Celebrities: Outrage on Social Media, Andrew Garfield Queer-Baiting?
Photo Credits: Gage Skidmore
The Amazing Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield caught some flak from the netizens over a “queer-baiting statement” he made in a recent interview for Angels in America.
Written by American playwright Tony Kushner, Angels in America is a play in two parts set in New York City at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis during the turbulent 1980s. For the London production of the play, Garfield is the actor who plays Prior Walter, a gay man with AIDS.
The hullabaloo started when Garfield was asked, “What sort of resources did you have in terms of resource for research, or did it all just come during rehearsals?” To which Garfield replied that to help him get into character, he spoke to “numerous friends in the gay community,” adding that he watched “every single series of RuPaul’s Drag Race” with eight friends during his time off from rehearsals.
He was quoted by Gay Times as saying, “This is my life outside of this play. I am a gay man right now just without the physical act – that’s all.”
The statement was received with mixed reactions. While some of the netizens found it amusing, the others were not as forgiving and accused him of queer-baiting although a number of people were quick to leap into Garfield’s defense.
Basically every gay man on earth right now. #AndrewGarfield pic.twitter.com/HqtkWWyXk6
— Shawn Hitchins (@ShawnHitchins) July 6, 2017
If only I’d known that watching RuPaul’s Drag Race was the sole criteria for being gay… #AndrewGarfield pic.twitter.com/7R9w1eePYP
— Colter Ruland (@colter_geist) July 6, 2017
There are Gay men who are attracted to men intellectually and emotionally w/o having sexual feelings, it’s called Asexual. #AndrewGarfield
— Eddy Bee (@EddyBee26) July 6, 2017
Listen #AndrewGarfield, I’m not mad at you. As a gay man, who doesn’t watch Drag Race, I’m more than happy to come over and watch with you! pic.twitter.com/c4J2q7iGGj
— Justin (@DTPJustin) July 7, 2017
I’ve been single for over a year now. I can tell you that I’m definitely gay “without the physical act.” #AndrewGarfield
— Shawn Hitchins (@ShawnHitchins) July 6, 2017
If #AndrewGarfield wants to know what it was like being gay in the 80s he should read NFLer Roy Simmons’ book, not watch a show from 2016.
— Cyd Zeigler (@CydZeigler) July 6, 2017
#AndrewGarfield says he’s gay, just without the “physical act?” Wait, what? Isn’t that like saying yr a #vegetarian while eating a rib-eye?
— Alan Boccadoro (@bocc1_) July 6, 2017
Earlier this year, Andrew Garfield broke the Internet when he kissed Ryan Reynolds at the Golden Globes and Stephen Colbert days later. Let’s revisit those moments below.
We see you, Ryan Reynolds and Andrew Garfield. #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/lNP0M3JJPq
— Vulture (@vulture) January 9, 2017
What did you think about the issue, guys? Do you agree that Andrew Garfield was queer-baiting his LGBT fans? Why or why not? Share with us your thoughts and reactions in the comments section below.
Anyway, if you are in London and you want to watch Angels in America, you may check the play’s performance dates at the National Theatre here.
I always thought Andrew was so cute and when he is ready to explore his gay side sexually…I volunteer. I will devoter hours and hours towards making sure his experience will bring him from the dark side and leave him smiling for weeks.
Who cares? Why is it that a person can believe that “they” are 50% man, 15% female, 15% non-binary, and 20% alien in the LGTBQ community and get drenched with unending love and support, but heaven forbid a “cis man” says he is “gay in a sense.” I thought this was supposed to be a loving and open-minded community? Lol.
I am gay and do not watch RuPaul’s Drag Race. I don’t care for the whole drag thing at all. It also has nothing to do with being gay. I am a m an and I have no need to dress or act feminine(like a girl). I don’t even see the point of dating a feminine man(girlish), may as well date a woman. I m saying gay isn’t being feminine, wanting to be a girl, being dramatic and loud, or referring to myself or other men as girls(hate that by the way). I am a homosexual to be correct, meaning I like being with men.
you got that right Mark
Why do some people have to be so dramatic about everything gay related. You have to be very comfortable in your skin to be able to play gay character on screen so for him to be able represent that is a good thing. He made a statement so what? is not insulting to anyone.. gosh people that are mad at him better take a chill pill
You have to be comfortable in your skin, no matter what, since it’s the only skin you have.
