This year there has been a lot of talk about the film industry, diversity, and how the huge juggernaut of an industry has been slow to adapt. Look no further for this year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy to see a rather contentious topic that overshadowed Hollywood’s biggest awards show. Perhaps change is actually happening, or maybe there is just a residual fear of another controversy that might wash away after a few more rainbow-colored years. The reality of Hollywood and the films that they release, though, is that they are built with market research and meant to appeal to important, target demographics.
So while Hollywood might try to become a bit less “white” in the near future, the chances of them embracing a gay leading man seems to be far off, Suicide Squad‘s Jared Leto told GQ.
“I definitely don’t think a gay leading man would have the same opportunities as a straight leading man. I don’t think that. Not for a single second,” Leto said. “I don’t know if that’s offensive or not, but that’s my thought right now. It shouldn’t be that way. I don’t think you’ll have as many opportunities. And I think you could say the same for minorities. What a word, ‘minority.’ Have we taken that word off the list yet? ‘Cause it should be. Anyway, no, I think that this is still a very conservative business.”
While much of the spotlight that Leto has had over the past year has revolved around the recently released (and critically-panned) Suicide Squad thanks to his portrayal of The Joker, Leto likes to remind the world that he’s more than just a guy who did a bunch of gross things to get into his role, but he’s a guy with thoughts.
Leto has been in the film industry since 1992 and had his share of ups and downs, so it’s safe to say that he has a pretty firm understanding of the industry and the current atmosphere for it.
(Via GQ)
