Sarah Jessica Parker responds to ageist critics of the Sex and the City reboot. During the late ’90s, Bushnell’s Sex and the City novel was scooped up by show creator Darren Star to become a groundbreaking, award-winning, and legendary series for HBO. Starring Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, and Kim Cattrall, the show follows four friends - Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha - navigating life and love in New York City.
Earlier this year, HBO announced that a Sex and the City reboot series, titled And Just Like That…, was coming to HBO, sans Cattrall’s Samantha Jones. Helmed by Michael Patrick King, the new installment of Sex and the City will feature numerous characters from the original series and introduce a fresh batch of diverse cast members. Recently, HBO confirmed that And Just Like That… will release in December and shared a first look at the Sex and the City reboot, revealing Carrie reuniting with Charlotte and Miranda.
Speaking with Vogue, Parker opens up about the ageist criticisms on social media towards the Sex and the City reboot. Addressing the negative remarks, Parker reveals she and her fellow cast members have been a target for comments on their physical appearance as they’ve gotten older. Slamming the criticism as “misogynist chatter,” Parker points out that grey hair, wrinkles, and natural aging are not usually highlighted on men in the entertainment industry. Read what Parker said about choosing to age naturally and being aware of her looks below:
There’s so much misogynist chatter in response to us that would never. Happen. About. A. Man. Gray hair gray hair gray hair. Does she have gray hair? Especially on social media. Everyone has something to say. ‘She has too many wrinkles, she doesn’t have enough wrinkles.’ It almost feels as if people don’t want us to be perfectly okay with where we are, as if they almost enjoy us being pained by who we are today, whether we choose to age naturally and not look perfect, or whether you do something if that makes you feel better. I know what I look like. I have no choice. What am I going to do about it? Stop aging? Disappear?
Of course, witnessing the next chapter of the women from Sex and the City unfold as they navigate physical and emotional changes due to age is one of the biggest draws for fans of the series. During its original run, Sex and the City resonated with its audience for providing a platform for discussion on topical issues. Slated to debut on HBO Max in December, And Just Like That… continues to keep viewers guessing on Carrie’s love life, how the coronavirus pandemic altered the main protagonists, and how Samantha’s absence will be addressed.
Overall, Sex and the City was considered revolutionary for opening up conversations about sexuality, friendship, and female independence. Of course, Parker and the creative forces behind And Just Like That... have a new opportunity to use the iconic characters from Sex and the City to initiate conversations about race, diversity, female empowerment, and aging in the storyline. For now, Parker appears ready to unveil Carrie Bradshaw in a new era of her life. It’ll be interesting to see what will become of Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda in the next installment of Sex and the City.
Source: Vogue