The Amazing Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield is under fire for saying that he’s gay “without the physical act” in regards to his current stage role in the play Angels in America, in which he plays a gay man diagnosed with AIDS.
According to Refinery29, Garfield, who previously dated actress Emma Stone, recently spoke at a panel discussion and shared how he prepared for his role in Angels in America. Journalists from the British publication The Gay Times picked up his controversial comments, and the LGBTQ+ community is not too happy about what he said.
“As far as I know, I am not a gay man. Maybe I’ll have an awakening later in my life, which I’m sure will be wonderful and I’ll get to explore that part of the garden, but right now I’m secluded to my area, which is wonderful as well,” Garfield said. “I adore it, but a big concern was what right do I have to play this wonderful gay role?”
When asked what kind of research he did for his role, Garfield said that he watched RuPaul’s Drag Race. “My only time off during rehearsals—every Sunday I would have eight friends over and we would just watch Ru. This is my life outside of this play. I am a gay man right now just without the physical act—that’s all.”
Garfield’s comments have caused many to voice their opinions about his generalizations of the gay community.
Andrew Garfield really said he’s a gay man without the physical act because he watched Ru Paul’s drag race lmfao
— cassandra (@mulhoIIanddr) July 6, 2017
Andrew Garfield watched Rupauls Drag Race to study for an upcoming role as a gay man. Ive been studying my whole life, can I have that role?
— Matteo Lane (@MatteoLane) July 6, 2017
According to Refinery29, Garfield has yet to clarify or explain his comments. Until then, we wait.