviews) July 6, 2017
Straight tourists who try on oppression for kicks make me so tired. Andrew Garfield and James Franco… guys… you will never understand.
— 🐊 Hamish Steele 🐊 (@hamishsteele) July 5, 2017
Hey did you know that if you marathon Drag Race you are a gay man? That’s all it takes. Who knew. Thanks, Andrew Garfield.
— Lana del Lorde (@jiggatravels) July 6, 2017
I mean yeah but that doesn’t change the fact that Andrew Garfield playing a gay man on TV doesn’t suddenly mean he understands oppression.
— Cari Meixner (@carimeixner) July 6, 2017
❝Andrew Garfield prepares for role in new MLK biopic by watching all the Medea films❞https://t.co/wpmGdEDkzi pic.twitter.com/QVYmBDfIeW
— ᴇʀɪᴋ (@erikjdavis) July 6, 2017
Andrew Garfield: RuPaul’s Drag Race and Tony Kushner made me gay
Me: pic.twitter.com/iear2N1XVz— rachel leishman (@RachelLeishman) July 6, 2017
H/T: People