On a recent podcast, actor Matthew Lawrence reflected on a horrific experience he had with an Oscar-winning director. He was offered a part in a Marvel production, but only if he stripped naked for the director, he says.
Fired for refusing
Lawrence is an actor who is known for his roles in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), The Hot Chick (2002), Boy Meets World (1993–2000) and more recently Desperate Waters. A few years ago another wonderful opportunity came up: a role as a Marvel character, but not just like that!
There have been many times in my life when I could be considered for a major role. I lost my management because I went to the hotel room of a very prominent Oscar-winning director, who I couldn’t believe management would send me there. The director showed up in his bathrobe and asked me to take my clothes off because he had to make polaroids of me. If I did X, Y, and Z, I’d be the next Marvel character. I didn’t and my management fired me for leaving the director’s room again.
Matthew Lawrence
‘Men experience this too’
Lawrence did not reveal names or specify when this meeting took place. He did discuss the double standard that exists when it comes to male actors who have been sexually harassed, compared to female actors. As an example, he mentions the incident involving actor and former football player Terry Crews. Crews revealed during the Me Too movement that he was groped unwantedly by a producer.
Terry Crews tells his story and people make fun of him, they don’t support him. They kick him out. Why? Because he’s a man who represents masculinity and I think our society is less ready to hear that this situation also plays out with men (…) I admit, it’s probably about a third of what women go through. Men also experience this whether it is another woman in power or another man.
Matthew Lawrence
Beeld: Still ‘Desperate Waters’ via TMDb
