Disney Taps Straight Actor for Gay Role, as Hollywood's Representation Crisis Continues

[Behind the Aegis]

Disney recently announced that its first major openly gay character will appear in the film Jungle Cruise. Jack Whitehall, best known for his role as J.P. in the British television series Fresh Meat, has reportedly been cast as the gay brother of Emily Blunt’s character.

Immediate backlash ensued over yet another straight man being selected to portray a gay character. Some have dismissed the issue as “manufactured outrage,” while others have pointed to the struggle many openly gay actors, especially those who do not present as stereotypically masculine, face in getting access to substantive roles. However, both reactions obscure the point of the larger discussion, which is about representation. What does it mean to “play” straight? What does it mean to “play” gay?

Hollywood’s representation crisis is the issue, not Whitehall. Disney was criticized for having its first black princess be a maid who appears as a frog for 80 percent of the film. Disney was also slammed for decades for Cinderella lies and Snow White fantasies. Disney—and Hollywood in general—is not the place you go if you’re looking to break new ground when it comes to portrayals of sexuality—or race or gender, for that matter.


A source quoted in The Sun described Whitehall’s character as “hugely effete, very camp and very funny.” But being camp and funny isn’t synonymous with a particular sexual orientation. Ricky Gervais and James Corden are “camp and funny” and they are straight men. So what exactly makes Whitehall’s character a gay man? Is his sexual orientation crucial to the storyline or does Disney believe effete, camp and funny are accurate representations of one of their few openly gay characters?

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[TygrBright]

1. Well, be fair.... gay actors have played an AWFUL LOT of straight roles...

::rimshot::

(I know, I know... and the concerns in the article are important, and I agree that stereotyping sucks. But I couldn't resist.)

puckishly,
Bright

[LonePirate]

2. I'm curious as to why the suits thought Whitehall was the best person for the role.

I have no issues with straight actors in gay roles or gay actors in straight roles. I am wondering what it is about Whitehall that won him the part. Was his audition outstanding? Did he have a good rapport with his co-stars? Does he have a look which the film makers wanted?

You can’t throw some glitter in Hollywood without it landing on a gay actor so Whitehall’s casting does raise some eyebrows. However, I am far more concerned by the lack of gay characters in leading roles in major Hollywood films.

There has been one lead gay character in a big Hollywood film this year (Love, Simon). I cannot think of one from last year that was not an art house film like Call Me By Your Name. This role for Whitehall seems like another bit part, which is nice, but we need more lead LGBT characters. Where is the gay Avenger? Where is the lesbian Disney-Pixar princess? Where is the bisexual romantic comedy lead? Where is the trans super spy action hero? Those are the roles and characters we need to see in movies.