Idris Elba Offers A Straightforward Rule For How Men Can Navigate The #MeToo Movement

No, British actor Idris Elba still isn’t in the running to play James Bond (according to Idris Elba), but that doesn’t mean the Luther star isn’t keeping himself out of the news cycle. In fact, because of the hit BBC drama’s upcoming return, the 46-year-old performer is currently doing publicity and, between repeated questions about 007, he’s also getting asked about the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements. Specifically, The Sunday Times asked him if he thought men were having a tough time nowadays. As Vanity Fair notes, Elba’s response is getting a lot of attention because of how dissimilar it is from the likes of Matt Damon and Henry Cavill, both of whom had to issue apologies for their misguided statements. “It’s only difficult if you’re a man with something to hide,” the Luther actor said in response.

Aside from fellow leading men Damon and Cavill, plenty of other male luminaries in the film and television world have said things about #MeToo that aren’t quite as pertinent (or as short) as Elba’s comments. Sean Penn said some eyebrow-raising things while promoting his Hulu series The First. Comedian Norm Macdonald, meanwhile, recently came under fire for a string of tweets about the matter (and other related topics). But Elba He took the high road, and social media has noticed.

Like television powerhouse Shonda Rhimes and former advisor to President Barack Obama Valerie Jarrett.

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) December 16, 2018

Others have chimed in to support Elba’s quick comments, be it with their own concise tweets or the inevitable jokey memes.

— Stephanie Boland (@stephanieboland) December 15, 2018

see this is why idris elba is the sexiest man alive https://t.co/w3KiuYFTvT

— anra saw aquaman (@softskoshgord) December 16, 2018

Idris Elba saying the Me Too Movement is "Only Difficult If You Are A Man With Something To Hide' would be way more impactful if every woman on the planet wasn't trying to fuck him.

— Marcella Arguello (@marcellacomedy) December 17, 2018

If this text had been about pretty much any other famous dude save for maybe Tom Hanks or Keanu my first thought would’ve been “Oh god what did he say” but it’s Idris Elba so I knew it wouldn’t be bad. pic.twitter.com/M3cod2sBct

— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) December 17, 2018

this guy thinks his genes are superior to Idris Elba's pic.twitter.com/D5dkpMjrvc

— shauna (@goldengateblond) December 16, 2018