If you expected the man who embodied Indiana Jones and Han Solo to take a stronger stance against inequality and hate, you’re in for a surprise. Harrison Ford, who stars in the upcoming film adaptation of Ender’s Game, said the antigay comments made by the book’s author Orson Scott Card are “not an issue” for him.
The futuristic film, which depicts a child military trained by the government to wage interplanetary war, won’t be released until November but has already proven to be perhaps the year’s most controversial movie due to Card’s contentious statements (four years ago he joined the board of National Organization for Marriage, which aggresively opposes same-sex unions). A group of LGBT sci-fi fans called Geeks OUT has organized an online petition and urges others to boycott the film.
Ford, who plays a military commander in the sci-fi epic, spoke about the film at Comic-Con in San Diego and made it clear that he fundamentally disagrees with Card’s antigay stance and wants fans to see the film as separate from the divisive issue.
“I think none of Mr Card’s concerns regarding the issues of gay marriage are part of the thematics of this film,” Ford explained. “He has written something that I think is of value to us all concerning moral responsibility. I think his views outside of those that we deal with in this film are not an issue for me to deal with and something I have really no opinion on.”
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The actor added, “I am aware of his statements admitting that the question of gay marriage is a battle that he lost and he admits that he lost it. I think we all know that we’ve all won. That humanity has won. And I think that’s the end of the story.”
Lionsgate, the studio that will release the film November 1, has a long record of distributing LGBT-themed films such as Gods and Monsters and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. In a statement released last week, a rep from the studio said pledged to host a benefit premiere for the film that will support LGBT causes.
MikeE
/sigh
Indiana Jones, great archeologist and adventurer that he might be…
Han Solo, great rebel fighter he may have been…
whatever, he’s so dim it’s nowhere near funny.
he really, truly, sincerely, does not understand the issues at play here.
/facepalm
ncman
@MikeE: He understands full well. He’s just trying to say something (anything) that will quiet the storm of the controversy.
Palmer Scott
Let Ford explain away “Hamlet’s Father”!
This isn’t a simple difference of opinion, Card despises gay people and advocates using force against us.
Cam
“”(four years ago he joined the board of National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex unions)””
______________________-
Is this a joke? The National Organization for Marriage “Opposes same-sex unions”??
No, actually that front group for the Mormon and Catholic churches is single handedly responsible for funding and getting through the majority of anti-gay laws across the entire nation. Way to soft peddle there Queerty.
Dionte
Not a penny from me.
greybat
I dunno… there are so many other films to see! Maybe if you send me a Comp!
blackberry_riot
Who gives a flying crap? Watch the movie or don’t. It’s that simple.
DuMaurier
@Palmer Scott: You’re right about both Card and “Hamlet’s Father”. But on the latter, Ford is starring in “Ender’s Game”.
boring
FOR THE LAST TIME
Take. The fucking. Earring. Out.
Cam
@blackberry_riot:
No, it’s support somebody who is a board member of the group responsible for most of the Anti-Gay laws passed in the last decade in this nation….or don’t.
It’s THAT simple.
Jay Sheckley
I don’t support blacklists. But is it a blacklist if it’s just one person who won’t stop _spearheading_ a movement to collect billions of Christian antiChrist money to destroy our rights? However, Cards plea for “tolerance”, and his and Ford’s saying it’s “over” are lying BS. Only 3 days ago California turned down another motion to suspend weddings. There are 100,000 children in the California homes. QUIT THE BOARD OF NOM, CARD, OR SHUT UP & ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR EVIL WORK
Harley
As a big scifi fan I will be greatly disappointed missing Enders Game in the theatre but will watch it bootlegged. I’ll be able to get the bootleg within a week of it appearing in the theatre and in no way will ANY money flow into Cards hands. Sorry Ford. You’ll miss out on your cut as well but that the price you pay for supporting bigotry.
Cam
Apparently Card’s Church, (The Mormons) have their own molestation scandal cover up.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/child-abuse-cover-up-costs-mormon-church-3-million-71939217.html
zaneymcbanes
I’m still not convinced that I’ll see Ender’s Game (my boyfriend of all people is set on seeing it and is of the “it’s the novel not the author” camp), but with the response from Lionsgate (especially the benefit they’re throwing), the director and the actors, it’s definitely pushed me into more neutral territory. I’ve decided I’m going to read the book (I will borrow it from a friend or pirate it off the internet so as to not give Card royalties) and make my decision from there. It’s sad because from the cursory look I’ve made into Card’s political views, he doesn’t seem like he’s that much of an extremist. He actually seems to be pretty humanist. It’s just incredibly sad that his humanist view doesn’t extend to the LGBT community, and it is to the detriment of his legacy that he clings to his views. It makes you wonder if he struggles with these urges himself.
Hermes3X
Sheckley , “Black listing” is when the government comes in and forces a company to fire an individual. There is no government involvement here, so knock it off with the “black listing” hyperbole.
