Jack Whitehall receives huge backlash over reports he’s set to star as Disney’s first openly gay character.
After announcing his role as the first major openly gay character in a Disney film, Jack Whitehall is facing a backlash on social media.
Whitehall announced on Instagram that he’s working on Jungle Cruise, based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name, also starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
Starring as the brother of Blunt’s character, a report in The Sun says Whitehall is playing a gay man, “who is hugely effete, very camp and very funny”.
Many on Twitter have argued that a gay man should’ve been cast in the role:
https://twitter.com/ricardo_jpl/status/1028904299257057280
One Twitter user wrote: “If you’re one of the people who ‘doesn’t see the big deal’ RE Jack Whitehall, a straight white male cast as the first openly gay Disney character then you’re part of the problem.”
“Straight people playing gay camp characters is offensive. Period,” another tweeted.
“If Scarlett Johansson wasn’t allowed to play a trans man then Jack Whitehall shouldn’t be allowed to play a gay man. Especially so when you consider there are absolute hundreds of out gay men in Hollywood who are better actors than him,” a third shared.
Omar Sharif Jr wrote: “Really @Disney #JungleCruise ? Your first significant gay role will be played by a straight white man perpetuating stereotypes? Fail! This ship should sink.”
