For a long time now, Pedro Pascal has been a global darling. Ever since starring as Oberyn Martell inGame of Thrones, his profile has risen to become the star of several major film and television franchises, including Star Wars, Marvel, and The Last of Us. Pascal is everywhere, and there are many reasons to admire both his acting work and direct approach to political activism.
After starring in the likes of The Mandalorian, Gladiator 2, Fantastic Four: First Steps, and countless other high-profile productions, Pascal has become a household name who has bled into our social media feeds at every turn. Not a day passes when I don’t stumble across a new viral moment featuring the actor or an update on what he’s up to next. He’s huge, and because it is impossible to have nice things,the actor has potentially become the victim of a vague smear campaign.
Over the past few weeks,posts across social mediahave begun to highlighthow Pascal has interacted with Fantastic Four: First Steps co-star Vanessa Kirby, with the pair frequently touching during the recent press cycle. Kirby can be seen running her hands along Pascal’s neck, holding hands, and being similarly carefree in his interactions with other cast members.
Some claim it’s because of his anxiety, which he’sbeen upfront about for years at this point, while others believe he is merely trying to touch up women without repercussions. This isdespite the fact he’s similarly intimate with the men he works with, and the fact that Kirby is just as touchy-feely with him. These negative complaints have come out of nowhere, and are seemingly a means to discredit an actor who, until recently, was unanimously popular and generally uncontroversial.
Pedro Pascal’s Smear Campaign Is A Web Of Politically Motivated Lies
Much of this negative sentiment towards Pedro Pascal seems to have emerged in the wake of himspeaking out against JK Rowling’s anti-trans rhetoric, describing the author as both a bully and a “heinous loser”as she celebrated a recent UK supreme court ruling that would define trans women as not legally being women. Pascal’s transgender sister, Lux, regularly appears with him at film premieres and major events, while the actor has also been seen to wear a ‘Protect The Dolls’ shirt during significant appearances to cement his support for the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s not the first time Pascal has been vocally supportive, either. WhenGina Carano was let go from The Mandalorian, her right-wing views were cited as a factor, especially after Pascal spoke up in the community’s defence. At that time, though, Pascal seemed unscathed by his defence. This time, he appears to have been targeted.
He is one of the most vocal allies in the Hollywood space, and through standing up to bigoted voices like Rowling, he puts a target on his back for campaigns such as this one. There’s no proof that something like this is taking place, but it feels suspect that Pascal, after years of being heralded as ‘Daddy’ by millions, is now being dragged through the mud.
Pascal is alsoa vocal supporter of Palestine across social media, another part of his identity that goes against established norms in Hollywood. He’s not afraid to speak out.
There is also the fact that he’s a cisgender man who is not afraid of being emotionally and physically affectionate with the women in his life in a public setting without making it sexual. It presents a comfort in one’s masculinity that right-leaning individuals are unable to accept without opening themselves up to jealousy. Pascal is spending time with beautiful men and women and expressing physical affection because it’s seemingly just a part of who he is. This pattern of behaviour he’s expressed recently doesn’t feel too far removed from how he’s operated in the public eye for years, so why would it suddenly be controversial?
Pedro Pascal Is A Subversion Of Modern Hollywood Masculinity
Besides, we were happy to apply the ‘Daddy’ label to Pascal and paint him as an object of our own flirtatious desire without consent,so much so that fellow co-stars like Bella Ramsay stepped in to express how uncomfortable they were with it. Celebrities are unable to control how fans inevitably project their own attractions and desires onto them, but with Pascal, it has become something that is brought up on red carpets and in press junket interviews, coming to dominate his entire identity. Now, those very same people are taking him to task for being himself. Pascal doesn’t owe us anything when it comes to how he presents himself.
We also havethe lingering question of Pascal’s own sexuality, which he has not been public about despite many believing he is gay. While I’m not exactly a supporter of projecting identities onto strangers and celebrities, if he is gay that might be a factor in the comfort expressed by the likes of Vanessa Kirby and similar co-stars.
They might be privy to parts of Pascal’s life and identity we as casual fans and critics are not, and that’s perfectly expected. And if he’s not, well, they still seem comfortable, so why does it matter? If he’s queer, he’ll come out when he’s ready, and it’s not for any of us to decide regardless of his position in the public eye.
But right now, Pedro Pascal is being painted as a predator by certain corners of the internet despite nothing about his behaviour radically changing. He’s always been an actor unafraid of expressing love for his fans and colleagues, whether it be through physical touch or kind words.
And yet, as an outspoken ally and supporter of certain political causes, Pascal has become the target of a cause that only seeks to discredit him. So, if you are seeing random people drag the actor online, hopefully this gives you a good idea of what it’s all about.