A boycott is when a group of like-minded consumers decide to ‘not’ purchase a product. It is totally voluntary. You can choose to go to the film and financially support a terrible homophobe, or not. It’s a free country.
For Lionsgate to respond with a pledge of money to “gay causes” or by throwing a red carpet gala for the gays, is like funding Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, then when folks find out you were behind the money you pledge to send flowers to the victims.
If Ford had said, “Listen, I am not a gay rights activist, though I support gay rights. I had never heard of the author before committing to the film. This controversy has enlightened many of us to Cards involvement in NOM. What he stands for is deplorable (period!)”
Ford, who might be looking at making in excess of 20 million for this project, has a lot at stake if the movie fails at the box office. So, as a dutiful investor he makes excuses for the film and trys to distance the author from this work. But it makes you wonder what’s next for Ford, a film adaption of Mein Kampf?
2eo
@Cam: I hate to say I told you so but remember the threads about Ender’s Game just before christmas where I said it was all pointing towards him and his cohorts running a paedophile ring.
erasure25
@blackberry_riot: Wow, such a passionate statement on behalf of apathy. Do you not see the irony of your statement?
macmantoo
Can some one explain the difference between blacklisting and boycotting? And what is the difference between the gays “boycotting” the movies and what the million moms does to every gay themed television show and JC Penney’s? I think there is double standards here. It’s ok for the Million Moms and NOM to boycott but not gays? I have no intentions of spending my money to support someone who does not support me.
Derek Williams
With this ridiculous logic will we also boycott the operas of Wagner – a notorious anti-semite, Wolkswagens and motorways, invented under the Nazi regime?
This is an absurd campaign, punishing a film company, actors, composers who did the music for the film, and the musicians in the orchestra alongside movie theatre owners, for opinions they do not even hold and probably abhor. It is causing financial loss to people who are not our real targets and hasn’t changed the opinions of the real target, the author, one bit. On the contrary it will set his anti-gay sentiment in concrete, and encourage counteraction from homophobes who will turn up to see the movie in droves.
This misdirected blacklist will play against us and badly undermine the legitimacy of our cause. Not only that, millions more will go see the movie in defiance of this futile ban.
Next time activists want to pick a target, make sure you pick the TARGET – not innocent bystanders.
Charli Girl
@macmantoo:
The difference IS WE are boycotting for OUR rights,and M.Moms are boycotting to take AWAY OUR rights!
Charli Girl
@Derek Williams:
after thousands years of oppression… COLLATERAL DAMAGE.
nerovenus
Mr. Ford should not defend Orson Scott-Card. Scott-Card is a douchebag, and should be boycotted. I have seen EVERY film with Harrison Ford, beginning with American Graffiti, but there is a thresh hold I refuse to step across. NEITHER my husband nor I will see this film, or buy/purchase/support anything related to Orson Scott-Card!
Oh, may I also state that I work in a bookstore, and refuse to buy any of Orson Scott-Card’s books? Just saying. I am not a hypocrite.
James DuPlessis
London ONTARIO
Canada (where we can freely marry!)
Derek Williams
@Charli Girl: The boycott/blacklist should be solely against the author. Instead, this misdirected campaign will build support for him, and for homophobes. The “collateral damage” won’t be to the people you think it will in film industry. The damage will be to us. I didn’t pick this campaign, but my credibility as a lifelong campaigner for LGBT rights is seriously undermined by it.
Stache1
@Derek Williams: This isn’t just about boycotting someone that has an opinion you don’t happen to like. He’s actively been working on taking away peoples rights for decades. He’s helped fund and supported things like Prop 8 and of coarse NOM. This film will help bring him allot more wealth and help bankroll these and probably more ventures in the future. The studio knew all about this to begin with and just made a calculated risk. Just throw the fags some charity and they’ll just go away.
If this was a Anti Semitic or Neo Nazi saying the holocaust didn’t happen he’d rightfully be banned forever. It’s just that gays are still seen as something that doesn’t count in Hollywood.
I’m sure there will still be allot of fickle dumb ass gays who don’t don’t really give a shit about anything and will still go see it. However, myself and allot of my fair minded friends will never see this movie.
Derek Williams
@Stache1: I don’t see how any of this is going to hurt the author.
Cam
@Derek Williams: said…
“”With this ridiculous logic will we also boycott the operas of Wagner – a notorious anti-semite, Wolkswagens and motorways, invented under the Nazi regime?”
____________________________
Hi Derek, at first I couldn’t decide if you were stupid or just a troll sent in here by the entertainment industry to try to deflect the criticism of this movie. Then the link showed that you do indeed work in the entertainment industry.
Wagner is dead and doesn’t stand to profit from both the money this movie makes and the multiple sequels if it is successful as Card does. There, wasn’t that easy?
