2020 was a rough year for a lot of us, including Ellen DeGeneres. It seemed like nothing could have toppled the TV hosts empire but in the summer of 2020, the empire came crashing down. It seemed everyone had something negative to say about the comedian. However, over the past year, it seems Ellen has kept a low profile, until recently when she interviewed Euphoria star Jacob Elordi.
Let me break down exactly what happened.
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If you haven’t watched “Euphoria” — a teen drama about high school kids with very real-world issues, I suggest you don’t let any actual high school-aged kids watch it.
The HBO show features a lot of nudity, sexuality, and drug use, in addition to several disturbing themes.
Thankfully, the show utilizes an intimacy coordinator, which I think should be mandatory on all TV and film sets that involve nudity.
Still, sexuality is a sensitive subject matter, which is why Ellen is under fire for seemingly “sexualizing” 24-year-old actor Jacob Elordi on her show recently.
“You’re naked a lot,” Ellen began. “How does that feel… When they write you into the script, do they say, ‘Hey, how do you feel about being naked?'”
Stifling a laugh, Jacob replied: “You have no choice.”
“Every scene is like, he sleeps with this person, he does this with this person naked,” he elaborated.
“But it’s like, it gets to the point. I’ve done some movies where it’s like… [my character] goes to the mall shirtless. And you’re like, ‘Why?'” he said.
“Well because look at you, that’s why,” Ellen replied.
The comment caused Jacob to blush and take a sip of his water. After a long pause, the talkshow host continued: “But I just was wondering because, you know, for women I think they probably would ask a woman [if they] mind being naked on camera.”
“I’m just wondering if they ask you, or if you just are surprised when you open the script.”
“Also, like you said, you’re comfortable now ‘cause you’ve done it enough?” she added.
Jacob nodded, “Well I think on Euphoria it comes with the territory of the character,” Jacob explained.
“[Nate is] this ultra, macho, masculine jock. So those guys, I think, tend to get around pretty shirtless, so it’s sort of OK.”
Fans of the show quickly took to social media to explain their frustration at Ellen.
“I don’t love Ellen’s objectification :/ felt kind of like “well what do you expect, you’re hot, you’ll be objectified” but IDK I could be adding a lot that isn’t there,” one fan commented.
“Ellen’s last statement is rather creepy if you change the context; hot young women is interviewed by big time tv host and has to talk about their bodies as objects and made to feel like they are being undressed with their eyes. It’s not the same but it reminds me of the Jay Leno/Pamala Anderson interview just a bit,” said another.
“But also, cringe at Ellen for sexualizing him,” said user @the_marvelous_melissa.
“if he was a woman this would not have been ok…. Should be the same for all,” they added.
I just hope Jacob, and the entire cast of Euphoria are truly being heard and appreciated for their hard work, and not being taken advantage of!
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