It’s not uncommon to hear someone define their Judaism as “culturally Jewish,” meaning they may not believe in God, or go to temple, or learn to read in Hebrew, but they still identify as Jewish.
We’re thinking former Spiderman Andrew Garfield has a similar relationship with his sexuality.
Except… it doesn’t really work like that.
As it happens, Garfield is currently starring as a Lewis Ironside, a guilt-wracked gay Jew, in a London production of Tony Kushner’s theatrical masterpiece, Angels in America.
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In an interview, he said that, “[Watching Drag Race] is my life outside of this play. I am a gay man right now just without the physical act – that’s all.” So, culturally gay — just without all the whole “being attracted to men” thing?
He expounded on this identity even more when asked what parts of himself he drew upon to play the role:
“As far as I know, I am not a gay man. 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 [Kushner, writer of Angels in America] 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.
The preparation had begun before [rehearsals began] with a lot of my friends. [The play is] as much devoted to my friends in the gay community as it is those that passed during the epidemic.”
Again… we’re not sure such “awakenings” are really a thing, but besides propagating a few misconceptions about sexual identity, his heart seems like it’s in the right place.
Nathan Lane and Russell Tovey also appear in the production, playing now at London’s National Theater.
Xzamilloh
Yeah, that one exception being he’s not EFFING gay!!!! How is gay-baiting still a thing? Oh, and I love the throwaway of “Oh, and Nathan Lane and Russell Tovey, the two actual gay men, are also in this thing with straight Andrew Garfield, who we’re obsessing over and want to taste his straight butthole.” Okay, the last part was me.
Hermes
How the h*ll do you not understand the difference between gay baiting and someone who is straight being open? Gay baiting leads to HARM. What he is doing, at least for those of us not wracked with whatever you are wracked with, leads to amusement, happiness, and other positive things.
Hermes
Xzamilloh
Being open to what, exactly? Shut the hell up with that “open” crap…. let’s see how “open” he is in 20 years. Pretty sure he’ll be still “open, but straight.”
broadshoulder
Ohhh Andrew, you are an idiot? Coming out is not something you say, its something you do. Every gay man has experience of this…and some of it isn’t very nice. I get sick of well meaning straight celebrities confounding the issue when they arent even gay
Still it gets you newspaper columns
DCguy
So he’s gay, but you know, without all that pesky having to deal with the hatred, the bigotry, the discrimination, the career risks, the physical attacks, and all of the other issues that go along with it. Because, you know, after all, he watches Drag Race.
I’m curious if the media would think it was cute if he said he was Asian because he eats with Chopsticks, Latino because he likes Molle sauce. (Eye Roll)
alissa914
Great. Who the hell cares? Do a movie we’d want to see now.
Frank
You should watch “99 Homes”….it is AWESOME AND EYE OPENING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfttvNCIJvE
Tara24
oh geez, love clickbait. I was at the Q&A and his I’m a gay man now/RuPaul comments were said so tongue in cheek and he was just joking. Tone is so important and gets lost in translation in these media write ups that cherry pick comments. The full NT Talks podcast is up now, you can listen at the :40 min mark if you don’t believe me
RT74
You can listen to this full answer here. It was so tongue and cheek. Can’t believe ppl are going nuts over this https://soundcloud.com/madigan-penn/nt-talks-denise-gough-andrew-garfield
jean genet ramsey
i mean tbh this is a stupid comment from some straight dude but like i dont think he genuinely believes it – i think it was meant to be a stupid joke that just sort of came off the wrong way from a well-meaning but generally kind of uneducated hetero who wasn’t really aware of the impact or connotations of what he was saying, as opposed to, like, james franco, who actively appropriates queer culture and claims to genuinely Be Gay Except For Being Attracted To Men in some sort of bizarre pretentious nonsensical bullshit kind of way, presumably to take some sort of credit for art created by queer artists that he admires
jjose712
Not being interested in Rupaul’s drag race makes me some kind of straight?
I know they have good intentions but sometimes the actors get the “being gay friendly is good for your career” really wrong.
Gay people don’t have a problem with following the career of a straight actor and you could be totally gay friendly without gaybaiting.
But frankly it’s difficult to blame them when gay producers and writers do the gaybaiting on their shows all the time
Finnsail
Btw, researchers, he’s playing Prior Walter. Does anyone even bother to check?
strix1
SMH…can I translate this as he is one of those hybrids that does not identify with a sexual identity? OMG, that explanation, WTH?!
