Kit Harington’s powerful message: Men are objectified, too
It’s no secret that the entertainment industry can get pretty caught up on the way women look, and it’s not cool. But something we don’t talk about as often is the way our favorite male actors feels when they are constantly told how hot they are. Well, Kit Harington, who plays Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, recently brought it up while talking with Page Six and he definitely has a point.
“To always be put on a pedestal as a hunk is slightly demeaning. It really is and it’s in the same way as it is for women. When an actor is seen only for her physical beauty, it can be quite offensive.”
Kit’s right: We’ve seen a lot of momentum behind #AskHerMore and other pushes to get women recognized for more than their looks. And why should it be different for men in the same industry? Although women get thrown quite a bit more nonsense based on how they look, that doesn’t make it okay for men to be treated the same way.
“It’s not just men that can be inappropriate sexually; women can be as well. I’m in a successful TV show in a kind of leading man way and it can sometimes feel like your art is being put to one side for your sex appeal. And I don’t like it. In this position you get asked a lot, ‘Do you like being a heartthrob? Do you like being a hunk?’ Well, my answer is, ‘That’s not what I got into it for.’”
YES! On a show like Game of Thrones, which features a lot of nudity, it’s easy to zero in on the way actors and actresses look. And of course the cast is extremely good-looking. But that shouldn’t be the focus of conversation. Game of Thrones is a global phenomenon that bridges books and TV, and there is so much more you could ask someone like Kit than just how he feels about his physique. Even Page Six goes on to immediately point out that his looks ‘have no doubt helped him remain gainfully employed.’ Really?
We’re happy any time someone stands up for something they don’t think is right, whether it’s Cate Blanchett ending a ridiculous interview or Kit pointing out how we objectify both men and women in entertainment. We agree, Kit. It’s time we start recognizing everyone for their talent rather than their looks.
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