# What actors can you not watch for ethical reasons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239 "2003-08-23T22:59:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/1 "2003-08-23T22:59:59Z")
I have trouble watching any movies with [Jeffrey Jones](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Jones,+Jeffrey) since it was revealed he was an ephebophile and Michael Jackson almost physicall repulses me, though I don’t know if it’s his appearance or what I know about him. Otherwise, I try not to conflate the artist and the art. I fell almost guilty though for not boycotting Woody Allen movies (she wasn’t his daughter or even his stepdaughter and I think the allegations of child molesting were the actions of a psychotic woman scorned), though the fact I love his movies might flavor the opinion. I’ve known and or worked with people who refused to watch anything with the Beatles (drug use, 'bigger than Jesus" comment, etc.), Sammy Davis Jr. (his fliration with Satanism), Roseanne Barr (the “National Anthem” debacle), Frank Sinatra (comments on organized religion), Charlton Heston (right wing political views), Johnny Depp (drugs), Elton John (openly gay), Ellen Degeneres (I think she’s Turkish or something), the Dixie Chicks (the Iraq thing), Jane Fonda (Hanoi), and Vanessa Redgrave (comments about “Zionist hoodlums”). Is there anybody you can’t watch because of their personal life or views? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/2 "2003-08-23T23:04:17Z")
Incidentally, I think I may have set a new SDMB record for most typos. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/3 "2003-08-23T23:08:49Z")
I can’t watch Michael Pare’ because I already saw a movie he was in called _Instant Justice_ and I have already decided it’s the worst movie I ever saw. If I saw another Pare’ movie I might have to change my mind, and I just can’t ethically do that. ---
**Author:** ![Bugnorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bugnorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bugnorton)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/4 "2003-08-23T23:22:06Z")
Keanu Reeves. I am ethically opposed to horrible, atrocious, disgusting acting and all that it stands for. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/5 "2003-08-23T23:27:16Z")
Ethically? Nobody. Having said that, I’m dubious about watching _Bowling For Columbine_ despite being roughly at the same end of the political spectrum as Moore, purely because of what appears to me to be atrociously simplistic logic and inflammatory rhetoric. He comes across as either sloppy or deliberately trolling, neither of which makes me feel inclined to watch his films, however much I might agree with the end conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/6 "2003-08-24T00:22:35Z")
I won’t watch or listen to Eminem because of his homophobic shit and his general stupidity. Hey Marshall? The reason you don’t use the word “nigger” is the same reason people are upset that you use the word “faggot.” ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/7 "2003-08-24T02:09:00Z")
**John Wayne** - by now many posters are familiar with my “Wayne disdain”. He _played_ the soldier, sailor, marine, pilot, etc in the movies but _never_ served 1 day in the military. Okay the movies are not reality - but heck - don’t try to carry it into real life (as he did). On top of that, don’t start spouting any right wing 150% American propapganda if you didn’t want to serve your country, when you had the chance. Don’t take my word for it, read Cecil’s column: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_004.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_004.html) OR visit this geocities site that has more to say about John Wayne and contrasts him with Audie Murphy: [http://www.geocities.com/internet\_web\_surfer\_dude/](http://www.geocities.com/internet_web_surfer_dude/) (That site also contains the Cecil Adams’ link) One thing the site doesn’t mention - if John Wayne was such a “fired-up I love America” citizen, why didn’t he join the military in 1926? He would have been 19 then. None of that “I had a family to support” stuff back in 1926. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/8 "2003-08-24T03:44:38Z")
What war were we fighting in 1926? ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/9 "2003-08-24T04:13:56Z")
General conservative background or obnoxious behavior makes an artist less interesting to me(John Wayne, Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra, etc. etc.), but I generally won’t boycott. since I believe the first amendment applies to all, but I have made exceptions: Anita Bryant Eminem I’ll avoid Michael Jackson due to general creepiness. Also artists who are known scientologists or mormons, I can avoid. I know some folks who are boycotting Roman Polanski for having sex with an underage girl. Most of these people have young daughters. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/10 "2003-08-24T04:18:44Z")
Slightly off-topic, I suppose, but my older brother is boycotting _any_ Tom Hanks movie because he once played a gay man in _Philadelphia_. My brother’s a small-minded bigot. I admit that. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/11 "2003-08-24T04:24:16Z")
**friedo** We weren’t fighting any war in 1926. My point is that John Wayne is considered the archetypal American (and he probably thought so too). Since he had that mentality, why didn’t he serve his country in 1926? As you can see in Cecil’s column, John Wayne was _almost_ too old for WW2, had a family to support, etc. Fine. What was stopping him from joining the military in 1926? Wouldn’t this super-patriot be extremely anxious to go into the armed services? So why didn’t he join in 1926? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/12 "2003-08-24T04:40:43Z")
Woody Allen always creeped me out but now he does it in spades. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/13 "2003-08-24T05:05:20Z")