Truth-is-Truthy
I disagree with Mr. Grant. Coming out is a journey and not everyone reaches it via the same path or at the same speed or at the same time. I am also a young gay Jew and can completely understand what Garfield is saying. He’s saying that he considers himself heterosexual but realizes that he has a part of himself that is also likely gay but which he doesn’t actually identify with at the present time. What’s more, he realizes that he very well might at some future time. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what he said.
re_horst
I agree with you. The hate comments make me sad.
Bradsman
He’s gay.
mydude
I’m really surprised that just doesn’t dawn on some people. The dude is at least bisexual. Have we not been watching the same guy over the past few years? It’s pretty obvious he’s not straight.
re_horst
what’s with the hate. his heart is in the right place. and if you ever doubt his acting ability, please watch “hacksaw ridge”.
Mo Bro
“. . . knowing my herstory”???
Definitely gay.
rbernard
Be nice to Andrew, he was a bit clumsy , but his heart is in the right place and has been a good supportive friend to our community.
For the record, if he would like to sample some yumminess in my garden, I would be more than happy to show him around.
Terrycloth
I’m too busy with my career to be gay right now.so, for the sake of my career and my female fans , I’ll say something confusing to be safe. Years from now when nobody cares anymore I’ll come out…..that’s how I see it…at least say you are bi leaning g
more gay but then again .the career thing
Hasn’t hurt Neil Patrick Harris.
Bradsman
Exactly! Great post.
bobgillan
That’s a bunch of horseshit, Andrew. You talk like have no gay men on your publicity team to help you say the right thing.
Chris
Cut the guy some slack. He’s playing one of the most difficult roles from Angels in America, in one of the toughest theater cities – London. And his comments were meant to acknowledge where he draws the inspiration to play the role as convincingly as people say he plays it. So he’s drawing upon that part of him that has a gay identity which, if we believe today’s kids, is as fluid as mercury.
And yeah, language in use is sloppy. So what if he misspeaks a little. He’s an ally.
Charlie in Charge
Misleading title aside, Garfield would be fantastic as Lewis.
mcquagg
This comment is for Mr. Grant, the writer of the article.
Andrew Garfield plays Prior Walter.
James McArdle plays LOUIS IRONSON (not Lewis Ironside).
Check the details, sir.
And I can’t wait to see the show at Cinemark on 20 and 27 July!!
He BGB
Sounds more like he’s promoting whatever project he’s doing right now. That really stinks whenever actors do this, trying to win fans? And I really like his work.
ivanw222
WTF does rhat mean?
kehvan
He’ll come out for real one day… he pings loudly.
Richard 55
Lots of men have awakenings. Sexual attractions can be realized as you get older, and that can include a change in the gender to which you can also be attracted.
Of course, the gay identity-enforcers of Gay Inc will be furious that this is even possible. They will tut tut the notion and scream blue murder at this outrageous affront.
Kangol
More power to him. He’s culturally gay/gay affirming but has a hetero sexual orientation, or at least he feels that way now. It’s not inconceivable. I think he’s being more gay-affirming than the homophobic, anti-gay closet cases and the supposed out gays who nevertheless despise effeminate gay men, butch women, and trans people. A straight but culturally gay ally is a good thing, not a bad one.
Greg
If Andrew isn’t sure if he’s really gay or not, I’m sure Nathan and Russell can help him figure it out.
kent25
LOL WTF? now this guy want some gay fans? Oh let me get on the gay bandwagon and and get so gay fans, i don’t have to sleep with any men to be gay lol Just like all these other so called queer folk who don’t know what the hell they are NEXT lmao
oz1967
thank you Andrew for that insightful lesson in sexuality, I am a straight man but have no desire to have heterosexual intercourse, but who knows what awakens in my future, instead of my desire for men since puberty I can now look forward to one day miraculously liking woman with no previous hidden desire for them and to enjoy no fear of being outed, ostracized or just plan hated for who I was born to be or just awakened, piss off you knob
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salumbre
This is the stupidest non-story ever for people who can’t read. He is making an interesting point about how actors has to mine some part of themselves for roles that many times are outside of their personal experience. And of course when he says he’s gay, he’s speaking metaphorically. But I guess that went over some people’s heads.
QGridster64
In this pic he looks a lot like a young Tony Perkins…
ParisHiltonsBadEye
Didn’t James Franco do this same shit last year? As being gay myself. I find this REALLY insulting and offensive.
Shit or get off the pot!