Henry Cavill has drawn criticism after he spoke of his hesitancy to approach women during the age of #MeToo in a GQ Australia profile published Tuesday.
The Man of Steel and Mission: Impossible – Fallout star was asked what he's learned from this moment in Hollywood's reckoning with sexual depredation in the industry, to which he replied, "I’ve been fortunate enough to not be around the kind of people who behave that way."
"To my memory there’s been no moments where I look back and think, 'Ooh, OK, maybe someone shouldn’t have gone through that,'" Cavill said.
"I know there have been situations with people I’ve worked with being perhaps overfamiliar with some of the actresses. But, I’ve always walked up to them and said, ‘Hey, are you all right? That’s creepy.'"
The star, who believes in the "traditional" approach to dating — in which women are "wooed and chased" — was pressed to reflect on his own interactions with women. "I like to think that I’ve never been like that," Cavill said.
Later, Cavill expressed his reluctance to go about the "old-fashioned" way of courting in the tide of #MeToo, saying, “It’s very difficult to do that if there are certain rules in place. Because then it’s like: ‘Well, I don’t want to go up and talk to her, because I’m going to be called a rapist or something.'
"So you’re like, ‘Forget it, I’m going to call an ex-girlfriend instead, and then just go back to a relationship, which never really worked,'" He said.
"But it’s way safer than casting myself into the fires of hell, because I’m someone in the public eye, and if I go and flirt with someone, then who knows what’s going to happen?"
The actor added that in today's climate, "You can't really pursue someone further than, 'No.' It's like, 'OK, cool.' But then there's the, 'Oh why'd you give up' And it's like, 'Well, because I didn't want to go to jail?'"
In a statement to BuzzFeed News, the actor said: "Having seen the reaction to an article in particular about my feelings on dating and the #MeToo movement, I just wanted to apologize for any confusion and misunderstanding that this may have created."
"Insensitivity was absolutely not my intention," the statement continued.
"In light of this I would just like to clarify and confirm to all that I have always and will continue to hold women in the highest of regard, no matter the type of relationship whether it be friendship, professional, or a significant other. Never would I intend to disrespect in any way, shape or form. This experience has taught me a valuable lesson as to the context and the nuance of editorial liberties. I look forward to clarifying my position in the future towards a subject that it so vitally important and in which I wholeheartedly support."
Online, some took issue with Cavill's stance on the subject, specifically his comment about being labeled a "rapist" for talking to a woman. "The mental gymnastics some men are doing to position themselves as 'victims' of #MeToo is insane," one person said.
This is absurd. If Henry Cavill doesn’t want to be called a rapist then all he has to do is... not rape anyone. The mental gymnastics some men are doing to position themselves as “victims” of #MeToo is insane. https://t.co/nafnZiaXGH
Donna Dickens, a former BuzzFeed writer, said, "Good. Henry Cavill *SHOULDN'T* date until he figures out how to do it without 'accidentally' raping someone."
Good. Henry Cavill *SHOULDN'T* date until he figures out how to do it without "accidentally" raping someone.
"No one's going to call you a rapist for saying, 'Hello,' to a woman," another added.
Dear Confused Men like Henry Cavill, No one’s going to call you a rapist for saying, ‘Hello,’ to a woman. They will only call you a rapist if you rape them. Hope this clears up any remaining confusion. Kind Regards, An Actual Woman. P.S: If still confused, ask yer Ma.
More people continued to blast the actor. "Dunno about anyone else but I've never found myself forcing my penis inside of them midway through a conversation."
Henry Cavill is now worried to go and speak to women in case he gets called a rapist. Dunno about anyone else but I’ve never found myself forcing my penis inside of them midway through a conversation. If you don’t wanna get called a rapist, don’t rape. #MeToo
"When u can't tell the difference between saying hello and raping, the problem is u dude," someone else said.
when u cant tell the difference between saying hello and raping, the problem is u dude
Earlier in the interview, the actor did say that "stuff has to change, absolutely" in response to Hollywood purging itself of its deep-rooted ills. “It’s important to also retain the good things, which were a quality of the past, and get rid of the bad things."
