Andrew Garfield's 'Gay' Comment Receives Backlash From The LGBTQ Community

Andrew Garfield is at odds with the LGBTQ community after claiming to be a gay man "without the physical act" Monday. During a discussion with NT Platform, he shared that he watched "RuPaul's Drag Race" with friends to prepare to play a gay character.

Garfield, who's currently starring in a London stage production of "Angels in America," portrays a homosexual man named Prior Walter. His character battles AIDS in the 1980s, a peak period of the health epidemic.

Read: ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ Actor Andrew Garfield To Star In War Biopic ‘Black Lion’

Garfield revealed to those in attendance at the panel discussion that this was his first time taking on a gay role. Likewise, he wanted to take every opportunity to prepare for it efficiently, claiming that "the preparation had begun before" rehearsals started.

"My only time off during rehearsals – every Sunday — I would have eight friends over and we would just watch Ru ("RuPaul’s Drag Race")," Garfield began, according to Gay Times, a British magazine that was present at the panel Monday. "This is my life outside of this play. I am a gay man right now just without the physical act – that’s all."

Prior to this, he also gave insight into his own sexuality, revealing that he would be open to "explore" a potential homosexual relationship in the future, but he hasn't reached that point in his life yet.

"As far as I know, I am not a gay man," Garfield said. "Maybe I'll have an awakening later in my life, which I'm sure will be wonderful and I'll get to explore that part of the garden, but right now I'm secluded to my area, which is wonderful as well. I adore it, but a big concern was what right do I have to play this wonderful gay role?"

Garfield may not have meant any harm by his comments, but it managed to leave him on bad terms with members of the LGBTQ community. Likewise, many LGBTQ people spoke out in opposition of Garfield's comments on Twitter.

Read: Andrew Garfield Opens Up About Relationship With Ex-Girlfriend Emma Stone, Says He’s Her ‘Biggest’ Fan

"Straight tourists who try on oppression for kicks make me so tired," a Twitter user that goes by Hamish Steele wrote in a tweet. "Andrew Garfield and James Franco... guys... you will never understand."

However, this tweet was only the beginning of a frustrated revelation amongst numerous LGBTQ supporters on Twitter.

Garfield's controversial comments come off the heels of Pride Month, which concluded its celebration at the end of June. "The Amazing Spider-Man" actor, who has most famously been involved in a romantic relationship with fellow actress Emma Stone, isn't the first actor that has made comments about how their sexuality changes with their work.

James Franco, another actor that has appeared in the "Spider-Man" franchise, is known for his ambiguous views on his sexuality. Since the actor has tackled homosexual characters on numerous occasions in movies like "I Am Michael" and "Milk," his sexuality has been a topic of debate for years. During an interview with New York Magazine in April 2016, Franco revealed that he's "a little gay."

"There is a bit of over focusing on my sexuality, both by the straight press and the gay press, and so the first question is why do they care? Well, because I’m a celebrity, so I guess they care who I’m having sex with," Franco told NYM. "But if your definition of gay and straight is who I sleep with, then I guess you could say I’m a gay c—k tease. It’s where my allegiance lies, where my sensibilities lie, how I define myself. Yeah, I’m a little gay, and there’s a gay James."

Later that year, Franco published an interview in December titled "The Straight James Franco Talks to the Gay James Franco" under Four Two Nine. Gay James Franco claimed to Straight James Franco that he's gay in his work, saying: "I like to think that I’m gay in my art and straight in my life. Although, I’m also gay in my life up to the point of intercourse, and then you could say I’m straight."

While Garfield most likely won't explore his sexuality to the extent that Franco has, similarities arise because Garfield has chosen to explore his sexuality in his "art" by the way he's prepared for "Angels in America." Likewise, although Twitter users aren't 100 percent on board with his comments, Garfield considers this role to be "the most fulfilling creative experience."

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