The 2023 Oscars were filled with historic wins (Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan), extraordinary lows (Elvis and The Banshees of Inisherin), and eye-watering upsets — you’re probably thinking I’m about to say Angela Bassett here, and while yes, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress was robbed of the award, she’s not the upset I’m talking about. Here I’m referring to Hugh Grant.
Wait a minute, Grant wasn’t nominated for an Oscar, was he? That’s right, he wasn’t. But someone please give that man a Razzie Award for how poorly he disguised his disdain (or, upset) at having to even breathe the same air as everyone else in attendance that evening.
For context: While Grant was being interviewed by Ashley Graham on the champagne carpet (formally known as the red carpet — don’t ask) the 62-year-old English actor was asked a series of good-intentioned questions, the kind any star can expect when attending the Oscars: “What do you love about coming to the Oscars?” “Who are you excited to see win?” “What are you wearing?” “Did you have fun filming one of the most popular movies of 2022, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery?”
Grant met every one of these questions with either a “no” or an “I don’t care,” and the moment quickly became one of the most uncomfortable of the evening. But the response that really set us off — and by us, I mean me — was not just the way he rolled his eyes at the end of the interview, but his sheer disrespect towards his fellow Glass Onion co-stars and Rian Johnson, the director of the film.
After Graham asked Grant how it felt to be in Glass Onion, Grant responded, “Well, I’m barely in it. I’m in it for about three seconds.” Graham, attempting to redirect the trainwreck, then asked if the English actor at least had a good time filming, to which Grant responded, “almost.”
Now, before anyone starts thinking I’m about to suggest canceling the guy — I’m not. But now’s a great time to start thinking about whether he deserves to return for a threequel if he had such a miserable time filming that last go around. Especially since the character he plays is a huge win for the LGBTQIA+ community.
In Glass Onion, Grant’s character Phillip is the Rian-Johnson-confirmed partner to Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. The character is, as Grant says, only on screen for a brief moment when he answers a knock at the door wearing a tie-dye baking apron. Nevertheless, because Johnson has confirmed that Benoit Blanc is indeed gay, and is, in fact, romantically linked, if not married, to Phillip, Grant’s character is more than just filler: he’s a vital aspect of LGBTQIA+ representation in cinema.
In case it bears repeating, I’m not suggesting that he be canceled. A flippant decision like that from one lousy interview negates the actual point of holding people in positions of power accountable. Let him keep his job, his status, and everything else under the rainbow. But how about we swap him out for an actor who actually gives a flying unicorn about gay representation? Or, say, one who actually wants to be on set.
We’re probably overreacting. Maybe Grant is, who knows, just being British and actually had a jolly good time on set. What’s more, Johnson has shared that he feels Grant was the perfect actor to play Blanc’s love interest. At the London Film Festival press conference, the director remarked that Benoit Blanc is canonically queer and in reference to Grant said, “There’s nobody in the world I can imagine in bringing me more joy for Benoit Blanc to be with,” Johnson said.
Well, Rian, we hate to break it to you but that “joy” you speak of was nowhere to be found on Grant’s face when he was asked to speak about his time filming the movie.
Knives Out 3 is still in its early stages of production. An official release date hasn’t been confirmed nor has the cast list been announced. That means there’s still time for Johnson to consider spicing up Blanc’s love life with a new love interest, especially since it’s been confirmed that Blanc’s sexuality will be further explored in the third outing.
How about we give Blanc a new man to fall in love with? Someone who will shake up his deductive reasoning and throw a wrench in his ability to solve a murder mystery? Just an option. We have our dream cast already made up, but needless to say Grant is not on it.