Can you still enjoy movies and books when the creator is problematic?

[smahala1991]

Like being a fan of a book, show, movie, character, etc... despite the artist or actor is a horrible person?
One example is " Matilda" and "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" both are childhood favorites of mine despite learning that Roald Dhal was a rabid anti-Semite and made racist depictions in his books, however I'm talking about the movies instead of the actual books. Another example is Coraline by Neil Gaiman being one of my favorite animated movies despite Gaiman himself getting accused of SA.

Updates

2 mo

Another recent one is Bob Barker. He was enjoyable and charismatic, but behind the scenes was very controlling and very perverted to the models

[strateguy632]

I distinguish if the problematic stuff is in the book or not. And how severe. So dahl i read both books Matilda and chocolate books, (both total 3,) i saw he didn't insult jews in his books. Same as i would buy a ford car despite mr. ford antisemitism!

Chris brown is known: was convicted of having beaten Rihanna, then his girlfriend, that is severe, even if not mentioned violence in his rap, but opinions, either way, are fine unless in the song or book. For example if Rowling wrote: harry potter said jews make me sick. I would want her to add "Ron said 'not all of them" but if not in book, her opinions are not important. but harm as above is severe!

[smahala1991]

Also looking at the film versions of Matilda and Willy Wonka, they are very different than what Dahl portrayed them as plus the former was filmed long after Dahl had passed away and was more in Danny Devito's vision and he took a lot of liberties that actually made the movie better l.

[Gamer20282]

Chris brown is problematic and anyone who listens to him automatically in my books is a fucking spineless person cause can't u not listen to some song? It's not life or death just don't listen to him

[Kaneki05]

Of course, when you pick up a book do you read it? Or do you look into the entire life of whom created that book first?
Unless you are very odd in 0.1% or something you are just going to read it. If you go to see a film, you maybe swayed by seeing an actor I suppose but in most part again you are going to see it cause you found an interest in it, you won't be looking into every single person who was involved in the making of said film.
Honestly if someone is trying to claim as such 99.99% chance they're a liar being performative.

Now if you choose to not watch something because you are very aware of such actor in it did something awful then that's up to you, but realistically you've seen films already, you already enjoy with an actor that has or director or whomever else who has?
So doesn't it become futile to care at some point? But perhaps you care more in one case than another for whatever reason but that's up to yourself.

[Simslover92]

JK Rowling is another good one. While I don't personally hate her and will still support her books and movies, I know she's gotten a lot of backlash for her comments dealing with her views on transgender rights, sex, and gender identity.

People have to separate the person from their works because it's not what makes the books or movies.

[smahala1991]

Another recent one is Bob Barker. He was enjoyable and charismatic, but behind the scenes was very controlling and very perverted to the models

[Simslover92]

Oh wow. I didn't know that.

[Gamer20282]

No. U cannot separate the art from the artist unless the artist is dead, cause the artist is profitting of u. Ur supporting the problematic artist and you'd be pissed if it was someone ur close with was the viticm of that artist,

Secondly most men get off being problematic while women are held accountable so, no,

[KostasKouvalis]

I'm not Jewish, soooooooo...

You'd have to boycott almost everyone then. Nearly everyone famous has done something.

This seems to mainly be an issue for American people. I remember recently a very famous French director was found guilty of sexual assault and one actress even killed herself and French people said it doesn't bother them, because he was still a great director.

So in short answer, no. I usually only boycott people who have extreme left wing ideology like DeNiro.

But even so, I wanted to boycott Neil Young becuz of his politics, but his music is too damn good. Usually if I boycott someone, I didn't like them much to begin with.

[NathanDavis]

most of the times.. yeah

I'm not into creators... I'm into creation

and for most things, I don't really know the creators... lol, to me is just mere entertainment... same goes for sports, music, brands and so many other things

in specific cases though... it does feel different so it is definitely a factor

[slatyb]

If we removed all art created by imperfect people, we would lose quite a lot. Yes, Roald Dahl was racist, and so was Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss). Charles Dickens treated the mother of his children horribly. There's a long list of authors, musicians, visual artists.

[llorando]

I don't have much of an issues as long as their music/artwork/etc isn't problematic. Dan Schneider turned out to be pretty problematic, but I'm not going to let it ruin childhood or the shows of his that I enjoyed in my child hood, especially when most of the actors in his shows had nothing to do with him being problematic.

[strawberryapple]

Yes! I stopped watching “Two and a Half Men” when Charlie Sheen left. I know that he’s a scoundrel and a drug addict and gets hookers and things, but why would I care? I’ll take my laughs wherever I can get them.

[InknKink]

I wouldn't know if they were turds or not. I'd be hard pressed to list a dozen famous actors and while I might be able to list many more authors... I couldn't tell you anything about them than the stories they write.

[Razp_Sorbet]

I think its fine to still enjoy things as long as you're not directly lining the pockets of said controversial person.

The only exception for this really is comedy and music I jut dont watch/ dont listen to that person anymore.

[DryGermanGuy]

Yeah, it’s difficult. I see e. g. Kevin Spacey in a different light since the accusations.

[nolabels]

An author, once a favorite of mine, is no longer.

I no longer enjoy any of his work, past or present.

[whosnumber_1]

I believe Walt Disney was pretty racist. There are lots of nut job movie stars and musicians as well but it doesn't mean I don't recognize their creativity. I guess if it was outwardly hatefully I wouldn't take an interest

[katiesmuff]

Generally I'd have no idea any of the personal issues of that person.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Any woman with eyes could see Bob Barker was a pervert. That was no secret.

[Mike_Hum]

Woke nonsense is dead. We don’t use ‘problematic’ any more.

[msc545]

Yes of course. As long as their politics or whatever the problem is don't spill over into the book