- Let's talk about when artists let you down.
I'm watching the Harry Potter movies with our kids
after finishing the books a few months ago.
Like so many I adore these characters and stories,
but I have issues with J.K. Rowling.
Not exactly the same issues many people have, but related.
So how to reconcile the two?
Rowling has taken the stance
that trans men and women should not be classified
the same as non-trans men and women.
This upsets many, both LGBTQ and their allies.
While I consider myself an ally,
I'm not upset that she sees the world this way.
Why?
Well, stay with me on this.
(upbeat music)
To me, in and of itself, it's merely a position.
This is what society does.
We debate the issues.
Whether we see one another as right or wrong,
let's have these discussions.
Let's listen to each other, learn from each other,
abandon error when we see it and find the healthiest,
most rational and compassionate position moving forward.
It's the attitude Rowling has taken that troubles me.
She says that she supports and loves LGBTQ persons.
And if that's true,
it's getting lost in a lot of ugly noise and behavior.
She digs in her heels.
She seems unwilling to listen to and learn
from the positions and experiences of others.
She shuts people down.
Her attitude is rude, sarcastic, condescending,
harsh, smug, malfoyish.
I get it.
She feels attacked and is defending herself,
but it's disappointing.
This is the same person who gave us a Dumbledore
who so cheerfully took criticism in stride
and a Harry who inherited his mother's uncommon kindness.
This is the same person whose stories radiated
with compassion for those who are othered.
Joss Whedon built his career as a feminist, right?
As a feminist icon,
as a male ally for the cause of women everywhere,
supporting causes like Equality Now,
writing strong female characters.
And then it's since come out
that he was verbally and emotionally abusive
to his female cast members and controlling.
That he could be a jerk to the men,
but it seems like he particularly singled out the women.
And then in Justice League,
of course he's rude and cruel to Gal Gadot.
And then to Ray Fisher.
You know, just had this major campaign against him.
Not only that, but Joss used his position and influence
to cheat on his wife with multiple actresses,
with multiple extras,
with people working on his shows many, many times.
That basically he was just another
casting couch producer and director dictator,
who was cruel and unkind on set and condescending.
And a lot of people have called him out
that his feminism is BS.
Here's my thoughts.
'Cause I read his interview in the Atlantic.
Joss Whedon's a complex person.
I don't know what his motivations were.
To write as he wrote, to stand for what he stood for,
it sure seems like base hypocrisy.
But there's such beauty there and such wisdom
and truth in his writing that I have to believe,
just as I was talking about that,
he's projecting ideals that he knows are good and true,
but that he himself was too weak
to stand up for in his day-to-day life.
That's just my read on him.
I could be completely wrong.
I do wanna say that his behavior is inexcusable
and I stand with the actors
and with the people that he mistreated.
The wild thing is that fans, such as myself,
are just waiting for a sincere apology.
And instead, he dug in his heel
and made a series of excuses
and guarded his ego and guarded his good name
and tried to protect it instead of saying,
yeah, like I'm taking a hard look in the mirror.
I'm getting called out and I've preached these ideals
and I haven't lived up to them and I'm sorry.
And I need to work on myself and I apologize to the fans.
And then if he privately apologized to all these people,
he could have a career again,
and he could have our love again.
And instead, he's just doing the opposite
of some of these beautiful characters he's written.
To be clear, I love and support and stand
with our trans viewers, our trans fans, my trans friends.
I see you.
And while I can't personally understand what you've been
through on a societal level, on a human level,
I love you and I care about you.
And I want you to feel
like you have as much seat at the table as anybody else.
And I do understand that J.K. Rowling,
by having the platform that she has,
wields a lot of power and influence,
and that that can be very hurtful for you.
Yes, creators often project
their ideals onto their characters.
Of course, they're human and may struggle to live up
to those ideals in real life.
Collectively and individually
our creations can express the best within us,
even if we struggle to measure up.
This has been true throughout history.
