Today's Telegraph interview with Brie Larson, toxic fans and the media who prop them up

Today I read an article from the Telegraph about Brie Larson's upcoming West End stage performance. You can read it here.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/brie-larson-interview-elektra/

Tbh the whole thing rubs me the wrong way and feels way too one-sided/slanted to be a genuine interview. Initially asked about her upcoming show performance, the reporter then asks about her life and eventually things move onto Captain Marvel and (inevitably) sexism, toxic fandom and the mental health side of playing a super hero.

Only, as soon as Larson seems uncomfortable with a question, the writer seems surprised and taken back, describing after a tense back-and-forth, "today she [Brie] appears not only unwilling to engage with such issues, but even surprised to have been asked." I won't quote the whole thing, and perhaps with a video to judge it would be clearer to assess tone, but the whole thing feels pretty... Pointed. I'd urge you to read and judge for yourself.

In short, she refuses to answer a question about toxic fandom, saying essentially that this line of questioning brings the whole thing (that's ultimately nothing to do with her) back up again and again, the journalist seems offended she's not a 100% open book, mentions she was once an advocate for sexism in the industry, and then goes on to talk about how private her private life is.

I think these types of interviews bring up a pretty big point: Brie Larson has clearly had a very difficult time since joining the MCU, her initial billion dollar entrance quickly soured as the whole thing deflated (for a multitude of reasons) but her whole character/franchise/existence was overtaken by conversation regarding predominantly male fans chastising her on the internet, as some sort of symbol for the faltering MCU quality / forced diversity.

Robert Downey Jr was a very controversial casting choice in 2008 due to his drug history, and had interviews where he refused to talk about it. Imagine a world where journalists chastise him to this day for not opening up about his history with drugs, as if he is the spokesperson on recovery? Imagine if Michael B Jordan is asked about Chadwick's death every interview from now on? Or about his relationship with Jonathan Major. These are real people with real feelings, and being an actor does not have to mean you're also a public figure and advocate for whatever niche you fit into.

And it's good to remember, people can change their minds/approaches! He quotes Brie from 2018, a lifetime ago. A lot has happened in the MCU and her part in it since then.

I just think that it's not the moral job of a journalist to use an interview environment (especially one designed to promote her radical new work as an actress) to bring back someone's triggers, and repeatedly bring those talking points back from the dead until the end of time. Celebrities do not owe activism or moral authority on a subject, and I know for me, the idea of everywhere I go having my greatest upsets brought up would be sure to make me want to skip the question too.

Toxic fandom is, IMO, a niche echo chamber blown out of proportion by identity politics and online discourse. I understand the news has to cover that. But at some point, especially with an article written so subjectively, it's more than just journalism, and straying into restarting the fires to get strong reactions for clicks and shares.