Disney’s Dismay
I grew up watching Disney movies. Sunday evenings were dedicated to our family gathering in front of the television, eating popcorn, drinking Pepsi, and watching the Wonderful World of Disney. Whether it was Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, “Charlie the Lonesome Cougar,” “Freaky Friday,” or “The Love Bug,” parents could always depend on Walt Disney producing movies that were safe for every member of the family to watch.
Now, if we are to believe some vocal detractors, the company is set to present a movie that is unacceptable…and not for the reason you might think.
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The company announced recently that it is bringing out a film named, “Jungle Cruise,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. It is based on the Disneyland’s theme park ride of the same name and set in the 19th century.
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The Rock and Emily Blunt aren’t the problem. Nope. Jack Whitehall is.
Disney announced that British comedian Whitehall, 30, will play “a gay man – one who is hugely effete, very camp and very funny,” according to a source. “This latest script, set at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable to be gay, is another significant turning point.”
But wait, the role isn’t the problem either, even the depiction of a gay man as “hugely effete (and) very camp” seems to be OK with the outspoken LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, or questioning) activists. Neither is the fact that the character is openly gay, at a time (1800s remember) when that lifestyle wasn’t widely accepted.
No, the problem is the fact that Jack Whitehall is NOT gay.
Working on the film, Whitehall shared a video of the Rock on set and wrote that it is an honor to be part of the “epic adventure.” The self-professed “Disney nerd” said he is having “the time of my life.”
So, he doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.
So what is the ruckus all about?
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One commenter on the internet said, “Such a (darn) shame it’s so hard to find gay actors to play gay roles in hollywood. Do better @disney @jackwhitehall”. Another said, “I’m actually devastated about the casting of @jackwhitehall in a “gay” role for @Disney. HIRE A GAY ACTOR! How is this happening STILL? I completely blame both parties and am disgusted and upset with both”.
Devastated? Disgusted? Really?
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Not long ago, Scarlett Johansson was signed to play the role of a transgender character in another movie. Johansson eventually pulled out of the project. It has been reported that she did so because of all the backlash to a straight actor playing a transgender role.
One commenter, I think, actually hit on one of the potentially legitimate arguments against Jack Whitehall. First she said, “If Scarlett Johansson wasn’t allowed to play a trans man then Jack Whitehall shouldn’t be allowed to play a gay man.”
That’s not it.
Next she said, “Especially so when you consider there are absolute hundreds of out gay men in Hollywood who are better actors than him”.
I think the one of the only reasonable arguments against Whitehall is that there may be a better actor out there willing to play the part. It should not matter that Whitehall is not actually gay. I mean, isn’t the point of being an actor that you play people other than yourself? If you are a good enough actor it shouldn’t matter whether you are a straight actor in a gay role or vice versa.
Yes, Hollywood history is replete with LGBTQ actors playing straight roles. One of the most popular actors of the past was Rock Hudson. During his career he played the love interest of some of the most popular female stars of the time. He was a true heartthrob for millions of female fans. After his death due to complications to AIDS, he was “outed” by the press. He never played a gay role.
Robert Reed played Mike Brady on the popular “The Brady Bunch” a few decades ago. In the show Brady was the father of three sons and three (adopted) daughters, and was happily married…to a woman. After Reed’s death, it came out that he was gay.
You say, “In those days, gay roles were not accepted so they had to play straight.”
True. True.
Lily Tomlin, Jodie Foster, Ricky Martin, and Neil Patrick Harris are all present day actors who have played popular straight characters, and not all of those portrayals were of positive characters. Neil Patrick Harris played Barney Stinson, an unrepentant womanizer, on the popular “How I Met Your Mother.”
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Disney’s first ever openly gay character has been lauded by some as a huge moment for the LGBTQ community. After all, Disney is still one of the top production companies and acceptance of that lifestyle, even tacit acknowledgment, can help any group make progress toward overall favorable reception in society.
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Obviously, I haven’t seen the movie. Chances are better than even that I will watch it as “The Rock” can usually be depended on to star in shows that I find entertaining. I’m not positive that I am familiar with Jack Whitehall or Emily Blunt either. If it’s a good film, I will credit them as appropriate. If not, I may blame them. Either way it won’t concern me whether they really are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, questioning, or straight either for that matter.
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By the way, one way to gain more acceptance by society as a whole is to avoid acting out widely held stereotypes…like petulance.
Just saying.
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(below) A teaser trailer for “Jungle Cruise”. Obviously, Jack Whitehall is not in the trailer. However, it does give you a little idea about the lighthearted humor you might expect from the movie, and it shows the chemistry between “The Rock” and Emily Blunt.
As someone that was raised to not mistreat, bully, ridicule, or discriminate against people that are different than me and to stick up for those that have had aforementioned actions done to them, I sympathize and support the LGBTQ movement. With that said, if this is not a case of “the squeaky wheels gets the grease”, I do not see the issue with Whitehall’s portrayal, unless it is in some discriminatory fashion (which I doubt). Moreover, I do agree that complaining about, what appears to be, a fairly insignificant topic detracts from the main focus of the LGBTQ community, seems petty, and gives fuel to those groups that would like to maintain their discriminatory status quo.
I’m glad you agree. I know I can depend on you to stand up for what you believe, whether I agree or not. As you know, I support equal rights and treatment for all people. At the same time, I think this case might be an instance of a few complaining and getting all the press. Thanks again.