Honestly, it reminds me of something
Sylvester Stallone said.
That for years, he tried to prove
that he was more than just Rocky.
Only to realize that Rocky is more than him.
That Rocky is the purest thing he's ever done.
He said that he wishes
he was more like the character he created,
gentle, humble, loving, and kind.
He said that Rocky inspires him to be better.
We don't care if our cook is a jerk,
as long as the meal is good.
We don't care if the architect cheated on their spouse
as long as the building looks nice,
but we care about artists,
when their art inspires us to goodness.
Their words move us,
lift us and enlighten us.
When their work brings out the best in us,
then they fall short and it feels like a betrayal.
And sometimes it is, I suppose.
I feel betrayal with Rowling.
I feel it with Mel Gibson, I feel it with Joss Whedon.
There's a movement to boycott their work,
burn your copies and cut ties.
That's as valid as any other avenue.
That may be the answer for some fans and with some artists.
But surprise, I have a different perspective.
There's a book called ·"Character Strengths and Virtues."
The authors compile virtues
and strengths that are almost universally accepted
throughout history, across cultures, continents,
philosophies, and world religions as good.
They include attributes like integrity, honesty,
kindness, sacrifice, compassion,
forgiveness and resilience.
I believe these are valid worthwhile principles.
Whether you think they are divine,
and eternal or simply proven
through the ages to benefit individuals and communities,
they have been shown to lead to greater happiness
personal strength, peace and fulfillment.
I call them truth.
Truth exists independent of any artist,
authors, directors, musicians, poets, actors, writers.
They merely give voice to truth
with their talents and make no mistake,
J.K. Rowling. Joss Whedon, Mel Gibson,
and others are very talented artists,
no matter what they've said and done.
When you're let down by an artist who's work you admired
or worse when you no longer respect them as a person,
I find it helpful to recognize
that the things that moved you inspired you
and guided you were true.
They were truth.
The artist merely delivered new packaging for them.
So I'm going to keep reading and watching Harry Potter.
I'm going to hit the Wizarding World
at Universal Studios and buy myself a butter beer.
I'm going to keep loving, Buffy and Firefly.
I'm going to keep quoting Braveheart.
I will enjoy the talents of the artists,
even as I mourn and denounce their real life choices.
Most of all, I will celebrate the truths
they absorbed in their journey
and use their talents to convey,
even if they fall short
in other areas or betray those truths in real life.
Because those truths didn't originate with them.
Financial boycott as a moral position is valid.
I'll back you if you make that play.
But in my view, these artists are already insanely rich.
I don't hurt them by boycotting.
They're loaded to the end of their lives,
even if we don't give them another cent.
by supporting the art,
my money also goes to everyone else who worked
on the art or makes their living in part or whole from it.
The performers, the wardrobe, the producers,
the other writers, the other directors,
the bookstore employees,
the theme park workers, the publishers, the actors,
the people who make the merchandise and on and on.
I will use my voice to stand
for truth and against error as best I understand it.
I am glad to receive truth, no matter the source
I will try to emulate Harry's kindness.
Ron's loyalty.
Hermione's wisdom.
Buffy's courage, Mel's honor
and William Wallace's commitment to freedom.
I hope the artists behind these wonderful words
can find the humility
and integrity so often found in their characters,
traits which will empower them to better practice what
they preached in their art,
because what they preached is true, and it is amazing.
Mischief managed.
Speaking of artists letting you down,
Will Smith, big Willy style, getting jiggy with it
smacking the hell outta Chris Rock.
What are my thoughts?
Well, these were my thoughts immediately after,
check it out and lemme know what you think.
What do you think about J.K. Rowling, Joss Whedon,
when artists let you down.
The framework that I've laid out here, do you agree?
Or do you think I'm full of crap?
Here comes that video.
It's just me and the video hanging out on screen
(upbeat music)
Just the two of us.
We can make it if we try, just the two of us, you and I.