Charlie Hunnam sparks outcry after revealing he's a 'big fan' of men's rights figure Jordan Peterson
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Today in Celebrities Who Might Have Been Better Off Not Saying Anything, we have Charlie Hunnam, who starred in Sons of Anarchy and now appears in the new Netflix movie Triple Frontier.
Hunnam has been generally charming on the press tour for the new film, talking to Cosmopolitan about how excited he was to work with his friend and co-star Garrett Hedlund on the movie. But a Men’s Health article, in which the British actor talked about his admiration for Jordan Peterson, a controversial psychologist who’s spoken out against political correctness. His statements came out of nowhere, too — the magazine asked him what it was like working with a SEAL trainer for the movie, and that led him to Peterson.
“I really love the sense of seriousness with those guys — there’s no sense of life being trivial,” Hunnam told Men’s Health. “There’s no flippancy, no triviality to those guys. They were just very, very serious. I really enjoy that. I’m a big fan of Jordan Peterson, as are a lot of people right now — he’s become quite an internet phenomenon, a card-carrying member of the intellectual dark web.”
He went on to compare the Special Forces “mentality” to Peterson’s way of thinking. “I love the message that he promotes, which is, ‘Take your life seriously.’ Carry as much responsibility as possible,” the actor said. “I think in his words he says, ‘Pick up the heaviest thing that you can and carry it.'”
Hunnam didn’t address many of the issues people have with Peterson, however. For example, as The Guardian reports, Peterson didn’t want the university where he was a professor to adapt the use of gender-neutral pronouns. Peterson has also spoken out against the idea of universities being safe spaces, saying to Joe Rogan, “Don’t come to university if you want to be safe.” Peterson has also said that the gender pay gap is “not necessarily” unfair when asked about it during a 2018 interview.
Fans weren’t impressed with Hunnam’s comments, sharing their thoughts on Twitter.
Charlie Hunnam being into Jordan Peterson is a betrayal that I’ll never be able to get over.
— Sam Cohen (@CineTalksSam) March 16, 2019
Charlie Hunnam loves Jordan Peterson what a day we're having
— Rosie Knight (@RosieMarx) March 15, 2019
"charlie hunnam supports jordan peterson, card-carrying member of the intellectual dark web" is not what i was expecting to have to read with my own two eyes today, but… here we are, i guess
— julie ! 🌹 (@VHALMTYR) March 15, 2019
You’re a “BIG FAN” of Jordan Peterson, Charlie Hunnam? A BIG FAN? Miss me with this. https://t.co/vprXAw0zma
— don’t 👻, vote! (@mcterzakis) March 15, 2019
Ugh Charlie Hunnam no you don't like Jordan Peterson. Was no one on the set of Triple Frontier able to steer you away from that bad man? You can't tell me Oscar Issac and Pedro Pascal approve of that guy. Right? Not like I know them. Just want to believe they know better.
— Paul Doro (@PMDMKE) March 15, 2019
The number two lesson is Charlie Hunnam might be super hot but he listens to Jordan Peterson and is likely not on your side. Watch yourself.
— Colette Alexander (@colettecello) March 16, 2019
Writer Alicia Lutes also shared a thread about some of Peterson’s controversial statements, in light of Hunnam’s praise.
this is a BAD LOOK, Charlie Hunnam. pic.twitter.com/pUvG8iL5HE
— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) March 15, 2019
“He was angry at God because women were rejecting him. The cure for that is enforced monogamy. That’s actually why monogamy emerges.” – Jordan B. Peterson, misogyny apologist
— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) March 15, 2019
"People who hold that our culture is an oppressive patriarchy, they don’t want to admit that the current hierarchy might be predicated on competence." – Jordan B. Peterson, idiot empowerer
— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) March 15, 2019
Jordan B. Peterson says "accept responsibility for yourself" UNLESS A WOMAN CAN BE BLAMED: pic.twitter.com/qpTef4AIco
— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) March 15, 2019
Jordan B. Peterson, dark web intellectual: pic.twitter.com/WHmsuB3Yil
— Alicia Lutes (@alicialutes) March 15, 2019
The actor didn’t mention men’s rights specifically, although Peterson has become a sort of “hero” for men’s rights activists, as Elle pointed out.
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