Just an uneducated comment by a str8 guy trying to be funny. I think there was probably no ill intent in the comment. We do tend to get upset a bit too easily. I see where the joke was coming from..and it was just not that big of a deal
utterly absurd! Its beyond stupid that people are getting upset over something an actor said about being gay with out the act. if everyone wants to get upset and angry how about how many gay guys willfully discriminate against each other.. how about getting mad over something legit .
I don’t see anything wrong with his comment. I think Garfield was honestly just being a little sassy when answering. People are overly sensitive. Look at the context in how and what he said.
The Millennial son of a friend of mine recently said, “we’re Millennials. Everything offends us,” while expressing frustration with his peers sense of entitlement and petty behavior.
And so it goes with many gay guys.
It was just an innocent, well-intentioned comment. People need to stop being so fucking whiny and sensitive about every goddamn perceived slight.
Outrageous! His career should be in ruins! This is why we need sensitivity training re-education camps. Maybe somewhere centrally located like Germany.
I agree with BRIN. Who the fuck cares?!?
Me being the very non-PC person I am, I’ll ask all of you who are offended: Who the hell are you to question how he self-identifies?
You can’t have that shit both ways, people.
I wasn’t offended by what Andrew said. Besides, it seems to me that he’s either curious or Bi. I always thought he was cute and when he and Emma Stone were dating it seemed forced or for publicity. Like the other actor Taylor Lautner, who I also think may be Gay or Bi.
People need to calm it down. Most need not to say anything. I bet you the ones that had something negative are some of the ones that be secretly drooling over him.
On another note, watching Rupaul’s Drag Race isn’t nor should it have been something that he should have watched in preparation for or helping him get into character; not unless his character did drag or otherwise was involved with drag queens.
If anything he could have watched so many LGBT films. There are so many out there. One that comes to mind that closely deals with this – And the Band Played On; would have been a better something to study from for his role.
I don’t think he said anything wrong; just that his approach at this was misguided by a few friends whom I guessing were probably either born in the later part of the 90’s or were born before that but with no knowledge of LGBT community outside of what is the now “in thing” that is shown on the tv & net today.
When a straight man says he’s a lesbian–because he loves women so much–do lesbians get offended?
I swear gay men are becoming more “effeminate” with each passing day.
Sorry @ Mark, but it looks like being gay is equivalent to being feminine.
He’s just being an attention whore since a new Spider-man is out (Homecoming) and is successful, after his two failed Amazing Spider-man roles.
WTF, leave him alone; he’s young and still learning. Don’t attack him for something as simple as this. It’s not like he physically attacked anyone homosexual, or ever, so just leave him be, and stop this BS attack against him from his simple comments. If the only homo information he has access to learn from is from his few homo-friends and DragRace, then it’s not his fault. Lack of modest homo TV-Shows and his few gay friends are to blame for not providing a better example that could have taught him better.
This is such a waste of time I have more important issues to think about like the state of the US, N Korea and healthcare. I’m proud to be gay and I think his comments were not meant to be negative against the gay community just move on and focus on more important issues.
@Scarpien: No, lesbians don’t get offended by that (usually), because they’re talking about enjoying the same thing — sex with women.
A supposedly-heterosexual guy saying “I’m gay now” because he’s been binge-watching “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is insensitive and silly, especially considering the context of the theatrical work he’s performing in. (I would think for character research he would instead try talking to gay men who lived thru that period in history.) But hey, we’ve all said/done something stupid and thoughtless at some point in our lives (albeit usually not so publicly). Hopefully Andrew will learn something from this shitstorm he’s stirred up: BEING a gay man has nothing to do with whether you watch a lot of drag on TV or not.