Will Poulter, who gained recognition from his role as Eustace Scrubb in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Tread, has continued to struggle with what can be clearly termed as appearance-targeted bullying. The actor, who joined the MCU as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, revealed how he struggled with backhand compliments after being mistaken as Toy Story’s bully, Sid.
Will Poulter Want To Be Known As Marvel’s Avatar of Life
Will Poulter was barely 2 when Toy Story came out! The irony here is that the actor, who made his MCU debut as Adam Warlock in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, isn’t being recognized for his Avatar of Life status. During a recent interview, the actor narrated how he is being mistaken for the anti-hero character, Sid from the 1955 movie. Poulter expressed:
“A guy at a urinal in LA last week turned to me and said, “You’re in Toy Story, right?” And I was like, “Well, that was animated.” I don’t want to be rude. I also appreciate there’s a meme going round of me—I dressed up as Sid from Toy Story for anti-bullying week.
So arguably I haven’t helped my case. But [Toy Story came out in] 1995. I was two. And they weren’t doing it through live action.”
Not only this, but Poulter also shared a pub incident when someone told him, “You were ugly for the best part of your life, and now things are looking up a bit!” Even though, these harsh comments sound like backhanded compliments, people’s mentality does “contribute a lot to a complex”
While Poulter may have taken these backhand compliments like a joke, even dressing up as Sid in a recent anti-bullying campaign, the actor is definitely bothered as he wants to be known for playing meaningful roles, particularly Adam Warlock.
Will Poulter Became A Subject of Appearance-Targeted Bullying
The 30-year-old actor may have become subject to all sorts of disgraceful remarks, but fans need to be reminded of the actor’s bright resume. From winning the BAFTA Rising Star Award almost a decade back for We’re the Millers, to an Emmy nomination for the Hulu miniseries, Dopestick, the English actor is more than his looks.
In 2019, Will Poulter faced massive backlash for Netflix’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, wherein he plays the role of a renowned video gamer, Colin Ritman. Despite negative comments, Poulter decided to step away from the social media platform to focus on his mental health, politely stating:
“I accept all criticisms and it’s been a delight to learn that so many of you enjoyed what many people worked very hard to produce!”
It was reported that fans were bullying the actor over his nasty looks in the movie. People often forget what it takes to be a star and Poulter’s experience of appearance-targeted bullying is just one of the many examples. In Poulter’s case, talent speaks louder than people’s hate.
On the bright side, Poulter’s association with MCU as Adam Warlock is something that needs due attention. Even though it remains unknown in which future projects the character will appear, Marvel fans are already aware of the Avatar of Life’s powers. It is fair to suggest that he’d be seen in action alongside the Avengers in The Kang Dynasty, scheduled for May 2, 2025.
Source: GQ
