LGBT website defiant over Tom Hardy sexuality question

LGBT website Daily Xtra has defended asking Legend star Tom Hardy personal questions about his sexuality, after footage of him brutally shutting down one of its journalists caused a firestorm of criticism yesterday (September 14).

Appearing and Q&A for new film at the Toronto International Film festival on Saturday (September 12), the Hollywood hard man was involved in an excruciatingly awkward exchange with a Daily Xtra journalist who asked him about *those* oft-rehashed quotes from a 2008 Attitude interview in which he responded to a question about experimenting with guys in his youth.

Daily Xtra has defended its line of questioning after widespread public and media criticism, saying that as an LGBT news outlet it has a “responsibility to examine sexuality… once it’s in the public eye”.

In an editorial published on its website today, managing editor Robin Perelle and supervising producer Kevin O’Keefe wrote: “As Canada’s gay and lesbian news source, we feel it’s our responsibility to examine sexuality and the ways in which it’s portrayed on screen, especially once it’s in the public eye.

“Though actor Tom Hardy bristled at Daily Xtra’s questions about sexuality during a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sept 13, 2015, touching off a media firestorm — other actors have embraced our questions at TIFF, and even welcomed the opportunity to shine a spotlight on sexuality and gender identity.”

The pair went on say that other public figures such as Susan Sarandon, Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood had happily discussed the topic of sexuality with the outlet during the film festival: While Wood explained how she came out as bisexual despite warnings from “a lot of people” about possible consequences to her career, Susan Sarandon had spoken to the site about her own son, who she said “colours outside the lines in terms of gender roles.”

They go on to notes, somewhat pointedly, that “in contrast, Tom Hardy, who plays both a bisexual man and his identical twin in the film Legend, did not welcome Daily Xtra’s questions”.

Skip to 28:15 to re-live the excruciating exchange below:

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