Separating the art from the artist

[Dave Gray]

I don't want to focus too much on the individual issues, but I will have to bring up some more recent examples.  If you don't have an issue with the person's actions, just skip that one.



There is a new video game called Hogwarts Legacy and it is set in the Harry Potter universe.  JK Rowling is pretty well hated online for her constant comments on trans issues.  I have several people on my timeline refusing to give her any money by buying the game, but also going as far as being critical of others who do.

I'm starting to see similar things about Ezra Miller in the new Flash movie.

But these issue aside, you have various levels of abusers: Bill Cosby, Kevin Spacey, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Harvey Weinstein

And there's other people who are considered generally distasteful for one reason or another: Johnny Depp, Mel Gibson, Gina Carrano, Brad Pitt, Leo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Alex Baldwin, Letitia Wright, etc.



For me, I have just learned to view these people's personal issues separate from their Hollywood persona.  Once in a while, it becomes an issue for me, only if I'm looking at something tied to a single person and especially if it seems to relate to their personality.  Bill Cosby is one for me -- I can still watch the Cosby Show -- he's an actor on a show with a lot of voices.   But his stand-up, I just can't do.  It's too reflective of him and I can't buy in to his wholesome stories, thinking he's a rapist.

Outside of that, though, I can still watch, enjoy, and divorce myself from pretty much all the rest.


And to watch the old movies I do, you sort of have to.  So many people involved are shitty.  Sometimes the content of the story itself is shitty.  You just have to view it through a different lens.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

For me there are a few factors... 

1. Does supporting or not supporting the artist either directly or indirectly benefit or harm causes I agree with disagree with? 

For example Martin Sheen opposes a women's right to choose.  I don't agree with him on this, but it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the show West Wing.  However, hypothetically he was to announce that he was donating 100% of the his payment as an actor for staring in "Lost & Found in Cleveland" to "Operation Rescue" than I wouldn't go to that movie, because going to that movie would directly harming a cause I believe in. 

In the case of JK Rowling none of the charities she supports are pushing an anti-trans agenda.  She does donate significant amount of money to charities I do support.  So there is no incentive to deny her revenue.  I won't buy a "Mypillow"  or eat a "Chick-fil-A" because then my money is being used for evil.  Dave Thomas (Wendy's) is pro-life)but his charity uses the money from Wendy's to help children in foster care get adopted not block abortions so I am okay going to a Wendy's but not a Chick-fil-A.

2. Is it a matter of the individual holding an opinion I disagree with or engaging in reprehensible behavior? 

For example I disagree with Philip Rivers on a women's right to choose.  OJ Simpson committed murder.  There is a difference. 

3. Overall is the artist a good person?

Nobody is perfect.  Oskar Schindler was a womanizer.  Martin Luther King cheated on his wife.  FDR issued Executive Order 9066.  In the case of Rowling, I would say overall she is a good person.  She donates money to charities.  Her commentary on "mud bloods" seems to satirizing racism.     

[Spider-Dan]

Just for the record, Dave Thomas has been dead for over 20 years.  He is as far as you can get from "pro-life." 

[CF DolFan]

Just for the record, Dave Thomas has been dead for over 20 years.  He is as far as you can get from "pro-life."  

His legacy lives on in his charities and organizations. He was a big adoption over abortion guy as he himself was adopted.

As a conservative I have learned to separate the two as much of Hollyweird and he music industry is not only liberal but on the verge of extreme. People like Rob Reiner, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Bett Midler, Alyssa Milano, Bruce Springsteen, Dixie Chicks, and Pink have basically said if you're conservative then F off. They didn't feel that way before they had money but now that they are in the 1% we are the enemy. hahaha

[Dave Gray]

For the JK Rowling example, she's already got more money than any of us will ever know what to do with.  So if a game sells well, I just don't see it mattering that much in the grand scheme of things.

If there are direct examples of money going to directly to a cause I find abhorrent, I can see boycotts.  But in most of these cases, these people have already made their money and your boycott is useless.

[CF DolFan]

If there are direct examples of money going to directly to a cause I find abhorrent, I can see boycotts.  But in most of these cases, these people have already made their money and your boycott is useless.

I saw a gay comedian on Tik tok  talking about Chick Fil A and the fact his freinds won't eat there because the owner is supposedly homophobic or whatever. He then said he asked them ...  "Have you ever met a farmer?" You probably shouldn't eat anything then. hahaha

[DenverFinFan]

It’s Marilyn Manson for me. Dudes music got me through a lot of angry rough years. I feel kinda sleazy and dirty listening now, but I can’t just pretend that his work doesn’t mean a lot to me.

I won’t buy any physical copies of his albums anymore or any merchandise. But streaming pays so little that if stopped it wouldn’t make a difference.