Brendan Fraser’s performance in “The Whale” earned him a standing ovation and an Oscar nomination, but his triumphant return is also surrounded by criticism for taking on a role that some fans believe was not his.
In the film Charlie (Brendan Fraser) is a teacher who, after the death of a loved one, develops deep depression and severe obesity, but at the end of “The Whale” he seeks to reconnect with his daughter Ellie (Sandy Sink).
Even though screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter was a young gay man in a religious community and drew inspiration from his life for the plot of “The Whale,” that’s not enough for a segment of the audience that wanted to see a queer actor in the role of Charlie .
- Brendan Fraser also stars in the film ‘Risky Heist’, which you can also watch for free in Spanish on ViX.
‘The Whale’ Brendan Fraser is criticized for not being gay
As Brendan Fraser brings a minority character to life in “The Whale,” some fans have pointed to his track record of taking away an opportunity for an actor from the LGBT community.
One of the critics was “Mean Girls” actor Daniel Franzese, who told “People” in September 2022 that he was disappointed that Brendan Fraser was cast in the role and that overweight and queer actors like him were not considered.
Franzese also said he would love to audition for the role, because if anyone knows how a fat queer man feels and acts, it’s someone like him.
Gay actor Guy Branum joined in the criticism of Fraser’s casting, telling PRIDE in September 2022 that it was impossible to identify with Charlie without an overweight, gay actor playing him.
As Branum mentions, another of the criticisms leveled at the film and its star is that Fraser used a fat suit to bring a 600-pound man to life, and that it gives itself a lipophobic message.
Brendan Fraser responds to criticism of his role in ‘The Whale’
Regarding the criticism of Charlie’s performance in “The Whale”, Brendan Fraser during the London Film Festival 2022 assured that he only took the role and gave a performance in the most honest way he could.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in December 2022, Fraser also said that the film is Charlie’s story and is not representative of everyone who lives with a body like his.
Additionally, “The Mummy” actor (available on ViX+, ViX’s premium streaming service) worked closely with the Obesity Action Coalition and spoke to many overweight people to learn the ins and outs of this disease.
Even Fraser told Newsweek on October 12, 2022 that with “The Whale” he hopes to fight lipophobia so that prejudices can stop prevailing in society and the story can have a positive impact on the public.
For his part, writer Samuel D. Hunter told People magazine in December 2022 that the use of the fat suit and prosthetics is to make a respectful representation of overweight people.
When casting Brendan, director Darren Aronofsky told Variety in October 2022 that they did look for actors like Charlie physically, but couldn’t find someone who embodied his emotions the way Brendan Fraser did.
Tell us, do you think it affects the fact that Charlie in ‘The Whale’ is not played by a gay actor in real life?Does the use of prosthetics and a fat suit help eliminate prejudice and lipophobia?
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Source: univision
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
