As we covered earlier, Jesse Eisenberg had some mouth-farts about how much he hated going to Comic-Con to support his turn as Lex Luthor in Batman v. Superman. When asked about Comic-Con, Jesse said these words: “I don’t know what the experience is throughout history, probably some kind of genocide. I can’t think of anything that’s equivalent.” Rude. Unprofessional. The stupid kind of hyperbole trap that so many celebrities fall into. What disturbed me too was the fact that Eisenberg couldn’t simply shrug off a “bad” experience at Comic-Con as just part of his job. Everything had to be melodramatic and like “genocide.” So, why devote another post to this? Well, Jesse is trying to explain his words.
Jesse Eisenberg has made not one, but two attempts to clarify his comment earlier this week that his Comic-Con experience was equivalent to genocide.
“Maybe on some cellular memory level, that’s the only thing that seems like an equivalent social experience,” the actor, 31, said during a joint interview Tuesday morning with costar Jason Segel to promote their film The End of the Tour. “Even if they’re saying nice things, just being shouted at by thousands of people, it’s horrifying.”
Then later in the afternoon Tuesday, the Social Network actor spoke to the AP once again to further explain his eyebrow-raising commentary, saying he “of course was using hyperbole to describe the sensory overload I experienced. I sometimes do employ that. I’m a normal person who has normal sensory experiences, so Comic-Con was very overwhelming for me.”
But despite his comments, he told the news outlet that it was an “honor to be on that end of such jubilation…That people are excited about it in that way is unheard of and thrilling … I’ve been on the receiving end of movies that no one loves and no one anticipates. That’s worse, even though it’s a much quieter press tour.”
Still no apology. And I can’t decide if not apologizing is a good move. I mean, he didn’t actually DO anything that he needs to apologize for. He just made an unpleasant hyperbolic comparison. Should he apologize? Eh. I don’t need an apology, but I do need him to suck it up, grow up and act like a professional actor. If he didn’t want to be part of a huge comic-book franchise – and all that entails – then don’t sign on to play Lex Luthor. If you find big crowds “horrifying,” then just do your little avant-garde theater and indie film projects that no one wants to see.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
He has one of those very punchable faces. And I dislike him.
I agree. It REALLY disturbs me when I have such a visceral reaction to someone. It doesn’t happen often..but there are just some people… when I see them…I want to punch their face too. I’ve tried to figure it out because I know it’s not logical but….it is what it is I guess. *shrug*
I dislike him for unknown reasons too. I can’t figure out why, but I have zero interest in seeing him in any films. This boneheaded comment aside, I have no idea what he’s like as a person, he might be a lovely guy, but something about him inexplicably irritates me.
He comes across as so arrogant, maybe that’s why – because I’d like to punch him too.
I have that visceral reaction to Terrance Howard. I simply CANNOT watch him in anything. He makes me unbelievably angry!
Glad I’m not alone. I’m generally a very easygoing person and a pacifist but something about Eisenberg and the guy who plays Ted in How I Met Your Mother awakens a violent rage in me. I can’t explain why because I normally relate to the awkward types.
Me too..that’s why it’s so bizarre! I’m all about putting first impressions aside to take time to get to know a person…..but some people…just on sight..I wanna clock ’em! I hate not knowing or having even a tiny bit of an explanation as to why!
Since I’m being honest…that kid on Modern Family…the one who plays Phil and Claire’s son. Yeah. Him too. “POW! Right in the kisser!!”
I need therapy..lol!
I completely dislike him on a cellular level.
And yes, there is a part of me who would want to punch him.
IF I watch the movie, it will absolutely not be for him. I have never liked him – ever!
I can’t stand this guy. He is just a tool who has too big of an ego.
You know, Jesse, there’s always the option of giving up acting and going back to whatever douchebag you crawled out of.
yeah, whenever an actor or actress complains about the exposure they have to deal with, I would like to suggest to them, “well, if it’s all about ‘the craft’ for you, and you find the fame annoying, go back to your community theater and do that for the rest of your life”.
they WANT the accolades and the fame…as long as it’s on THEIR terms. can’t have it both ways. with fame comes…well…FAME, you idiot.
to add, here’s a tip for celebs when it comes to hyperbole…the only thing that’s “like” genocide is genocide…likewise, the only thing that’s “like” rape is RAPE. GOT IT NOW?!
I can understand being overwhelmed by it after you suddenly get a break and film gets huge with a lot of attention, or just not liking that attention in general. But he’s already had that experience with the Social Network, knows the hype that will surround a superhero film, and still chose to be in the next Superman movie.
I don’t think it’s as extreme as having to go back to community theater, but there is a middle ground between that and being an iconic villain the next huge superhero summer blockbuster.
Totally agree on the hyperbole. Just don’t do it!
