Yahoo News James Corden torn apart for ‘truly disgusting’ performance in The Prom
James Corden is being criticised for his “gross and offensive” performance in The Prom.
The British star appears opposite Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep in the new Netflix musical, which has been adapted by Ryan Murphy from the hit Broadway show.
It follows a group of has-been actors who visit a small Indiana town to help a lesbian teenager after she is banned from attending her prom.
The straight Corden plays ailing gay Broadway star Barry Glickman, and his performance is being savagely torn apart by critics despite the fact some enjoyed many other aspects of the film.
AwardsWatch’s Erik Anderson, who called The Prom "gorgeous and vibrant", said that Corden’s performance was “truly disgusting”.
He described his performance as “the worst gayface in a long, long time,” adding: “He is awful.”
IndieWire writer Zack Sharf tweeted: “The Prom shouts about tolerance but has James Corden leaning into effeminate gay stereotypes every chance he gets.”
Writing an article about Corden's “insulting” performance for Vanity Fair, Richard Lawson said that Corden is “so bad” in the film that he thinks “no more straight actors” should play gay men “until [the film’s] sins are properly atoned for”.
He adds that Corden is shown “flitting and lisping around in the most uninspired of caricatures”.
Find more reactions to Corden’s performance below.
The main, and huge, drawback is James Corden. His performance is gross and offensive, the worst gayface in a long, long time. It's horrifically bad. https://t.co/av5W0SlxFX
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) November 29, 2020
THE PROM taught me a real lesson about tolerance. I used to think that it was permissible for a straight actor to play a gay character in some circumstances; now I'm willing to go hard-line against it if it means denying James Corden even one future role.
— jesse (@rockmarooned) November 29, 2020
Ryan Murphy delivers some of his most uncluttered, concise directing ever in #TheProm and then gives James Corden a bullhorn to lisp through. Horrifying stereotypes abound. “I’m as a gay as a bucket of wigs” among the gems. How? Why?
— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnelly) November 30, 2020
“The Prom” shouts about tolerance but has James Corden leaning into effeminate gay stereotypes every chance he gets. Someone make it make sense?
— Zack Sharf (@ZSharf) November 30, 2020
The Prom is available to stream now on Netflix.
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