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5 reasons why the response to Tom Hardy being asked about his sexuality is ridiculous and hypocritical
When I saw the recent video of a reporter asking Tom Hardy about his sexuality at a press
conference, I knew the reaction would be overblown – and that most people would side with the British actor (in some cases, simply because he’s hot).
Well, I don’t side with him. And I don’t care how unpopular an opinion that is.
The question posed to Hardy – ‘Do you find it hard for celebrities to talk to media about their sexuality?’ (28.10 in the below video) – was clumsily worded and awkwardly delivered, and not one I would have asked in a press conference scenario, or perhaps at all.
But I don’t think the journalist in question deserved the hostility he received from Tom, or more to the point, a fraction of the trashing he’s received elsewhere.
Not only from other far more intrusive and salacious media outlets who’ve praised Tom for ‘PERFECTLY’, ‘EXPERTLY’ and ‘SPECTACULARLY’ shutting him down, but also from the thousands of vitriolic online commentators who have accused the journalist in question of ‘giving LGBTI people a bad name.’ To these people I say, get a grip.
Here are five reasons why, from my perspective, the question was reasonable, if ill-advised.
1 The journalist works for an LGBTI publication
Note: not the National Enquirer, but an LGBTI publication. He wasn’t going for a tabloid angle. And as Daily Xtra have put it themselves: ‘It’s our responsibility to examine sexuality and the ways in which it’s portrayed on screen.’
2 Tom’s spoken about his sexuality in the past
So it’s reasonable, if naive, to assume he would again. In a 2008 interview with Attitude, Tom said he’s ‘played with everyone and everything – I’m an actor for f**** sake’, before later claiming his comments were misconstrued, adding: ‘I have never put my penis in a man. I’ve never had a c*** in my a***’. Charming. In light of this, I for one would be up for some thoughtful, sensitively-worded clarification (not gory details) as to what on earth this means. Lord knows, sexuality is a complicated beast. So I can’t blame the Daily Xtra journalist for wanting the same.
3 Tom’s playing an LGBTI character in the film he’s promoting
Ironic that, isn’t it? In Legend, Tom plays gangster twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray, the former of whom was openly gay. This is repeatedly addressed in the movie. Any person with half a brain would thus draw a parallel between the actor’s possible experimentation and the character – but if and how you raise that is a different matter.
4 It should be a journalist’s prerogative to decide the questions they ask
This is essentially what differentiates an interview from a free advert, and some famous people really struggle with this concept. For better or worse, personal questions are a sign of the age we live in. Tom is not vastly overpaid to appear in films for his acting ability alone, but also for the interest his popularity and profile brings to the film. What’s more, dealing with press, however irritating, is an inevitable part of a famous actor’s work. That of course doesn’t mean they’re ever obliged to answer something they’re not comfortable with – but there’s a polite and professional way of declining a question.
5 It shouldn’t be offensive or shocking to ask after someone’s sexuality in the right context
Especially if you work for an LGBTI publication. To me, this is the central issue. Some people have argued that now Tom is married to a woman with whom he has a child, to question his sexuality is somehow rude or inappropriate. That is heterosexist, and raises questions of bi-erasure, that there’s something shameful about it. What’s more, some people will say Tom’s sexuality is nobody’s business but his own, and it’s impossible to argue with that – but I dare say these people would be the first to read about it if he chose to address it.
It’s sad but true: there are still so few out and proud LGBTI people in the public eye that even a man being open about the fact he had a fleeting fumble with another man eons ago is a contribution. If Tom doesn’t want to play that role, that’s fine – but can you blame someone for asking him to offer such visibility?
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Jamie Tabberer
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