Jack Whitehall faces backlash as Disney's 'first gay man' - Sensationalist Headlines

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45171052 Jack Whitehall has received backlashonline after news broke that he'd been cast as Disney's first major gaycharacter in Jungle Cruise. The comedian wrote that he was "honoured" to be a part of the 2019 film, and it was later reported that he would be playing an openly gay man. The news has led some people to ask why a gay actor wasn't cast for the role. "Could they seriously not pick someone actually gay?" one person tweeted. Others have argued that hiring gay actors to exclusively play gay roles is "typecasting". Jungle Cruise, which is based on a Disney theme park ride of the same name, is due to be released in October 2019.

You beat me by one minute, lol. My thread is going to be closed, so I might as well add an additional detail that your article doesn't cover: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/aug/13/jack-whitehall-role-gay-disney-character-row-jungle-cruise Whitehall announced on Instagram that he was working on Jungle Cruise, a film based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Whitehall is to play the brother of Blunt’s character, and according to a report in the Sun, “he is playing a gay man – one who is hugely effete, very camp and very funny”. So not only is he being played by a straight man, but it sounds like he's just playing a stock gay stereotype he already does in his comedy routines.

Yeah if the character is just a stereotype that sounds like a bigger problem.

people are pants on head retarded, there's plenty of gay actors playing straight roles, it's called acting for a reason

Not saying I'm a fan of this but "hugely effete" and "very camp" kinda describes Jack Whitehall himself

I thought Josh Gad's Le Fou in Beauty and the Beast remake was supposed to be gay? how many times can one company have their "First" gay character

God I hate this outrage culture. Who the fuck cares, unless he plays the role in a way that is derogatory. Its acting.

yeah people are allowed to do that but that doesnt mean that hollywood doesnt still have a problem with casting lgbtq actors. How many movies do you know where a transgender actor played a cis person? how many movies can you name where a gay actor who wasn't white or male played a straight person? How many movies can you name that actually cast transgender actors as transgender characters? If everyone was getting a fair playing field, you would have a point. but as it stands Hollywood is still only dipping its toes into lgbtq acceptance despite wearing a mask of equality for everyone

But thats the thing, it should be based off of merit and how good of an actor they are, not what their sexual orientation is. Thats the problem im talking about, the people who take offense because he isnt gay in real life. Just because someone is gay, doesnt mean they can automatically play a gay character better. Same for straight people, just being straight doesnt make you a good straight character. Yes they need more gay representation in film, but that shouldnt just be tied to "gay" roles like this, that should be across the board. Being upset that a gay person wasnt cast for a gay role isnt productive and feeds this argument that you need to identify as who you act as for some reason.

I mean this doesn't make sense from an acting merit angle either because he's a shite actor.

I'm pretty sure he was shown to be dancing with a man at the end too. I guess he wasn't stereotypically gay, it was much more subtle.

Then maybe they wanted a cheap actor lol. But who knows, maybe he auditioned well, you'll only really know once its released. Then maybe you could question whether it was a biased pick if he turns out to be terrible.

i mean that's kind of what acting is

I was just about to say this. His voice actually meant I thought he was gay until I read this thread.

that was objectively a horrible cast, the trans man in question not even remotely resembled scarlett

Unless Scarlett is playing a robot, shes not going to remotely resemble anybody human.

I mean look at him versus Mr. Blobby. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97fw8xjB5u4

Just because the character in the film is gay doesn't mean the actor has to be gay. Same goes for a gay actor playing a straight character. IMO it doesn't really matter as long as they they are deemed most suitable through a non discriminatory audition process. I personally don't find this to be that big of a deal. Should gay actors only be limited to gay roles? I don't think that benefits anybody.

But Disney never has issues with character stereotypes! *watches Dumbo and see Jim Crow* Ofmph

https://media.them.us/photos/5b451b4c0d544b0021a0f9f9/master/w_1024/AP_18186538291286.jpg because scarlett looks like a 250ish lb broad shouldered man twice her height. it was absolutely an awful casting.

I mean, I was just making a snide remark about how Scarlett Johanson is an awful actress. I wasnt debating or affirming the casting decisions.

Sexual orientation, race, gender and other factors you can't help should never be discriminated against. This actor was chosen so accept it and if you don't like the product Disney ends up making just write a bad review. Him suposedly being a bad actor seems like a valid reason to be upset, but him not being gay matters fuck-all

Also, casting a gay person just because the character is also gay, isn't necessarily a good thing. It could lead to type casting where the only reason they get hired is because they need a gay actor to play a gay character, rather than the merit of them being, you know, a good actor for the role.

I'm reminded on how in the show How I Met Your Mother, the straightest man there was played by Neil Patrick Harris. We've had gay folk play straight folk, no issue in the vice versa.

Honestly, I don't give a rat's ass if a straight man plays a gay man; gay men and women have been playing straight characters forever (since that's all they are really allowed to play). But, why is everyone so mad about this one? It's not the first openly gay Disney character. Anyone see Beauty and the Beast live action? There's literally a whole gay revelation sub-plot. There have been many (recent) gay characters played by straight men in films that are actually good/blockbusters like Sulu in Star Trek Beyond. I'm gay myself. I'd love to see some gay characters in some legitimate roles like a Star Wars main character or something, just because it shouldn't matter if he's gay or straight. My main issue is that there are barely any gay characters in media that aren't either: 1) Excessively flamboyant (not that there's anything wrong with being feminine, but there's more to gays than that) 2) "masculine" but hates himself and is closeted Make me a movie with a normal fucking character that just happens to be gay and don't even make it a big deal.

Why is no one complaining about the one guy on Modern Family?

But that means nothing, you can dance with someone without being attracted to them. Just a bit of fun.

phil seymour hoffman won an oscar for being a gay character. what exactly is "openly" gay anyway. is that supposed to suggest people flaunt their sexuality or what? really dont get it.

Probably because they’ve never realized the actor is straight. Not to mention his partner is played by a gay man and their relationship is portrayed pretty positively.

I always loved ParaNorman's take on having an openly gay character in a kid's movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nel883o_6SA