wolf\_meister, thanks for that link. Bong was always a hero of mine and I’ve been looking into what Murphy did and have come away awestruck. Countering Wayne’s lack of service we have Brig Gen Jimmy Stewart (bomber pilot, Air Medal, DFC), Leslie Howard (shot down while on a mission to decoy the Germans from the plane carrying Churchill), David Niven (commando), Jackie “Uncle Fester” Coogan (glider pilot in invasion of Burma), and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr (commando and helped organize the Navy Seals). Even Audrey-effing-Hepburn was a courier for the Dutch underground and she was just a little kid. Wayne was a weasel. And friedo, in 1926 we were fighting the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/14 "2003-08-24T05:06:01Z")
Buster Poindexter (AKA David Johanesson). Don’t know what it is about him (though he seems to be an arrogant ass), but I never liked him when he was on SNL. The guy absolutely sets my teeth on edge and I _can’t_ stand even 30 seconds of the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/15 "2003-08-24T05:22:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolf\_meister \* > \*\ ***friedo** > We weren’t fighting any war in 1926. My point is that John Wayne is considered the archetypal American (and he probably thought so too). Since he had that mentality, why didn’t he serve his country in 1926? As you can see in Cecil’s column, John Wayne was _almost_ too old for WW2, had a family to support, etc. Fine. What was stopping him from joining the military in 1926? Wouldn’t this super-patriot be extremely anxious to go into the armed services? So why didn’t he join in 1926? \*\* That’s flawed logic. By that stretch you are condemning any and all “archetypal” Americans that didn’t serve in the military for whatever reason…especially in times whenever there hasn’t been any conflicts! Just because a person is a “super-patriot” and they didn’t serve, is that to be held against him or her? How can you justify that? I love my country but I didn’t serve right after high school due to the fact I had other options and there was no pressing reason (ie: war). I wish I did but I can’t change that now. That goes for MILLIONS of Americans not including many past presidents. What are you, mad at Robert DeNiro and Joe Peschi because they aren’t real mafioso? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/16 "2003-08-24T05:31:06Z")
I find I can not watch Alec Baldwin in ANYTHING since his “Stone Henry Hyde/I’ll leave the country if George W. is elected” double salvo. I also find Julia Roberts and Janeane Garafolo unwatchable for the same type of reasons. They are all free to express their opinions, however, they can’t seem to get past the whole “Republicans are evil and what more need be said” type of argument. I’m all for the exchange of ideas, and, indeed have been proven wrong on occasion; but don’t generalize and then expect the public not only to agree, but to hang on your every word as if you were some sort of political analyst in your spare time. Chris W PS This rant has been brought to you by the letters R and D and also by the number 7. ---
**Author:** ![Alma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alma)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/17 "2003-08-24T05:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sampiro \* > Jeffrey Jones since it was revealed he was an ephebophile Do you have a cite for this? I’m not doubting you, I just haven’t heard about it and I couldn’t find anything with google. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/18 "2003-08-24T05:42:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alma \* > \*\*Do you have a cite for this? I’m not doubting you, I just haven’t heard about it and I couldn’t find anything with google. Thanks. \*\* Here’s what I found: [Jones](http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/11/15/actor.arrested/) was arrested on child pornography charges. From [here](http://www.stopchildmolestation.org/pages/diffephebophile.html): An ephebophile is someone who prefers boys that are post-pubescent. Nowhere in the CNN story does it mention the word. Then again, it’s possible that, in the eyes of the law, there’s not a distinction. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/19 "2003-08-24T05:42:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > \*\*wolf\_meister, thanks for that link. Bong was always a hero of mine and I’ve been looking into what Murphy did and have come away awestruck. > > Countering Wayne’s lack of service we have Brig Gen Jimmy Stewart (bomber pilot, Air Medal, DFC), Leslie Howard (shot down while on a mission to decoy the Germans from the plane carrying Churchill), David Niven (commando), Jackie “Uncle Fester” Coogan (glider pilot in invasion of Burma), and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr (commando and helped organize the Navy Seals). Even Audrey-effing-Hepburn was a courier for the Dutch underground and she was just a little kid. Wayne was a weasel. > > And friedo, in 1926 we were fighting the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. \*\* Oh, yeah **dropzone** [here’s list of other celebs](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161805) who served their country (and not just the US) in war time. Many, many big names in the list. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239/20 "2003-08-24T05:46:45Z")
I can’t stand to watch Joan Crawford since i found out she was a child abuser. I dislike her so much it overrides the plot and whatever character she was playing. If I had it in my power to erase her from film history, I would do it in a heartbeat. Also Troy McClure. The fish thing. Plus he married Selma. Which is worse? I dunno. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actors-can-you-not-watch-for-ethical-reasons/197239.md?page=2)