Chris Evans’ key to being an ally in the #MeToo era is to listen more, and amen
We’re used to seeing Chris Evans fight villains and otherworldly forces of evil onscreen. Turns out in real life, he’s also trying his best to fight the good fight: battling gender inequality and abuses of power, and shooting down toxic masculinity. And to us, that’s giving Chris Evans a serious edge in the whole, “Who’s the Best Famous Chris” debate?
(Ok, but TBH, we love them all.)
The Infinity War actor is currently making waves in Broadway, starring in the play Lobby Hero, in which he portrays Bill, a cop who’s “charming” yet “essentially a narcissistic creep, with a vision of protecting the innocent.” According to The New York Times, the play is centered around themes of “abuses of power and sexual coercion.”
Having to grapple with such a timely subject urged Chris Evans to gain a deeper understanding of feminism, and learn how to become a better ally to women in the #MeToo era.
The actor told NYT that he has been reading feminist literature, specifically Rebecca Solnit’s The Mother of All Questions, a book of essays introduced to him by his now ex-girlfriend Jenny Slate, who also happens to be a prominent figure of the #MeToo movement. His key takeaway from the book? To “listen more and speak less,” as NYT puts it.
“The hardest thing to reconcile is that just because you have good intentions, doesn’t mean it’s your time to have a voice,” Evans explained. He also noted that while his manipulative onstage character isn’t based on anyone in particular, “It’s awful to admit, but I know plenty of guys who fit this mold.”
In an industry where mansplaining is certainly rampant, we’re glad that A-listers like Chris Evans are making an effort to understand the importance of listening to victims as opposed to silencing or overshadowing them.
