Recent Posts
Culture May 10, 2017
"Old white men, enjoy your last run."
We all know there’s a problem with ageism in casting. I mean, look at “Joy.”
That movie followed a divorced, mother-of-three who was in her mid 30’s at the beginning of the story when she invented the Miracle Mop. But she was played by (then) 24-year-old Jennifer Lawrence.
And that’s far from the only time that’s happened. Well, “Orange is the New Black” star Jamie Denbo is not going to keep quiet about this nonsense anymore.
Recently, after a ridiculous casting, she took to Twitter to rant about Hollywood’s absurd age restrictions. And boy, is it satisfying to read.
“I was just informed that at the age of 43, I am TOO OLD to play the wife of a 57 year old,” she wrote. “Oh, the characters also have an 18 year-old daughter. I am TOO OLD to be the mother of an 18 year-old.” Ironically, Denbo actually has two children, both of whom are under 18.
And don’t think it stopped there. “The real wife of the 57 year-old actor is EASILY AT LEAST 50. But this fucker wants to be tv married to a 38 year-old – TOPS,” she continued. Men, am I right?
“This is a FIRST marriage, btw. Not a re-wife. Which would make a little more sense.” Girl is not holding back, and I am here for it. “FUCK HOLLYWOOD. #FeudFX,” she posted, seemingly finished with her rant.
But then she came back for one more, “Old white men, enjoy your last run. We are all fucking done with you lizards.” #Slay
Of course, inquiring minds begged Denbo to reveal who this choosey 57-year-old actor was. But Ginsberg ain’t no snitch. “Would love to. But I don’t want to ruin this guy for you. He is an ‘American treasure.’” she posted.
Leading men can age, but their leading ladies never seem to. Back in 2013 Vulture did a series of charts confirming the troubling trend. For example, in “Flight,” Denzel Washington was 57, while love interest Kelly Reilly was only 35.
In “Firewall,” Harrison Ford was 63, while Virginia Madsen was only 44. And in “Dark Shadows,” Johnny Depp was 48, while Bella Heathcote was only 24. He was also 48 in “The Rum Diary,” while love interest Amber Heard was only 25.
Tom Cruise is another repeat offender. He was 50 in “Oblivion” while love interest Olga Kurylenko was only 33. And in the upcoming “The Mummy” reboot, he’s 54, while his co-star (who appears to be his love interest) Annabelle Wallis, is just 32.
It’s not like there’s a shortage of talented actresses over the age of 32. So why do they keep doing this? Denbo is right, and these old ass dinosaurs need to start accepting more love interests their own age. Or you know what? We better start seeing the flip side, too.
I want to see Michael B. Jordan with the Nicole Kidman’s, the Gabrielle Union’s and/or the Kerry Washington’s of Hollywood. (Honestly, I want to see this gorgeous, plaid suit-wearing man in anything. Hollywood, put him in more stuff that is not “Fantastic Four” please.)
Or how about Tom Holland? His next love interest should be a Sandra Bullock, or hell, Jessica Lange. She’s a damn queen. If actors aren’t going to date their own age then they may as well spread that love around and give talented ladies of all ages their chance to shine.
Because, look, I love Jennifer Lawrence as much as the next girl, but she can’t be in every movie.
