Harry Potter drops trou in 'Equus'
Eddie Jenkins
Issue date: 2/12/07 Section: The Scene
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As if Harry Potter picking out the eyes of a few stallions is not wacky enough, the 17-year-old actor will also mount a white stallion in the buff to simulate sexual ecstasy. (If you listen closely you can hear the concerned gasps of mothers over the thought of wee Potter's twig and berries dangling about on a stage in London's West End theatre district.)
Really, the concern over Radcliffe getting nude should not be over whether or not this leaves a bad taste in the mouths of Harry Potter fans but over its pedophilic nature. Radcliffe will still be 17 years old at the time "Equus" begins showing next March and the last time I checked that does not make him a legal adult.
Yet I see some poor 20-year-old girl on "The Tyra Banks Show" (America's worst talk show) that got arrested for posting nude pictures of herself and her 16-year-old girl friend. Yet there is some sort of double standard when it comes to underage nudity in film or on stage compared to a girl who is arguably at the age of consent taking photos of herself nude with her friend.
While the 20-year-old girl was ruled a child pornographer, Shaffer's play is heralded as art.
Then again maybe it is not all Shaffer's fault - maybe it is Radcliffe's fault. It seems like he is taking the road often traveled by many child actors before him (see Macaulay Culkin, Katie Holmes, Elizabeth Berkley, etc.) and trying to break away from the role that has brought him fame and fortune by getting naked.
Unfortunately the ones this move might negatively affect the most are the young fans of the Harry Potter series.
If the extreme right wing Christians made a big brouhaha over the hocus pocus that is so much a part of the Harry Potter story, how badly are they going to attack a small thing like this? If the religious right can sway election results, I see them having no problem with box office ticket sales.
Hate me, love me, tell me jenkins.eddie@gmail.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
umad80
posted 2/12/07 @ 12:33 AM CST
I'm not really one to care either way of Radcliffe's adventures, but you're putting American logic into the British lifestyle. While yes, here in America 17 would still be considered under age, it is not in Britian. (Continued…)
William
posted 2/12/07 @ 3:19 PM CST
Unfortunately for your argument, Radcliffe is above the British age of consent (16). Therefore, there is legally nothing wrong with this play.
Kat
posted 2/12/07 @ 10:00 PM CST
Before I go one about double standards, let me just clarify that although Radcliffe is of "not legal" in the US, he is of legal age in the UK (apparenlty, you can get married and have a full-blown physical relationship at the age of 16 over in the UK), so I would not classify his appearing on stage in the buff as "child pornography". (Continued…)
david G
posted 2/12/07 @ 10:30 PM CST
Im sorry, but a 17yr old boy,naked on a stage live is bad enough. But add the fact that this teen is an idol to underaged teens, and preteens world wide and you've got a down right scandal. (Continued…)
Barbara Storey
posted 2/12/07 @ 10:45 PM CST
I would love to respond to this . . . opinion--but I can't think of a single worthwhile comment to make to someone who thinks that nudity in legitimate theatre and teenage girls posting nude photos of themselves on the Internet are one and the same thing. (Continued…)
Barbara
posted 2/13/07 @ 12:30 AM CST
I would love to respond to this . . . opinion--but I can't think of a single worthwhile comment to make to someone who thinks that nudity in legitimate theatre and teenage girls posting nude photos of themselves on the Internet are one and the same thing. (Continued…)
Sabrina
posted 2/15/07 @ 6:19 PM CST
"Children" who are 14 up to 18 knows what they want and should be looked on this kind of matter.
Yomara
posted 3/05/07 @ 8:48 PM CST
dude he looks fine... all i want to know ois were i can get the whole pic.!! Dude even if he is seen as harry potter he has been hot sincew the begining i just can't believe that he grew up sooo quikly, dude serously i need to see why people keep saying that he's doing gross things with the horse!! People stop hating
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