Taron Egerton, who just debunked his rumored coming-out with the whole “I’m just secure in my sexuality” refrain, is now making controversial comments on Kevin Spacey’s alleged sexual misconduct.
Related: Judi Dench sticks up for pal Kevin Spacey: “I can’t imagine what he’s doing now”
The two actors worked together on the box office disaster Billionaire Boys Club, which earned just $126 — yes, only three digits — on its opening day this August. And Egerton offered his thoughts about his former co-star in an interview with the Daily Telegraph:
“He was never inappropriate with me. There’s a fine line, though, isn’t there, between someone being an audacious flirt and being predatory? I thought he was the former.”
In another interview, this one with Radio Times, the Rocketman actor says he could have put Spacey in his place had anything untoward happened:
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“If I had been the subject of his advances, I don’t think that would have been the greatest challenge to deal with. I don’t think I would have felt rocked to the core by it. It’s weird because he and I had stayed in touch, he had asked me to socialize. When it all kicked off, I don’t think I was particularly surprised by it. It’s such a tricky, complicated, and weird thing, it’s almost Greek [tragedy], isn’t it?”
Related: Find someone who looks at you the way Taron Egerton looks at Hugh Jackman
Meanwhile, The Daily Beast reports that around 30 men have accused Spacey of inappropriate sexual conduct or unwanted advances, but Egerton seems more concerned with the former House of Cards star’s career.
“He’s just gone now,” he says of Spacey, per Daily Beast. “Gone. We live in the age of the internet maelstrom and one tweet from an anonymous person can bring down a career.”
To his credit, Egerton deemed Spacey’s behavior unacceptable — eventually.
“On the surface level, he’s flirty,” he observes. “He is not my first experience of a flirty older bloke. Even from the age of 17 or 18, I’ve experienced that and I’ve never felt threatened by that, although [Spacey] obviously has made some people feel threatened, and that’s unacceptable.”
Catholicslutbox
Anyone remember those Hugh Jackman and Taron gifs? They probably had him go back in the closet. bad for his career.
Vince
I totally agree. I mean Spacey never once came on to me. He was always a professional. We’ve never met but I just thought that added something to the discussion.
inbama
So refreshing to hear someone react to Spacey’s groping and actually sound like a man.
PinkoOfTheGange
Oh no a young one with his own critical thinking skills!
Quick shame him into the group think.
Catholicslutbox
He’s 29.
Xzamilloh
He’s gonna end up going on an apology tour because Twitter will #Cancel him and demand an apology, he’ll give one that reeks of being written by a PR person and he’ll still be canceled because in the age of faux outrage, apologies are never meant or accepted.
Donston
Ultimately, all he said was that he was never inappropriate with him. In fact, we haven’t heard any stories of Spacey being “inappropriate” with his film co-stars. He does sound fairly insensitive and dismissive considering we’ve heard stories of Spacey aggressively coming on to dudes that were in their early teens, randomly groping and grinding on people, trying to bribe and guilt guys into bed, berating guys when they didn’t comply to his sexual advances, randomly showing his privates to strangers, etc. He’s speaking like Kevin has been accused of merely asking a few guys out and was turned down. It’s not a good look, especially in this day and age.
But people forget that this is Hollywood, and this is a young person trying to establish a career in Hollywood. And being a successful actor is what these people care most about, sometimes the only thing they care about. So, it’s all about keeping your hands as clean as possible. Even calling out a disgraced actor would be bad for business. So, if Spacey was doing too much with him he was never gonna tell it.
Catholicslutbox
What are you talking about? He’s 29- that’s not old, but it’s not young either.
I don’t think it would’ve hurt his career (much) if he said that stacey groped him, but from the sound of it, the two of them are “friends” so I doubt he would’ve actually said anything.
If anything, him confirming the fact that he (taron) is gay, would’ve been far, FAR, more damaging to his career than #metoo. Hollywood would never give him a leading role if he came out.
I’m sure he’ll be photographed with a new “girlfriend” soon…
He’s an attractive guy, in some pics- makes me a little sad that he can’t live his truth.
Donston
He may not be super young. But he’s not established in the industry. As much of a pariah as Spacey has become, he still has a lot of friends in the industry. And there are still plenty of people in the industry that indulge that type of behavior. Showing that you are able to keep secrets and can play the PR game is important in Hollywood. While a willingness to out predators and name them and unabashedly speaking out against someone who has had quite a bit more success than you have is not a good idea for an upstart. That’s partly why so many of these guys have been able to get away with so much for so long. And hardly anyone who has truly spoken out against Spacey has had anything to lose.
