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Do you boycott films after #MeToo?



It started with Johnny Depp. I wanted to see the new Murder on the Orient Express, but I just couldn't bear to send the message that his (settled out of court) violence towards ex-wife Amber Heard was ok; nor for a single penny of my money to support him or his employees.

Next was Casey Affleck - horrified by his Oscar win despite accusations of sexual harassment, I vowed to never watch a single one of his films, or his brother Ben's (accused - and apologised on Twitter - for groping a woman.) What a lovely family.

Then came some tough ones. I was devastated to cut short Louie (Louis CK's sitcom), Master of None (Aziz Ansari) and House of Cards (Kevin Spacey).

My existing boycotts are about to get harder. Having not realised Johnny Depp was in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them I actually scored myself a ticket to the premiere in London (a fab night for a Harry Potter nerd) but was gutted to discover he's going to be a major role in the second film. I just can't justify spending any money on the franchise now, even if it makes me sad.

I've been thinking a lot about boycotts and their purpose. Is the idea to sting capitalists (in this case, Hollywood) by withdrawing our DVD purchases and cinema tickets; to shame them with low audience numbers; or simply to make a personal statement to our own conscience - 'I am above this shit'?

And then what's the rule for sneaky viewings? If the company aren't making money from me directly, is it ok? Can I borrow the next Fantastic Beasts DVD from a friend, or buy it from a charity shop? At what point am I supporting violent men?

It can feel like withholding the odd tenner doesn't make much of a difference, unless other people follow suit, in which case it's our own inner moral compass that we set spinning when we indulge our (very) guilty pleasures.

It's hard not to be a human though. For all my fuss around the actors above, I have glaring exceptions. I'm a die-hard Michael Jackson fan, and try not to consider his disgusting behaviour when I'm driving along singing Billie Jean.

Driven by an undying love for Amy Poehler I'm unable to resist rewatching Parks and Recreation despite repeated cameos from Louis CK and a major role for Aziz Ansari; and Chalet Girl is my comfort film for most illnesses, despite starring Ed Westwick.

I justify these in all manner of ways, but ultimately on some level I've made a choice to be ok with some terrible men, and not with others. Believe me, it doesn't sit well - but somehow a life without these songs that have come to mean so much to me, about moments in my life, feels like self-flagellation more than giving up certain blockbusters. Even as I write this, I'm trying desperately to think of a loophole - does it matter now he's dead? Does it matter if I pretend they are someone else's songs? What about if I consider the abuse he experienced at the hands of his father?

But I know that ultimately it's a poor moral choice that I have to live with.

Do you boycott? It can feel in the #MeToo era that there's almost nothing left to watch.

I don't really have any answers. I suppose I should be voicing my complaints to film companies and TV studios. Many have - correctly - terminated contracts with accused actors, but as mentioned, Casey Affleck's recent Oscar sends a pretty crappy message.

I'm curious about what other people do - are their actors you avoid and others whose bad behaviour you brush under the carpet in the name of art (or, let's be honest, Chalet Girl)? Sometimes it can feel like self-punishment rather than necessarily hurting the aggressors, but perhaps our money and attention are our strongest weapon in the fight against sexual violence.
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