Tom Holland Faces Bizarre Backlash For Playing Gay Character In “The Crowded Room”
Apple TV’s series The Crowded Room features Tom Holland playing Danny Sullivan, a character based on the real-life story of Billy Mulligan. In episode eight, Holland’s character engages in steamy gay sex and now the actor faces backlash from those angered by his performance, reports Advocate.
#Notmyspiderman? Really?
Much of the criticism comes from people who think that an actor who plays a superhero should not be seen in roles in which the character has gay sex, using the hashtag #notmyspiderman.
Not my Spider-Man? A large contingent of Tom Holland fans who have defended the actor against the homophobic backlash, pointing out that Holland is not the first Spider-Man actor to play a gay character or have a gay sex screen.
Tobey Maguire played the original 2002 live-action hero in Spider-Man and only two years prior he played gay writer James in Wonder Boys. Andrew Garfield was the next actor to take the web-swinging mantle in 2012 on The Amazing Spider-Man. In 2017 Garfield played Prior Walter, a gay man with AIDS, in the critically acclaimed Angels In America.
DNA OPINION
One Twitter writer expressed their incredulity that Holland would take this role when he’s a role model to Gen Z as Spider-Man. It would be important to note that Marvel has literally come out with a gay Spider-Man character in Edge Of Spider-Verse #5.
Another summed up the “controversy” perfectly: “Oh honey, you realise that he’s an actor, right? He’s not actually Spider-Man. He can take any roles he wants, yes, including queer ones. Now breathe deeply and touch some grass.”
Senses Tingling! Find out why Spider-Man is the superhero fantasy favourite of so many gay men in DNA #276. Matthew Phillp discovers Spidey’s origins are decidedly queer and speaks with stuntman, Andreas Alfaro (pictured) with photography by Tom Cullis.
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