Todd Haynes’ Gay Romance Producer Defends Working With “Straight Actor” Amid Joaquin Phoenix Exit
After Joaquin Phoenix‘s abrupt exit from Todd Haynes‘ gay romance resulted in the film’s unraveling, one of its producers has addressed the fallout.
Christine Vachon of Killer Films shared an article to Facebook about the actor dropping out five days before production, while responding to speculation that Phoenix’s sudden departure had to do with the film’s LGBTQ content and planned NC-17 rating. “A version of this did happen.
It has been a nightmare,” she started in the post, according to People. “And PLEASE — if you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that ‘that’s what you get for casting a straight actor’ — DON’T,” wrote Vachon in part. “This was HIS project that he brought to US– and Killer’s record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors speaks for itself. (and for those of you who HAVE — know that you are making a terrible situation even worse).” Since producing Haynes’ 1991 ‘new queer cinema’ directorial debut Poison, Vachon has since worked with the auteur on Safe (1995), Velvet Goldmine (1998), Far From Heaven (2002), I’m Not There (2007) and Carol (2015).
She has also produced such films as Stonewall (1995), Kids (1995), I Shot Andy Warhol (1996), Boys Don’t Cry (1999), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), Camp (2003) and Party Monster (2003).