I actually think a lot of actors would like to be less famous. But studio often don’t want to hire you for smaller dramas if you aren’t know and it’s incredibly difficult to get indie movies financed or release unless there are famous people on board.
It’s tough to get great roles if you don’t have name recognition and especially if you don’t want to do press.
Quite a few actors have admitted that they pretty much are forced to take on superhero or other franchise roles if they want to be able to get the more interesting dramatic ones that they really want.
A lot of jobs have their downsides so obviously acting isn’t unique in that sense, but I do think it’s quite unfair to brush every actors wanting to be famous when they often just want to find regular work and paychecks and progress in their careers like rest of us. Unlike them, we just don’t have to sacrifice out anonymity for achieving career goals unless we are in sports or politics or something like that.
Still, that doesn’t really apply here since Comic Con was a work related event and Eisenberg didn’t get harassed in his free time or anything.
My god, he’s a tw@t.
“Maybe on some cellular memory level, that’s the only thing that seemed like an equivalent social experience.”
Oh, shut the… I can’t even muster the energy. His tw@ttiness is draining me. He’s probably that guy who doesn’t like Death Cab for Cutie anymore because they’re “too mainstream.”
Ha, sadly I know a few people like him and it is exhausting being around them.
But they are far too socially and molecularly and cellular-ly intellectual to notice your exhaustion, I’m sure.
^This. He’s the ultimate tool and I dislike him immensely.
Yup.
And he should apologize. For being so negative. For comparing that to genocide. For only acting as 1 character with mild variations. For being so dismissive of his fans and those who work hard to make his experience at CC the best it can be. His poor attitude on all of it.
He hasn’t proven himself to be a good enough actor to get away with that stuff.
And what Matador said below.
“For only acting as one character with mild variations.”
I’m dying. Perfect, FLORC, just perfect.
I didn’t get through that either. What a d$@! Just shut up. Either apologize or stop talking about it. Don’t puke up this faux intellectual bs to justify it.
“The cheering adulation of a large crowd has no comparison but to genocide,” said no professional athlete ever.
He’s a complete asshole and apparently lacks key mental capacities, too. So maybe playing Lex Luther was a smart choice, all those pesky fans notwithstanding.
“that’s the only thing that seems like an equivalent social experience”
Yeah, that’s not helping. There’s no “social equivalent” to Rwanda or the Holocaust.
At this point, he needs to apologize – and then shut up.
I think I grew 4 new sets of eyebrows when I read that. Please, Jesse, tell me how a crowd of excited teenagers shouting questions is equivalent to the murder of thousands.
I never read the Night trilogy in high school, but I did just finish it about a week ago. I know he says its hyperbole, but what a little complaining weasel. Mass murder, gas chambers, starvation, horror and terror. Yup. Thats just like Jessie at Comic Con. Exactly. the. same. He should be commended for his courage. Maybe a Nobel Peace Prize when he finishes his book chronicling the nerds adoring him and the lonely car ride home to his expensive, yet understated/hipster home.
Oh Cindy I’ll second the Nobel Prize nomination.
Why can’t these actors just ACT like they like these things?? #amiright?
I wouldn’t even go that far. He could request to not promote in large groups of people. Exceptions could be made. And he does’t have to act like he likes them either. Just don’t leave us with the impression you hate it so much and call yourself a victim.
He could request that. I’m not sure whether or not the request would be granted at this stage of the franchise or of his career. I get the feeling Marvel lets some of its actors off easy, but it’s generally once they’ve had at least one movie out.
In Jesse’s case, he perhaps should have negotiated prior to this, though. It might have cost him the role, but that might not have been a bad thing.
Its not what he says but the way he says it. Its completely understandable that he’d feel overwhelmed by a huge number of people bombarding him with questions. But comparing that to mass murder? Really?
He could have totally requested/negotiated that. And he could have totally phrased his message better. Agree fully with you both.
That he chose his wording to an extreme and called himself a victim demonstrates a lack of awareness. Since he felt he had to say this and couldn’t just let it go. Since he had to choose the most offensive comparisons. He can live with the fall out.
And ComiCon fans are amazing. They only want to freak out at the sight of your acting. If you can’t suck it up and handle that. If that is so much you need to voice such onegative opinions. This isn’t for you. Damnit Dwayne! When will they learn!
And oh dear. DC/Marvel…. Renner and Evans antics are the worst of that side. Seems like DC hasn’t even released their 2nd of this rebooting/new casting and it’s already messy.
#youareSOright
I don’t even care that he’s vocal about not enjoying stuff like this, it’s the disgusting comparisons that make me angry. Do those people ever think before they open their mouths?
