A few weeks ago, we discussed the full-length Zoolander 2 trailer, which featured a prominent cameo by Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch isn’t playing some version of himself in the film, he’s playing a model named All. All is All. All is not a male model or a female model. All is All. Shortly after the trailer debuted, a petition was started to boycott the film because some in the LGBTQ/gender-fluid community believed that Benedict’s depiction of All was actually transphobic. We discussed the issue here. I personally believe that the purpose of the All character is to make a larger joke about Zoolander being out of touch with today’s fashion industry, but some disagree and that’s fine. In any case, Justin Theroux is one of the four credited screenwriters for Zoolander 2, and he spoke to The Wrap about the controversy:
During an interview with TheWrap to discuss the season finale of his HBO drama ‘The Leftovers,” Justin Theroux said the Cumberbatch scene was taken out of context and that petition signers lack an understanding of satire.
“I don’t even know what to make of it, because it hurts my feelings in a way. I take great care in the jokes I write, and the umbrage being taken is out of the context of the scene. I wish people would see the movie first. Satire is a thing that points out the idiots, and we went through it on ‘Tropic Thunder’ with the ‘R’ word,” he said.
Theroux, who also wrote the script for “Tropic Thunder,” is referring to a 2008 protest of that film by disabled groups for actor Robert Downey Jr.‘s use of the word “retard.”
“The goal was not to mock or be cruel to the mentally challenged, but exalt in the stupidity of people who use that word. I’m all for letting words be ugly when the target is correct,” Theroux said. “With social media and all the rest of it, people’s issues need to be heard … at the end of the day people are looking for bandwidth. People are looking for places to inject their voice. But our target is not, and never was, to disenfranchise anyone.”
While The Emotive Eyebrow has never been my favorite person, I think I’m on his side here. I believe that the goal was never to disenfranchise any group. That being said, it’s also important for historically disenfranchised groups – like the trans community – to be heard, and for their voices to be part of the conversation. While Justin’s argument makes sense, I think he’s being a little bit too dismissive about “people are looking for bandwidth.”
Photos courtesy of WENN.
You know something is wrong when part of me agrees with eyebrows that should strike fear into my soul.
I agree with him completely. I wonder what comedy will be like in the future.
Could you see Blazing Saddles getting made now? It seems no one understands satire and everyone’s all butt hurt ALL THE TIME.
I think he’s right; we (as a society) cannot take ourselves too seriously, or we risk losing humor, satire, art, etc. All work cannot be “safe” and bland for the sake of never offending anyone. A movie like Zoolander is not a serious work of art. It makes fun of everyone, with Zoolander himself being the biggest butt of the jokes.
Yes, we’ve moved way too far into PC territory when it comes to satire. That IS the point of satire – to point out the absurdities/inequalities. And I still say we haven’t even seen All doing anything objectionable in his 10 second clip, so I’m not sure why there’s a fuss already?
@PANDY
The group is quite specific as to why it’s problematic. They say the portrayal is the modern equivalent of black face, and mocks/ridicules transgenders and androgeny. That’s pretty clear cut.
That whole thing where we have to make fun of and ridicule someone in order to point out how unfairly and marginalized they’re treated is b.s.
I’m fairly certain the aggrieved group are better able to say what’s offensive than someone who isn’t part of said group.
Also to @Santia – Zoolander isn’t being mocked because of who he is (his DNA or ethnicity is he?) – if he was that might be more in line with the character of ‘All.’ I didn’t see the first zoolander so I wouldn’t know.
But is the puportedly aggrieved group raising an issue or are these just a bunch of tumblr educated CIS girls looking for a warrior badge? In any case, the gag as far as I can tell from that tiny clip is how stupid Owen Wilsons character is and how pretentious All is. The joke isnt Alls androgeny.
I agree. And part of the point of satire is to turn the attention to the problems of these words, terms, and thoughts. Well-placed satire is something that provokes discussion, and, hopefully, change. I’m all for emotionally safe spaces, but we can’t ask someone to be intellectually safe, because we don’t get it after viewing it out of context. That way, censorship lies.
I don’t like him at all being the Johnny Depp 2.0 & all that being said, I agree with him. On one side I understand how the trans community might get offended but the character All played by Benedict Cumberbatch was literally less than 10 seconds in the trailer. You can’t make assumptions out of that, same with Tropic Thunder (one of my favorites) once you watched the movie you get the whole idea. I say we wait to watch it then we can yell at Johnny Depp 2.0 all we want.
Justin, your feelings really don’t matter so stop sniveling
This just in….
White guy got his feelings hurt: is upset he’s running out of people to make fun of in this too-pc climate.
Shutty. And even if it is satire and people took it out of context, don’t talk about it as injuring you. Show some tact and empathy. Offer reassurance and provide the context. Or tell them to shut up and deal with it. But do not make yourself the victim, because you’re not.
But the main characters that are being made fun of in Zoolander, as in most movies, ARE white males?
could you come over to my house? Because Justin’s technique is the same as my tween kid–be careless and hurt or offend someone, then when you are called on it, claim hurt feelings. It’s become a pet peeve. I’m going to use your verbiage the next time it happens, later this afternoon 🙂
I have no idea if what is in the film will ultimately be offensive, but he would have come across as much more gracious if he had taken it seriously, rather than brushing it aside as needing bandwidth and claiming offense.
I actually don’t disagree with him. After all, the movie is intended to be a satire, not a straight up comedy, and one that hasn’t even been released yet.
Justin, stop it. Now, lets get back to watching him slither out of a tub naked.
