I gave my opinion on a male director’s film – I was threatened with gang rape-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro

Tori wrote an article about The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Picture: Daniel Smith/Lionsgate via AP)

In the past week, I have been called an intellectually challenged ‘whinger’, a ‘demanding nag’, an ‘uggo’, told that I look like I have hepatitis, and (my favourite) described as ‘a fire-breathing parrot who ruins man-fun’.

Oh yes, and I’ve also been subjected to someone’s gang rape fantasy on social media. 

And all because I dared to criticise a male filmmaker’s characterisation of a female character in his latest movie.

Welcome to being a female film critic and journalist.

I’m sure my piece truly cut millionaire award-winning director Guy Ritchie to the bone when I called out his and his co-writers’ rather lazy and stereotypical handling of real-life SOE agent Marjorie Stewart, played by Eiza González, in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

But as I said then, my opinion did not encompass a takedown on Ritchie’s full filmography nor the man himself – not that many people seemed to read that far.

I stand by my criticism that, given the movie as a whole plays fast and loose with the facts, it’s still a shame González couldn’t have been given more to do than basically look pretty and need rescuing.

But voicing this disappointment has provoked angry emails and social media abuse. 

It’s far from the first time I have been subjected to backlash for my opinions or articles – I’ve had death threats and threats of sexual violence towards me in my inbox before – and honestly, it’s water off a duck’s back.

And it was ironic to note that so many of those abusing me haven’t even seen the film but still want to be mad about my reaction to it.

I would never complain about messages of respectful disagreement from people who have absorbed the entire piece before sharing their opinion or counter-argument with me. And don’t get me wrong, there have been a few of those too.

But I would never normally write about the trolling and threats either – and likely never will again – because the last thing I want to do is give them satisfaction, or any oxygen. 

I’m also aware that I speak and write from a position of privilege as a white female journalist. While I deal with the sexist backlash, I don’t have to also handle vile racism and Islamophobia. 

However, I recently took part in a roundtable hosted by Girlguiding and Odeon on women in film and so the timing of this depressingly predictable reaction struck a chord.

I was quite shocked to hear from the female film producers taking part as to how their gender had impacted on their experiences in the industry.

I recently took part in a roundtable hosted by Girlguiding and Odeon (Picture: Girlguiding)

Julia Stuart, who is now director of original film at Sky, spoke about her time in the independent film sector when she would be the only woman in the room ‘quite a lot’, and how she still remembers that a room full of men making decisions on some of the movies she worked on ‘wouldn’t give a second thought about the female characters’.

Which is, ironically, the point I was making with the character of Marjorie Stewart. 

It’s not that she should have been the lead character in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare or anything like that, but it did come across like she was more of an afterthought than she should have been, if she was going to be placed on the front line in the film.

Julia also told us that a male-dominated team tried to change the job of another female character in one film ‘because someone didn’t like that she was a professional’.

Unsurprisingly, Julia found it tiring that her creative input became ‘purely about having to bang the feminist drum’, rather than having ‘a conversation about anything else’.

I’m reminded that film, like so much else, still isn’t a fully safe space for women yet (Picture: Girlguiding)

That was the same feminist drum that trolls accused me of banging in my criticism of Ritchie, and I think Julia’s observation is one that will resonate with women – or anyone in a marginalised community – because there are things I and they would far rather be doing with their time.

Although her team at Sky is mostly female now, and she is rarely the sole woman in a producing room anymore, Julia confirmed that ‘it does still happen occasionally’ and that she feels forced into a role that becomes all about representation, to ensure that it’s actually there.

Reflecting on this discussion and my more intense and personal experience as a woman writing about film, especially in the past week, I’m reminded that film, like so much else, still isn’t a fully safe space for women yet.

Especially online. 

There’s something about that cloak of digital anonymity that makes people comfortable to speak to other humans in such a disgusting way. It’s why I’ve had to turn off the comments on this article.

Eiza González played Marjorie Stewart (Picture: Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images)

When I’m working with my colleagues or PRs or studios, or just being facilitated as a journalist in any way, I receive the same respectful treatment as everyone else, regardless of gender identity, skin colour or religion.

But the minute I share an opinion online that, heaven forbid, criticises a man in relation to film, everything changes.

And, despite improvements, I want the film industry and social media at large (a tough ask, nowadays) to be a better, safer environment for all of those who aspire to be a part of it.

There can be so much positivity in my industry, and on social media, but I won’t apologise if it inconveniences some people to point out when there is still progress to be made.

The internet can be an exhausting and hostile place for anyone, especially a woman, who dares voice an opinion, bringing out the worst in people who I can only hope would have better things to do with their time than hassle me for a response to their rant. 

But it seems not.

And for the person that simply told me to ‘shut up’? Sorry to disappoint you, but I won’t.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More