I choked on my toast when I read this. So funny
Of course, he’s a person, who can experience sensory overload, and of course, having thousands of people shouting can be a bad experience. But this is part of the job; making movies is a business. Hollywood is a business. So when you Jesse say insensitive garbage to describe what’s overall a pretty good gig while you’re on the job, whether you like it or not, the only thing that looks good is a sincere apology. Otherwise you look moronic AND ungrateful.
I actually believe he said this to garner attention. It accomplishes the fact that people like him and that it was overwhelming, and using hyperbole caused people to pay attention.
You make a good point Kiddo and I would not be surprised if you are right.
Marvel called and DEMANDED the fool eat his words which might have a genocidal impact on their movie!
Actually, it’s DC Comics. Marvel would have recast the role for the next movie by now.
@IZZY… Thanks!
No problem. I WISH DC would recast this tw@twaffle. Bad enough we get Batfleck and Surly Superman. Now this. Blah. I’m sticking with my Marvel men. Renner’s a douche, but at least Dat Cap Ass knows how to apologize to da ladies.
And something tells me that Renner, Evans and Ruffalo would chill Eisenberg out. They seem a fun and mellow bunch.
I will call Eisenberg an idiot. I know it’s an OTT pronouncement, but I’ll clarify it later.
*gets a cup of tea* Spill, sister or brother!
If it was so overwhelming why couldn’t he just say that. Sometimes people are just plain old stupid. Stop talking Jessie and just smile for the fans.
Totally.
Dear Jesse – I don’t think that word means what you think it means. Your personalized copy of Celebrity Soundbite Thesaurus should have been in your membership packet. Please contact customer service to order your replacement copy and our recommendation is that you refrain from speaking publicly until it is received. Sincerely, the Famous Person Foot-in-Mouth Support Group.
This attutude is rich considering his sister was the bigger star in the family. No way he would have got his foot in the door if not for Hailey.
I’ve rolled my eyes and moved on.
Did you know he and Henry Cavill are the same age? I don’t know why but I never would have guessed that. Eisenberg looks and acts perma-teen.
Really?? I was recently studying Henry Cavill’s receding hairline and based on my unscientific research, I’d say there was a ten year age gap at least between them.
Same age. Also the same age as them:Chris Hemsworth, Andrew Garfield, Jonah Hill, Adam Driver, and Domhall Gleeson.
Yes I am home sick and bored, why do you ask? 😉
I came back after completing more hairline investigation on this group. Andrew Garfield has the best hair hands down, and Chris Hemsworth is on the Henry Cavill hair path. You can see his widow’s peak becoming increasingly pronounced.
You dont like large crowds and you signed on to make a superhero film? O… K…
Exactly!
I’m not one to push for apologies every time a celeb makes a slip-up or have a brainfart, cos I think the apologies are almost always for PR and salvaging their image and rarely sincere. I’d rather they say what they wanna say so that I know who the douchebags are, rather than a sterilised manufactured “star” that doesn’t say anything of consequence.
I agree with you. I don’t like scripted apologies that mean absolutely nothing.
My sides are splitting with laughter. It’s absolutely hilarious how this guy is putting his foot in his mouth every time he speaks. Suddenly, Miles Teller seems wise and levelheaded compared to him.
Hall H is not for wimps, let me tell you…
If he’s going to bother to make follow up comments, then yeah, he should apologize. This clarification adds nothing.
And on top of that, he needs to do whatever planning and psychological work is necessary so that he can do his job (the first part of which is not making his movie look bad) for the next six months. Then he needs to talk to his agent about how he never wants to do a big sci fi/fantasy picture again.
He’d best not work retail on Black Friday. I liked him in Social Network, but comments/hyperbole like that just show how out of touch he is- he probably doesn’t care. I’d say go back to indie stuff, but then he’d probably have to work retail to supplement his income- what a quandry!
This is a non issue. But he really should understand analogies before he throws out one that doesn’t correlate. This is overblown. He’s always been a douche though.
Huh. That is a ridiculously stupid thing to say, and an obvious gross exaggeration. We’ve all said dumb things we’ve regretted – luckily never on a world stage.
I find his casting as Lex Luthor horrifying. His presence in the latest trailer was embarrassing. There’s absolutely nothing menacing about him–we’re supposed to believe he’s a threat to Batman or Superman? Please!
They may be yelling things at him next year at Comic-Con, but it won’t be anything “nice.”
Same here! I’m not onboard with the casting of he or Gal, but there was nothing annoying about Gal in the trailer. But Jesse? Holy miscasting, Batman. So for an untalented idiot – who should be lucky to be an extra on a big-budget film, let alone a headliner – to then complain about a bunch of people screaming because they’re excited to see him? Nope. Get some perspective, idiot.
I was indifferent to him before – thought he was overrated at most – but now I’m going to actively go out of my way to avoid anything he’s in. For someone who claims to be such an intellectual artiste, he comes across as a foaming-at-the-mouth barbarian.