“The goal was not to mock or be cruel to the mentally challenged, but exalt in the stupidity of people who use that word” – that includes your wife right? She famously called herself retard and then refused to apologize for insulting/hurting others.
I am sorry but this man can act but he is not attractive at all – dyed hair with obvious implants, body too oily looking and not nice and his obviously desperation for publicity (turning into someone who is a bigger fame hungry wh*re than Jennifer) is just a turn off.
@sienna, thank you! I was never really a fan of Jennifer’s before that because, gasp, I’m not a Friends fan, but after she said that I lost any respect and interest in her. She’s just like everyone else.
Sienna and CandyBurry I am happy ,some remember Jennifer using the R-word, Justin is just as bad as his wife.
I picked up on that too Sienna, but I have an out there theory. Justin might be teed off with Jen and is cruelly mocking her, as she kinda did with Brad. Justin probably knows that he’s making a fool out of her and doesn’t care. Now that the ring is on HIS finger, we may expect more digs. How about, people that get drunk at awards shows are pathetic. Jen’s getting karma back. Maybe Justin is Heather Mills 2.0.
I agree with him on this one,some people take simple things way out of context. I hope the leftovers gets renewed for season three,he’s so good in it,great show.
Please cover your eyebrows–they offend me and hurt my feelings.
The Leftovers has made me absolutely LOVE him. Season 2 was one of the best seasons of television ever.
I know, Season 2 was really extraordinary tv. Interesting he doesn’t bring any of that too-cool-for-school attitude one would expect from his hipster demeanor to his role. His character carries the burden of mental instability and grief in such a real, heartbreaking way. I hope the whole cast gets nominated for something (SAG?) because it’s hard to single out the most exceptional performance in the group: Carrie Coon, Regina King, Christopher Eccleston, Kevin Carroll, Ann Dowd, Theroux. Even Liv Tyler played a terrifying sociopath. Amazing. I will be crushed if it’s not renewed. Critics have been raving about it, but ratings are low.
I’ve liked him as an actor since Six Feet Under, in Parks and Rec, etc. but never really found him super attractive. His red carpet pics are terrible and his street style is too much, but on The Leftovers, he’s pretty damned hot. Maybe because his acting has been stellar. I forget he’s jort-loving Justin Theroux. Plus he can really hold a close-up.
Mostly though I’m in love with Carrie Coon and would happily be president of her fan club.
Tracking – I really really hope HBO renews and we are not alone:
http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/leftovers-season-3-fans-campaign-costume-hbo-1201655760/
True, mia girl, his Leftovers performance can even make one forget about the jorts (which is saying something). He’s quite the crier, I must say. Speaking of holding a closeup, did you see the Vulture GIF on his “beautiful tears”?: http://www.vulture.com/2015/12/justin-theroux-tears-the-leftovers.html#
That GR-inspired HBO campaign is brilliant!
Tracking – I’m dead. Hilarious.
Where’s mimif? She’s got to see our favorite sweaty guy emoting!
Good news. Just saw the TV overnight ratings jumped for the finale. Even though HBO’s main measure is subscriptions and they don’t need ratings for ad sales, everything I read said that was an important part of a potential renewal. Fingers crossed.
I find the joke in a bit of bad taste but not offensive, just not well executed. And I actually agree with him.
BC has some killer cheek bones. That is ALL. 😛
All is All.
He’s repulsive in every way. Social climbing trophy ‘husband’ – nothing more.
1000% agree
This is the equivalent of getting angry at Tropic Thunder because the trailer showed RDJ in blackface and then when you see the movie you realize the whole point is satirizing people who engage in blackface.
If it turns out the character is in fact transphobic, I’ll be angry right alongside everyone else. But literally all we know right now is that the character exists and the people behind the movie are saying that the joke is not on that character, but on the reactions to the character. So the outrage is way premature for me.
Watching that short scene, the joke is “does she have a hot dog or a taco?” Gee, we’ve never heard that cliched joke before! Is this the amazing joke he takes “umbrage” over and takes “great care” in writing and is hurt over? Seriously?? He sounds so full of himself.
As for the PC thing, I have a hard time with making fun of the transgender community. Where I live, a woman was just beaten to death for being trans. I started to research it and the level of hatred towards them is unreal. It strikes too close to home for me to find anything said at their expense funnny anymore. But that’s just me, I guess. I feel very sensitive about it right now.
I would like that shoe polish black hair to be disenfranchised.
I like how he is good at attacking others, but any comments about him hurts his widdle feelings. As us Aussies say, have a cup of cement and harden the f up, Justin. I wonder how Tom Hanks felt, when you attacked him out of the blue, for no reason at all. Quiet, respectable, classy Tom Hanks. Theroux is a coward and a nasty piece of work. As for his wacky bs about calling a person a ‘retard’ shows how calling a person a retard is wrong, that is like calling an African-American the n word, to show that using the n word is wrong. Makes NO SENSE.
I don’t like Jen very much, but this guy’s an idiot. No wonder they can’t be together for very long. I almost feel sorry for her for having to put up with him. He’s insufferable and exhausting. I remember he attacked Tom Hanks for being too Hollywood and phony as well. Now look at this guy. He’s going to eventually burn in the limelight he now craves. Baby needs a Kleenex.
Has anyone watched this movie before jumping to conclusions? Also, I know everyone here hates him because he dated and married Jennifer Aniston, but I can’t hate him when he speaks so eloquently on a subject I agree with. I’ve never been interested in his TV show, but now I’m intrigued. 🙂
Such a handsome man. Yum.