You also said “I don’t see how any of this is going to hurt the author.”
Really? You don’t? Well gee, if none of it is going to hurt him then why are people like you trying SO hard to get us NOT to boycott?
This boycott shows the studios not to purchase Card’s stories, hire him, and to be careful of hiring other bigoted people who have made it their mission to destroy the civil rights of others.
Please tell the studio ad department that they need to send smarter people in here to argue their case…or at least to give you better talking points.
Derek Williams
@Cam: Ad hominem is not rebuttal.
If I thought boycotting the movie would hurt the author then I WOULD support a blacklist. The reason I don’t want this movie boycotted is that it is NOT going to hurt the author. It will only hurt people in the studio and those who invested in the movie, and creative people who derive their livelihoods from it, most of whom would not even have known about the author until this blew up.
What’s more it is not serving our best interests to engage in a futile campaign, when we should be directing our energy directly against the author. All this is doing is promoting the movie.
petensfo
Writer, actor, studio, whatever… if you’re a spokesperson against my civil equality, in this day & age, you can rest assured I won’t be sending a dime your way.
If these studio chuckleheads didn’t google this clown before signing on to purchase his book, so be it. That’s just poor performance on their part… Harrison Ford included.
You don’t have to call it a blacklist; seems to me it’s more of a groundswell. No gay person, or anyone that supports equality is very willing to brush aside their integrity so investors don’t have hurt feelings.
Get a life, already.
Derek Williams
@petensfo: You’re talking as though the “Writer, actor, studio, whatever…” should be punished for their homophobic behaviour, beliefs and utterances. They’ve done nothing of the kind. This furore is about the author, whose beliefs remain unchanged, who is not being punished by blacklisting the movie, and because we’re attempting to punish the wrong people, the movie is inadvertently benefiting from all the publicity.
CaptainFabulous
@Derek Williams: Actually, this is more MAFIAA-style nonsense PR talk.
The movie has been made. If you worked on the movie you’ve already been paid. If the movie is boycotted and flops none of the “hardworking people” you describe stand to lose much, if anything (creative types might see a loss in royalty payments, but that’s it).
So while your argument might sound good on paper (full disclosure: you’re a creative type, so you’re obviously biased), for most it simply doesn’t hold water as the cast and crew have already made their money.
Boycotting the movie hurts the author because it makes it loud and clear that other adaptations of his works (for which he would be paid handsomely) will also be boycotted. Boycotting the movie turns Card into a pariah, and that’s the way it should be. If this movie flops you guarantee that no other studio is going to touch any of Card’s works ever again. Also, if the movie is a success it would more than likely renew interest in his other works, resulting in an upswing in literary sales that will most certainly benefit Card financially. So to say Card has nothing to lose if we boycott this movie is at best disingenuous, and at worst a flat out lie. I would expect a creative to know better, and as such I can’t put much weight on anything you claim if this simple aspect of the industry escapes you.
Perfect example: Card was supposed to write an issue(s) of a Superman comic. But after backlash from our community and after the artist who was to have drawn the comic refused to do so, DC booted him off the project. And in light of this I wouldn’t expect Card to ever again be asked to work on any comic, by any publisher, ever. Done and done.
The only thing left is to cut off his actual writing career by putting pressure on any house that attempts to publish any of his past or future works. But one step at a time, right now we have a movie to focus on.
The message is loud and clear: if you advocate the oppression and denial of our civil rights we will do whatever we can to silence you and turn you into a pariah that no entity (unless they share your hateful views) would dare choose to associate with. It’s that simple. Jews are afforded this luxury. African-Americans are afforded this luxury. It is now time for the LGBT community to be afforded this luxury as well. The time is NOW.
Michael
Orson Scott Card is one of the producers of the movie. So regardless of what Ford says Card has had a hand in shaping this movie and he will make money from it.
So I’m still boycotting it.
2eo
@CaptainFabulous: Spot on Cap. Really well said.
Cam
@Derek Williams: said..
“You’re talking as though the “Writer, actor, studio, whatever…” should be punished for their homophobic behaviour, beliefs and utterances. They’ve done nothing of the kind.”
__________________________
So if a studio hired somebody who was Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan they hold no responsibility for that? Nice try.
Your desperation in continually trying to find ANY excuse to defend this movie shows once again that you have a personal interest in this. The link shows that you work in the entertainment industry and I have no doubt that you are either connected to the movie or you have been paid to defend it.
Boycotting sends a message. If you are a bigot and seek to harm others it can have an adverse effect on your OWN bottom line.
For you to fight to defend a board member of NOM who has done incalculable hard to the LGBT community you should be ashamed of yourself. I hope the check from the studio publicists is worth it.
2eo
@Cam: He was contracted to do some work for a mormon owned company last year.
Which actually explains a lot.
ecllips
@Cam: what link? I didn’t see any link in his comment. Can you post the link?