“When I was doing a nude scene or a love scene it was clear in the script I’d be naked and everyone would have known about that at least 48 hours in advance.
So I’d be waiting in my trailer wearing just a robe with a sock over my ‘parts’. Then, if I were standing waiting to film a scene where I needed to be nude and someone came into view, I’d make a joke to put them and myself at ease.
My actions were simply designed to defuse any potential awkwardness among the cast and crew.
I’ve never been someone who’s embarrassed about his body so it didn’t bother me if anyone saw me naked.
The motivation for what I’d call my ‘tomfoolery’ was to maintain a jokey atmosphere. There was absolutely nothing sexual about my actions and nor have I ever been accused of that.
In the theatre, quick costume changes happen in the wings all the time, with everyone stripping off to get into their new outfits in time for the next scene. Girls might be braless, boys only in jockstraps. That’s just how it is and no one gives it a second thought. But I accept that my behavior at the time could have caused offense.
[In the future] I’d still be full of jokes and fun, but no more naked pranks. I can see now my actions were pretty juvenile but this was a different time and it’s something I would not do today.”— Former Doctor Who star John Barrowman speaking to The Daily Mail about his on-set flashing scandal. Barrowman was accused of regularly exposing himself to cast and crew members on the set of the popular show. His career took a hit as a result.
LumpyPillows
Makes sense to me. Its just a dick, albeit a large one. When you work in a business that requires your employees to be naked, don’t be surprised when you see them naked; you’ve created the workplace environment that normalized it. Perhaps if we banned all nudity in entertainment…goddess forbid.
paul dorian lord fredine
‘comes at his flashing scandal head on’. good one. 10 points for the punster.
thisisnotreal
At the risk of sounding insufferable, what might have been a harmless bout of nudity to him, might have been something else entirely to someone else. If someone had potentially been abused in their past, then having someone come up to them and flash their junk around might be quite a triggering experience. And even if it wasn’t we just don’t live in a world where the things we think are ok or natural are the same things that another person will think is ok as well. I may not have freaked out the way the other crew members did over someone randomly flashing their junk at me like he did on set, but I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t have made me uncomfortable. Flashing your body parts at people is just not something a lot of us want done to us unless we happen to be really close with the person doing it and we have that understanding already.
BoomerMyles
Too sensitive miss thing.
Hdtex
He’s a perverted old man
Nobody wants to see your micropeen or well used flabby butt. He needs to go away now.
BoomerMyles
You apparently haven’t seen nudes of John Barrowman.
Chrisk
Hdtex is our resident troll who has many user names. It only attacks and hates anyone that’s openly gay.
Richard
Usually someone as bitter as you has a micropeen he’s hiding. Your slip is showing girl.
Essie
He reportedly didn’t just stand around naked, he picked up his dick and slapped it on someone’s shoulder. That’s not “funny” in any sense of the word. And, yes, actors/dancers/models, anyone who has to change quickly for a show needs to be prepared to get naked but they don’t just stand around in all their glory for everyone to see. They carry themselves in a professional manner and change as quickly as possible with the help of assistants backstage. This man is just a nasty old asshole who needs to disappear. I’m glad his career took a hit because of this.
DarkZephyr
Buzz off.
BoomerMyles
Ageist much, snowflake?
Chrisk
What are you. A teenager? He’s 54. Hardly old.
Troyfight
Work is work….you just can’t do this stuff – even if it went the way Barrowman said. ….then again, find that stunning video of Gerard Butler goofing on the set of 2009’s action film “Gamer”….in costume, completely dropping trou, bending over and gripping his ass cheeks (oh yeah, fully naked) and “talking” out of his ass hole. The folks on the side of him (guys) are laughing their head’s off, and it is hilarious, but even that he shouldn’t do (even if my pervy eyes like it), for this same reason….work is work.
C_Alan
This is a good reminder to keep thinking of things to be victimized by.
uberhund
Yeah, well, bodyshaming him for being older or having been sexually active makes you part of the problem, not the solution. He was paid to be naked, and dealt with the awkwardness of the situation inappropriately, something which he regrets and apologises for, and says he would not do again. I’m not sure what else you want from him at this point – he’s not justifying his behaviour or saying it’s good, and he’s saying he was being stupid when he did it.
I think it’s a reasonable, graceful, apology, and should be taken as such. Everyone screws up, and this was before intimacy co-ordinators and other such things. If this apology isn’t acceptable, then we have to act as if all crimes are unforgiveable, and no-one can reform: once you fall from grace, that’s it. So there’s no point in comedians apologising for early homophobic jokes – they made the joke when they were young and unaware, but, too bad, they made a mistake once and nothing they can do will make it any better. This will lead to no-one apologising or admitting error, because, what would the point be?
I agree that people shouldn’t be allowed to get away with ‘un-pologies’ where they admit no error, or ‘takebacks’ when they say people are being too sensitive. But Barrowman says neither of those things. He says he was wrong, stupid, and wouldn’t do it again. Let him reform and move on.
L
This is the most ridiculous, tiring old subject. Accept the well stated apology, take the stick out of your puritanical, sensitive *ss and just move on already. Enough with the nasty age remarks and cancel culture.
Hdtex
Okay Boomer, but he’s still old, ugly, and a pervert.
PerhapsYesNoMaybe
Anyone who has worked in theater or other performance events has experienced what he described. Nothing new. Must have been an incel who complained.
BoomerMyles
I’d give this guy a complete pass.
He’s been designated as a National Treasure.
Hdtex
He’s a perverted old choad. Hardly a treasure.
JoshGL
“My actions were simply designed to defuse any potential awkwardness among the cast and crew.”
Like roofies or chloroform?
basils_Herald
I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop on the Barrowman story and for me I don’t think it ever will. Barrowman was capital O OUT at a time when it was much less popular / less possible / less safe (I say this after having just read the hit-and-run obituary above) to be openly gay. Yes, he pushed what we consider to be appropriate body norms and made another member of cast or crew uncomfortable. I don’t think he did anything that was intentionally harmful, it’s not clear to me what pain he’s actually caused his cast/crew member(s) and he seems genuinely sorry. Can we go back to hating on James Franco or someone == | >= trashy?
storm45701
Did anyone ask him to stop? If they did, and he continued, then it really crosses the line. This doesn’t sound like harassment, but rather juvenile stuff. Barrowman couldn’t know if he “triggered” someone unless they told him; is he supposed to be clairvoyant? Now, once someone has TOLD him his actions trigger past torments, then it becomes Barrowman’s issue. That said, it appears he lacked common sense MULTIPLE times, so a reprimand was in order.
basils_Herald
The bigger takeaway from this drama is that I will never forgive Jack Harkness for what he did to his grandson at the end of season four
Man About Town
The shoulder-slapping (ahem) will probably always follow him around, but I was lucky to catch him as Robert in “Company” opposite Lynn Redgrave as Joanne, so that’s how I’ll remember him!
Richard
Besides him oozing talent from every pore, everybody knows John is a cut up. You phony bitches clutching your pearls are tragic.