After announcing that she would not be watching her new show, the spy thriller Citadel on Amazon Prime because of its depiction of violence against women, British actress Lesley Manville received backlash from fans.
Manville, a main character in the show, said in an interview with The Guardian that she couldn’t watch violence. Fan reactions to Manville’s refusal to watch the show she stars because it deals with violent themes have been mixed.
No Violence For Lesley Manville
In an interview with UK’s Guardian Newspaper Lesley Manville did not have intentions to watch the show because “can’t watch violence” nor does she “watch any.”
“I can’t watch violence. I don’t watch any. I get offended by it. I really think it’s bad news. People talk about Game of Thrones. I’ve never been able to watch it. Also, it’s pretty violent towards women. I really don’t want to see that. I’m a woman, for a start. Being a woman is a political position. You need to understand what’s going on, the risks, what you’re up against.”
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The #MeToo movement has led to increased pay and visibility for older actresses, and Manville believes it is time for the media to catch up by depicting violence against women. She acknowledged that progress towards gender equality has been slow and emphasised the need to keep up the fight.
“It’s as if we were doing all the work over here, and, while our attention is focused on that, they’re undermining it over there. Well, hang on. It was not a trade-off. You need to keep fighting. It’s been a slow battle over hundreds of years for women to get where they are today. It’s unbelievable how far we still have to go.”
Manville plays Princess Margaret, the Queen’s sister, in the most recent season of Netflix’s The Crown.
Fans Criticize Manville for Hypocrisy
Fans were quick to take to social media to voice their disapproval of Manville’s comments, with some even accusing her of hypocrisy.
the headline is incomplete. it should end with: I won't watch it but I have no problems starring in it and making money from it and enjoying spending the money I make from it.
— la chatte noire (@kedi_kara) April 23, 2023
“I’ll take your money but I’ll also use my stature to harm your ability to make it while simultaneously drawing attention to myself.”
— Tweet Enjoyer (@UGuysImSerious) April 23, 2023
I’m getting tired of actors I admire making fools of themselves saying sh*t like this. So the violence in the script wasn’t bad enough to not MAKE THE SHOW and take the money, but then she has to say the “right thing” on the publicity trail. It’s totally fake and I’m bored of it.
— ELISA FELISA (@felisa_elisa) April 23, 2023
These people are delusional 🙄
— Ross V Walker (@RossWal55386387) April 23, 2023
And yet was fine being paid to be in it pic.twitter.com/AXvxGfsOyd
— Wockawocka (@Wockawocka85) April 23, 2023
The conversation about how violence against women is portrayed in media has been expanded by Manville’s remarks. Despite the prevalence of media depictions of these topics, worries about their potential impact on viewers have increased.
But some fans say these themes can also draw attention to serious social problems and start important discussions. Shows like The Handmaid’s Tale and Big Little Lies have recently brought attention to real-world issues women face by depicting them in nuanced and sensitive ways, such as r*pe, domestic violence, and sexual harassment.
As the debate over violent media continues, everyone involved, from writers and directors to actors and viewers, needs to think about the results of their decisions. The Russo brothers serve as executive producers for the upcoming American science fiction action thriller series. Citadel stars Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as the main protagonists.
Citadel will be available to stream on Amazon Prime on April 28, 2023.
Source: Twitter
