Idris Elba Says #MeToo Movement Is “Only Difficult If You’re a Man with Something to Hide”

The actor was asked about the movement in a recent interview.
idris elba
By Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images.

Idris Elba has been especially on in the last few months. He’s been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive; his daughter has been announced as the next Golden Globes ambassador; and he’s poised to release the next season of his hit BBC series, Luther, which he has lovingly referred to in the past as his James Bond. He’s firing on all cylinders.

Which means he’s just about at the point where an overload of publicity would normally lead to some sort of misstep or gaffe. Except, maybe not this time. In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the actor was asked if it’s hard to be a man in Hollywood now due to the #MeToo movement, which has led to a broader reckoning against sexual misconduct. Plenty of actors have been asked something similar, and many have responded with statements that ended up necessitating apologies—from Matt Damon to Henry Cavill.

But Elba? He had this to say in response: “It’s only difficult if you’re a man with something to hide.”

Simple as that. His comment quickly made the rounds online, earning praise from the likes of Shonda Rhimes and Valerie Jarrett.

This isn’t the first time Elba has won kudos for speaking about the movement. While promoting Molly’s Game last year, he praised the poignancy of the female-led film coming out at a time when “we’re seeing women stand up and have a liberation movement of speaking up against some their atrocities that has happened.”

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