On the other hand, you can’t decide that someone is gay because you suspect that they are. You have no idea where this guy lands on the romantic, sexual, relationship contentment spectrum and whether he is more interested and fulfilled dating men or women. However, yes, saying you’re “gay” in Hollywood is still a death sentence for any guy trying to get a career rolling, especially one trying to reach hunk and heartthrob status. “Gay” is still a rather dirty word in the industry.
jrh311
Matt Bomer and Luke Evans are both out. They are both successful and fit into the “hunk” category. Jim Parsons is a lead on one of the most popular shows ever. It’s not a “death sentence” to be out in Hollywood if you have talent.
Catholicslutbox
Matt Bomer and Luke Evans came out later in their career and neither one has gotten a leading role.
IIRC, Matt Bomer was told, multiple times, to stay in the closet when he was playing the lead in White Collar.
Jim Parsons also came out AFTER he was on that “hit show” for a while.
..but that’s all for television, and not the big screen.
Talent has nothing to do with it:
”
“Matt Bomer is totally hot and a very good actor. He is NOT right for Christian Grey and it complicates the role,” Ellis tweeted. “I don’t care how good an actor you are but being married to another man complicates things for playing CG.”
“Okay I’ll say it. Matt Bomer isn’t right for Christian Grey because he is openly gay. He’s great for other roles but this is too big a game.”
“
Catholicslutbox
As for him being a heart throb… he looks good with the proper lighting/filter, and he has a great body, but without those…..have you seen him?! He’s English and an Actor- that’s a pretty deadly combination as they don’t age very well. I’m slightly older than him, but he has far more wrinkles and far more sun damaged.
It’s even worse when they start out young.
Henry Cavill has aged pretty well though. He’s a real HT.
Again, I think Taron’s attractive…but not HT status.
Donston
Matt Bomer and Luke Evans were supposed to be the next leading men in Hollywood. They had a lot of hype and attention swirling around them at one point. Within merely a couple of years of saying they were “gay” and revealing to indulge serious same-sex relationships they both started to have a difficult time finding any substantial work. They’re still working. But it’s obvious being out greatly limited their career potential. Bomer lost the opportunity to play Superman and was dismissed for Christen Grey despite fan support because he was out.
Hollywood isn’t going to simply not hire out actors for any roles. That’s ridiculous. But getting leading roles in movies (or even TV shows) with any type of money behind them has not happened. Even having a passable career and finding steady work is often difficult unless you fit into the over-the-top, campy queen trope, and there’s only so many of those roles share. Both Bomer and Evans were advised by multiple industry people to stay closeted. Luke tried to be closeted but he couldn’t because he had already publicly come out years earlier in an interview. I’m actually surprised by how much the industry dismissed Luke Evans. I thought despite being out (or rather being forced back out) he was going to make decent waves. Also, neither dude was unabashedly out until they got their big breaks.
And I’m saying Taron is a heartthrob to me personally, just that that’s clearly what he and his team is aiming for.
Donston
Furthermore, Hollywood doesn’t care if you’re a closeted or if your orientation is not entirely 100% heterosexual and you don’t live an entirely hetero lifestyle. Saying you’re “gay” and/or indulging serious same-sex relationships is what greatly limits you as a male actor who is at least somewhat dependent on his physical appeal. One of the reasons why someone like Ezra Miller, despite not being much of an actor, can keep getting substantial work in block-busters is because he landed on “queer”, is very ambiguous about how much he’s into guys sexually and makes sure that people know he’s not interested in a serious romantic relationship with a dude. As much as he has tried to attach himself to “gays”, his struggle is something very different.
Edude
Catholicslutbox: Taron Egerton is Welsh and British, not English. Luke Evans is also Welsh and British, not English. Henry Cavill is a Channel Islander (from Jersey) and not English (although his father is English), or even British proper. If you’re going to make generalizations and stick labels on people, please get it right.
Catholicslutbox
It’s all the same in the end.
TomG
Why do people feel the need to “come out” in the first place. Aren’t we just normal people living normal lives ? Coming out makes it sound like there’s something wrong with us. I don’t see straight people coming and announcing their sexuality.
Brian
Straight people announce it every day. I work in a heavily male-dominated industry, and my male coworkers routinely talk about their girlfriends and wives. I know it would be a problem if I mentioned by boyfriend, so I always refer to him vaguely as either my friend or my roommate. It’s no real secret, but I know it would cause trouble to say the actual word boyfriend or partner. There’s definitely a difference — straight people announce it so often that you don’t even realize it.
DCguy
What an idiot.
1. His P.R. team of course forced him back in the closet.
2. Kevin Spacey never tried to force himself on other stars, he always went after the people he had power over.
Yooper
Refreshing to see a young lad not playing the victim.
Edude
More acting less talking, I think.
iamru2
Well spoken man.