The casting of Brie Larson as Captain Marvel marked a turning point for the representation of women in the superhero genre. However, a misquoted statement made by the actress caused a stir prior to the film’s release, with many accusing her of inciting hatred towards white men.
Larson is carefully evaluating how she wants this pop culture movement to unfold. It is true that the infamous quote from her—which seemed to turn the whole world against Captain Marvel—was mistakenly attributed. Considering the whole context of her interview, her primary objectives were to encourage greater diversity and representation in the film industry.
She attacked the media during her Crystal + Lucy Awards acceptance speech, claiming that “of the 100 highest-grossing films in 2017, less than a quarter of the critics were women of color..”
Brie Larson Was Taken Out of its Original Context?
Captain Marvel had a noticeable positive cultural impact but it also received backlash. Marvel fans’ reactions to the film’s release in 2019 were not entirely positive. Despite having a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie drew harsh criticism from fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who thought Carol Danvers’ portrayal was subpar.
These accusations date back to Brie Larson‘s remarks about the absence of diversity among film critics during a panel discussion at the 2018 Women In Film Crystal Award. She expressed her desire to see more reviews from underrepresented voices.
Larson called for diversity in entertainment coverage in her Crystal Award for Excellence in Film acceptance speech, citing USC Annenberg’s Critic’s Choice study. She explained how,
“Of the 100 highest-grossing movies in 2017, less than a quarter of the critics were white women, less than ten percent were underrepresented men, and only 2.5 percent were women of color.”
Acknowledging that “reviews change lives” and the influence of the movies that get picked for the Oscars, Larson demanded greater diversity in the business:
“Am I saying I hate white dudes? No, I’m not I don’t want to hear what a white man has to say about ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’ I want to hear what a woman of color, a biracial woman has to say about the film. I want to hear what teenagers think about the film.”
Reactions from Fans to Brie Larson’s Speech
Surprisingly, that quote did not sit well with a few white boys on the internet. Brie Larson has stated that these kinds of prejudices have been prevalent among critics in Hollywood, as she stated:
“We are expanding to make films that better reflect the people that buy movie tickets.”
But regrettably, there is no public conversation about those people’s choices in movies. She claimed:
“I don’t hate white dudes, there are just facts. I do not need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work for him about A Wrinkle in Time—it wasn’t made for him!.
Many fans came out in support of the actor, although the resurfaced video has initiated yet another debate. One fan tweeted:
Say it loud, Brie. I often question why those critics even are given jobs. Is it their job to divide everyone with hate for women or something?
This isn’t a Star Wars movie, it’s a Marvel movie and it’s not like She-Hulk either.
Those critics need to be replaced.
— Animation 4 All | Clone Wars Remembered (@Animation4All) November 8, 2023
And when every insecure white male fan heard that, they do what they always do, ie, feel personally attacked and made it personal right back while coming up with every predictable excuse.
— Ken Simon (@KenSimonSays) November 9, 2023
Because they are so deeply embedded in the industry, there is now just a huge portion of 40+ year old white male critics who will never fairly rate any project she ever does because they will never get over getting called out.
— Spencer Hayes (@spencedetroit) November 9, 2023
Marvel needs to let her go.
— Mrs Kitty Cat (@TexasKitty5) November 9, 2023
“I want to know…these are just facts, not my opinion.”
-Brie Larson— Pedro’s Pack (@halfofame1) November 9, 2023
In spite of the controversy, Larson never wavered in her support of inclusion and diversity in the entertainment industry. She persisted in advocating for greater representation of underrepresented groups in films and endeavored to give these voices more prominence.
The Marvels, her latest movie, is currently playing in theaters.
