Ralph Fiennes might have gone too far with his support for J.K. Rowling’s controversial comments, but the actor seemed on point during his remarks on trigger warnings for theater productions. Criticizing woke warnings, Fiennes claimed that audiences should expect to be surprised, instead of being warned beforehand about upcoming events.
After previously making headlines for going against Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson’s mutual opinions about J.K. Rowling, Ralph Fiennes seemed done with theaters posting trigger warnings for their productions. Claiming that people have gotten too soft, Fiennes noted that he would do away with trigger warnings if things were in his hands.
Ralph Fiennes Criticized the Woke Culture Trend of Trigger Warnings
With a career spanning critically acclaimed films and fantasy franchises like Harry Potter, Ralph Fiennes had become a household name in Hollywood. However, apart from his celebrated performance, the actor has sparked headlines after challenging the status quo in an era where sensitivity often reigns supreme. To put it simply, Fiennes offered his curious take on the commonly used method of dropping trigger warnings before particular scenes.
Speaking with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Ralph Fiennes expressed his disdain for trigger warnings, comparing them to a safety net that takes away the very essence of suspense and surprise. Claiming that modern audiences have gotten “too soft”, the actor urged people to embrace the rawness of art rather than shield themselves from potential discomfort.
I think we didn’t used to have trigger warnings. I mean, there are very disturbing scenes in Macbeth, terrible murders and things. But I think the impact of theater should be that you’re shocked and you should be disturbed.
I don’t think you should be prepared for these things, and when I was young, we never had trigger warnings for shows. Shakespeare’s plays are full of murders, full of horror.
As a young student and lover of theater, I never experienced trigger warnings telling me: ‘By the way, in ‘King Lear,’ Gloucester’s going to have his eyes pulled out.’ It’s the shock, the unexpected, that’s what makes an actor, theater so exciting.
Ralph Fiennes argued that by anticipating every potentially disturbing element, we risk dulling the emotional impact of a production. Surprisingly, his remarks echoed a sentiment shared by many artists like Matt Smith who believe that art should provoke thought and emotion—sometimes even discomfort. Meanwhile, Fiennes went so far as to declare that if he had his way, he would ban trigger warnings from productions.
Ralph Fiennes Made Headlines Following His Support for J.K. Rowling
Ralph Fiennes’ bold stance on trigger warnings comes after his controversial support for J.K. Rowling. Considering how Rowling has made significant headlines for her remarks on trans rights and the LGBTQ community, Fiennes surprisingly backed the author by going against younger Harry Potter stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, who have voiced strong opposition to her remarks on gender identity.
While many have distanced themselves from J.K. Rowling, Ralph Fiennes alongside Helena Bonham Carter has maintained their support, emphasizing the importance of free speech in artistic expression. Speaking with The New York Times in 2021, the actor defended the author against the death threats she received, after the controversy was heating up surrounding her anti-trans views on social media.
J.K. Rowling has written these great books about empowerment, about young children finding themselves as human beings. It’s about how you become a better, stronger, more morally centered human being.
The verbal abuse directed at her is disgusting, it’s appalling. I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women. But it’s not some obscene, über-right-wing fascist.
It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman and I feel I’m a woman and I want to be able to say that I’m a woman.’ And I understand where she’s coming from. Even though I’m not a woman.
Prior to that, Ralph Fiennes told The Telegraph that he didn’t understand the hate directed towards J.K. Rowling. Calling people’s hatred towards her irrational, Fiennes continued to stir the pot of controversy by defending Rowling, while Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and even Rupert Grint have distanced themselves from her views.
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