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Henry Cavill.
Henry Cavill’s comments came in an interview with GQ Australia. Photograph: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Henry Cavill’s comments came in an interview with GQ Australia. Photograph: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Henry Cavill criticised for #MeToo comments

This article is more than 5 years old

‘I think a woman should be wooed and chased,’ says actor. ‘It’s difficult to do that if there are certain rules in place’

Update: Henry Cavill apologises for comments on #MeToo

The Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill has drawn severe criticism for comments about the #MeToo movement and rape in a new interview.

Cavill, who is currently promoting the forthcoming action film Mission: Impossible – Fallout, was speaking to GQ Australia when the interviewer asked how #MeToo had affected him.

“Stuff has to change, absolutely,” Cavill said, before adding: “There’s something wonderful about a man chasing a woman … I think a woman should be wooed and chased, but maybe I’m old-fashioned for thinking that.”

“It’s very difficult to do that if there are certain rules in place. Because then it’s like: ‘Well, I don’t want to go up and talk to her, because I’m going to be called a rapist or something.’”

“Now? Now you really can’t pursue someone further than, ‘No’. It’s like, ‘OK, cool’. But then there’s the, ‘Oh why’d you give up?’ And it’s like, ‘Well, because I didn’t want to go to jail?’”

Social media users have been quick to castigate Cavill for his views. One Twitter user suggested Cavill was “absurd” and that “if he doesn’t want to be called a rapist then all he has to do is ... not rape anyone.” Another asked: “When did the notion that being chased is a pleasant feeling become so universally accepted?”

This is absurd. If Henry Cavill doesn’t want to be called a rapist then all he has to do is... not rape anyone.

The mental gymnastics some men are doing to position themselves as “victims” of #MeToo is insane. pic.twitter.com/nafnZiaXGH

— Helen Price (@HelenRPrice) July 11, 2018

Today it’s Henry Cavill with “I believe women should be chased”

When did the notion that being chased is a *pleasant* feeling become so universally accepted? pic.twitter.com/z6kQnCzVrF

— Grace Petrie 100% Official Tweets (@gracepetrie) July 12, 2018

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