It all started when Grace argued that the band should have chosen a trans actor for the lead role. Then, in an interview with Advocate.com over the weekend, Butler defended the band's choice, saying, "Once something gets on the internet, it works its way into people's lives in a way that I think is pretty powerful.... For a gay kid in Jamaica to see the actor who played Spider-Man in that role is pretty damn powerful, in my opinion."
"There was just so much thought and love that went into the video I don't personally see it as negative," Butler added. "I can totally see the sensitivity of the issue."
Now Grace has responded with a string of tweets. She decries the video less for the casting choice and more for the stereotypes. "Like why does Garfield cry about shaving their head to then put on a wig when they have gorgeous hair?" she writes. "Why does Garfield go to the shittiest bar ever to drink domestic beer and dance with bigot rednecks? And the idea that the band playing Coachella is their Mecca of acceptance and validation. Phfff. As if."
Further, she points out that the Arcade Fire are attempting to portray an experience they haven't actually lived out. "If the song was called anything else I wouldn't have even had a problem with it it's called 'We Exist' and there is literally no signs of that existence represented. Should have been called 'They Exist,'" she said. "When you come from the perspective you're representing, it's truth and powerful."
Check out all of Laura Jane Grace's tweets below. Thanks to Consequence of Sound for the tip.
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire this article is hella problematic. To start with there's the fact that Win says "he" and Wilson says "she"...
— Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014 @TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire the implication that a homeless Jamaican LGBT youth living in a sewer is going to feel empowered because…—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire a cis, straight white male actor in movies they can't afford to see stars in a music video they'll never watch?—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire that's like so wtf?—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire my main problem with the video isn't even casting it's stereotyping…—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire like why does Garfield cry about shaving their head to then put on a wig when they have gorgeous hair?—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire why does Garfield go to the shittiest bar ever to drink domestic beer and dance with bigot rednecks?—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire and the idea that the band playing Coachella is their Mecca of acceptance and validation. Phfff. As if.—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire if the song was called anything else I wouldn't have even had a problem with it—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire it's called "We Exist" and there is literally no signs of that existence represented.—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire should have been called "They Exist".—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire lastly, I really genuinely am a fan of the band. The Suburbs is a perfect album.—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire that's why the Suburbs is great and the video sucks though…—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
@TheAdvocateMag @arcadefire When you come from the perspective you're representing, it's truth and powerful.—
Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) May 25, 2014
