Why People Are Calling Out Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Old Comments On Women And Casting

There was tons of criticism when the moment was initially posted on THR’s YouTube channel, too, with many sharing similar thoughts.

One person teased that their “Favorite part is this video is watching Angela and Sandra basically tell Maggie ‘Maybe for YOU, Sis.'”

“The conversation about sexuality is exactly why these panels need to continue to be diverse,” said another. “Maggie’s experience is completely different than that of Angela and Sandra’s because they aren’t necessarily looked at as sex symbols. Their bodies/faces/skin are not what the industry has typically used in scripted forums to show what sexuality can be. I think Maggie learned a lot from their push back to her about how these things differ based on your race. I loved the different perspectives.”

Another person stated, “This was frustrating to watch. It’s clear Thandie has a lot of trauma wrapped into how she was treated and exploited in the industry, and for Maggie to immedIately counter that with ‘well I know good men / that’s what women historically had to offer’ was excruciatingly tone deaf and reeked of privilege. Same as both of them not even acknowledging the experience that a darker woman of colour / less ‘conventionally’ attractive women had experienced. So much fertile ground for discussion but it all stayed shapeless and poorly articulated.”

“When Angela said she was not encouraged to use her sexuality and Maggie goes ‘really even just as a vibe?’ I lost it,” another shared. “I think one of my personal pet peeves is saying no to a question/statement in terms of my own experience and then to be asked again ‘really?'”