While promoting her new film, Being the Ricardos, Nicole Kidman called out the sexism behind a question inquiring about her marriage to ex-husband Tom Cruise. Kidman is an Australian actress and producer who is best known for her roles in Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Aquaman. Most recently, she starred as Lucille Ball in the biographical drama film, Being the Ricardos. The film had a limited theatrical release on December 10, 2021 and was released worldwide on Amazon Prime on December 21, 2021. Being The Ricardos follows the relationship and careers of I Love Lucy stars. Ball and Desi Arnaz.
So far, Being the Ricardos has received mixed reviews from critics, but one point of praise has been for Kidman's lead performance. Despite initially receiving backlash for her casting, she proved herself quite effective in her role and able to encompass the humor and drama of her character. She has even been nominated for a Critic's Choice Award, as well as a Golden Globe Award, for her performance. The award nominations are well deserved as she even took up smoking for her Being the Ricardos role, in an attempt to nail Ball's deep smoker's voice. As Kidman continues to promote her new film, she isn't letting anyone put a damper on her achievement.
In an interview with The Guardian, Kidman reveals that she called out a journalist for a sexist question about her ex-husband Cruise. While promoting her film, Kidman began a discussion of Ball and Arnaz's relationship and how it illustrates that sometimes one may fall for the person who they are not meant to spend their lives with, though they may love them and even have children with them. After Kidman's discussion, a journalist inquired if she was referencing her marriage to Cruise. Kidman didn't take the comment lightly and immediately denied it, as well as criticized the question for its sexism and attempt to pigeonhole her. Check out her response below:
Oh, my God, no, no. Absolutely not. No. I mean, that's, honestly, so long ago that that isn't in this equation. So, no. And I would ask not to be pigeonholed that way, either. It feels to me almost sexist, because I'm not sure anyone would say that to a man. And at some point, you go, 'Give me my life. In its own right.'
Kidman was married to Cruise from 1990 - 2001 and shares two children with him, Isabella and Connor. She is now married to country singer Keith Urban and has largely refrained from speaking about her past relationship. Considering that it has been over two decades since her relationship with Cruise, it is odd that a journalist would choose to raise the topic. Kidman's statements were only meant to describe Ball and Arnaz's relationship in the film, and aside from their divorce and sharing children, there's no evidence that her relationship with Cruise was at all similar to the characters' relationship. Such a question seemingly attempts to define her only by her relationship to Cruise, which is so far in the past, it truly shouldn't enter any current discussions with her.
Kidman's response to the sexist question was short, but powerful. She effectively stood her ground and explained why the comment was offensive to her. Such comments that pry into the personal life of women and attempt to turn every statement they make into hints about their past relationships are truly sexist. Kidman is correct that such a question wouldn't be asked of a man, and that she should be allowed to own her life rather than be defined by a decades-old relationship. The Being the Ricardos actress' response is a sharp reminder for individuals to think carefully before posing deeply personal questions that unfairly place gravity on a woman's association with a man.
Source: The Guardian