Brendan Fraser’s performance in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale is garnering major accolades, with the actor in contention for the Best Actor Oscar. But some are saying he may not have been the right choice for the role.
Daniel Franzese, who appeared in 2004’s Mean Girls, spoke out against Brendan Fraser’s casting, saying, “I guess you can go ahead and wear a fat suit and do what you got to do and get your Oscar. We’ll just sit here, waiting.”
Franzese did note that he is a fan of Brendan Fraser’s, calling him a “modest” and “lovely” actor. His gripe about Fraser and The Whale is strictly about a thinner, straight actor being cast as an overweight, gay man. Essentially, why not cast an already overweight LGBT actor? “To finally have a chance to be in a prestige film that might be award-nominated, where stories about people who look like us are being told? That’s the dream,” he said. “So when they go time and time again and cast someone like Brendan Fraser, me and the other big queer guys, we’re like, ‘What the … ?’ We can’t take it!’”
In The Whale, Brendan Fraser plays a reclusive 600-pound man who tries to reconcile his relationship with his daughter. His performance was hailed at the Toronto International Film Festival as one “of staggering depth, power, and nuance.” Many pundits are predicting Fraser could win the Academy Award for Best Actor, capping off a miraculous comeback. Our own Chris Bumbray gave it a 9/10–you can read his review here.
Casting shaming is certainly nothing new, but it seems to be popping up more frequently. Even the idea of donning a fat suit. As recently as last year, actress Sarah Paulson was criticized for wearing one on Impeachment: American Crime Story. She later said, “I think the controversy is a legitimate one.” No one involved with The Whale has yet to make a comment.
What are your thoughts on Daniel Franzese’s gripe about Brendan Fraser being cast in The Whale? Chime in below!
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