I totally agree with you both!
Was this the first time he had been to Comic Con?
I find it strange how Americans are not really offended. In some parts of the world he would have been forced to apologize. Genocide is not the kind of word you can use just like that- it has a specific and very strong meaning.
I’m an American and I’m horrified and offended. His casual use of the word, his insane comparison- it’s disgusting. The fact that he doesn’t feel the need to apologize is appalling. How could someone compare being yelled at by fans to a genocide?!? Then, how could someone not deeply regret that they said that and not apologize for it over and over?
Co-sign.
Me too.
He should apologize, and quickly!
This whole thread is made up by people breathing fire on this dork about his stupid analogy, so yes, we Americans are offended.
Whatever to him. He’s tiring. I remember him acting like a jackhole during the Now You See it tour as well.
As an attendee without the benefits of actor VIP treatment, the crowds are insane, there’s minimal food & water options (but you can bring your own), the bathroom lines suck, people compete for charging outlets, and you only have a partial chance of getting into the panels you want most. Still, the worst I’d say about comi-con is #Yolo.
Did he learn to speak from Sarah Palin? Talk about an unintelligible word salad….I really hate it when twats like him throw in a bunch of 4 or 5 syllable words to puff up their intellectual wannabe quotient. Jerk.
He’s an ass. The rest of the celebs there are also normal people with normal sensory experiences so that excuse is invalid. If he’d said it was a bad choice of words, apolgized and he has an issue with large crowds and noise people might have forgiven him but he doesn’t even do that, just skims over it and calls it horrifying. Bet DC are thrilled they hired him…
I read one of the actors from Sons of Anarchy has an issue with sound and light and wore dark glasses and ear buds when doing stuff like this but he never compared it to genocide.
this comment and the ‘news’ about it makes me think about how ridiculous this Comic Con thing has become.
I’m a nerd for Star Wars and tons of other ‘nerdy’ ‘comic-con-esque’ things, but when I heard people CRIED for the trailer, or freak out to see certain movie stars, I wanted to throw up.
You know what made me cry? Watching Malala’s Nobel Prize Speech.
Some trailers or movies scenes, and especially music, will leave a lump in my throat, I’ll admit. But some fan-boys and girls are just…I can’t be on board with the way they react to fiction.
It’s stunning how much people care and fight and spend money and time on fictional things, but care very little for what is going on elsewhere.
I think it’s so gross, (and this is coming from a girl who has Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan’s voice as my text alert sound on my phone) that people freak the f*ck out the way this guy is describing.
I can’t imagine it NOT being disturbing and overwhelming and kinda sad sometimes.
I get it, we all need hobbies and escapes and, me included, people’s lives change because of films and fiction, but there are more important things to freak out about in this world and I think way too much passion is being put into fake things. I think this is a great example of somebody seeing that, and saying something about it (albeit, he didn’t say it in a great way, at all).
missmerry – ^^ Yes to all of this! I was a huge star wars geek as a kid, and I love a lot of the culture of comi-con in terms of just letting your geek flag fly, but I agree that it’s gotten out of control. For one, it really was once a comic book convention that never sold out. You could just show up and pay your admission price at the door. Then comic books became Hollywood’s biggest cash cow, and now comi-con is about celebrities and the latest movie releases, not reveling in geek nostalgia like it once was.
It is still a blast, but in either case, real world issues are far more important and worthy of news coverage, but it’s the Hollywood angle that’s made it a news story (as well as crowded and expensive).
He has social anxiety issues and probably takes himself too seriously while being suffocated by a miserable sense of insecurity. I am sure he lacks self-confidence. He is a very awkward and nerdy guy who hates crowds and other people looking at him.
A lot of actors are like that.
Still wrong for Lex.
He’s a big pain in the a##.
Everything seems to be beneath him.
He really should go make an indie so he can make 10 percent of his take home pay. But we all know that will ever happen.
I can’t wait years from now when he’s teaching acting classes because Hollywood could no longer put up with his diva attitude.
Jesse should stop clarifying. People will forget and be angry with another celebrity next week.
Kristen Stewart meet your soul mate
He’s a charmless sack of neuroses. Think Woody Allen, if he’d never figured out that to survive, he’d need to be funny.
If he doesn’t like comic cons, I can promise you he won’t be missed.
A small part of me is cackling with glee because people are hating on him. He’s one of the most over blown actors of his generation. That said he really should have said “sorry I was being hyperbolic. It was a dumb comparison.” It’s just an unfortunate choice you make in this business to sell an image the public will enjoy and not want to throw knives at.
The post is really interesting and thanks for connecting with latest news and gossips.
He says stupid shit, but the man is sexy as f*ck.