Armond White tossed from the New York Film Critics
The story goes that contrarian film critic Armond White was heckling Steve McQueen as he took the stage for the New York Film Critics – this, being the first time any black director has ever won the honor. White, being one of the few black critics in any film critics group, had panned 12 Years a Slave while simultaneously losing his shit for American Hustle.
“The New York Film Critics Circle deeply regrets any embarrassment caused its guests or honorees by any member’s recent actions,” Stephen Whitty, critic for the Star-Ledger and the group’s new chairman, said in the statement “Sadly, disciplinary measures had to be taken, to prevent any reoccurrence.”
The moment was soured by White and others. There are many witnesses who can confirm what was said and by whom. But nonetheless, White has denied the allegations:
“The allegations are flat out untrue,” Mr. White said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. “There was no heckling from my table.”
He also said that he suspected the expulsion was fueled by animosity from other critics. “I don’t cozy up to the hype machine,” he said. “I think other film critics are embarrassed by the way they cozy up. So they attack me.”
Well, it’s one thing to cozy up — he thinks the NYFCC are bad, try checking out the Broadcast Film Critics. Everybody mostly likes to rub up against celebs. But it’s a whole other thing to bring dishonor not just to the critics group, which has been around since the 1930s, but to McQueen himself. I am sure it bothered us a lot more than it bothered him but nonetheless.
One more thing to add (and I’m not trolling…I swear. I do not support Armond White’s actions and I agree he should have been kicked out).
Before people bring up the fact that Steve McQueen is a black director and White was heckling another black guy, keep in mind that a good number of people who are now film critics, even (especially?) the best ones had aspirations of being filmmakers themselves that, for whatever reason, have gone unrealized. I wouldn’t be surprised if White himself wanted to be a filmmaker and it can’t have been easy for him to see Steve McQueen reaping all of these awards. That probably fueled his anger at the NYFCC dinner. Hell, that probably informed his reaction to not only “12 Years a Slave,” but all of McQueen’s work.
Add all of that on top of someone who is clearly unstable and you have the ingredients for a very poorly timed, despicable outburst like the one that allegedly happened. Again, not defending. Just offering perspective. Armond White’s behavior, his reviews, when I’ve heard him talk…he has the cadence and demeanor of someone I knew who it turned out was very mentally ill and is now seeking help. I hope Armond White does the same.
I agree he should have been kicked out. Learning how to control how your feelings inform your actions, however justified you may feel that your feelings are is part of being an adult.
I’ll just say, and I’m not excusing his behavior at all, but any black person who’s a working professional in any field in a room full of white men (which will be most black professionals…if they’re luck) any of us who say they’ve never felt like standing up and screaming to the heavens at the top of our lungs is lying. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Being the only black face in a sea of white is angry-making and it’s something that’s so so hard to explain what it feels like to someone who’s never experienced it. But…again (seriously) Armond needs to learn to control himself.
White is an asshole. Good riddance to him!
The fact is, it’s a pattern of misbehavior at the event that has been going on now for four years, sometimes even while White was at the circle’s helm, and sometimes right in the faces of those invited as guests. What this could lead to is the declining attendence of those who win future awards, so the Circle is right to throw him out. White can say anything he wants to in print, but at this private event–at ANY private event–if you repeatedly cause a ruckus, even if you’re a member, you’re liable to get ejected. That’s just the way things are. As for his critical output, I find White an obtuse and barely comprehensible wordsmith, and a suspicious kind of critical performance artist (I’ve been using that term to describe him for years, and I was glad to see it used in Gleiberman’s article). My opinions of him as a person have been shaped not only by these reports, but by witnessing White at a NYFF press screening at the Walter Reade Theater in NYC, walking up to another attendee already seated, and insisting that he “get the f*** out of my seat.” I’ll never forget it. It didn’t even involve me, and I was floored by it. Absolutely none of the allegations and bits of proof surprise me (though Armond White’s denials definitely do). In my opinion, his writing and opinions aside, this man is deeply unhinged.
Keep pushing this troll further and further to the margins. I am in full support of this strategy. I sometimes have to check my own opinion when I catch myself liking a film he endorses. Its almost like his approval instantly taints a piece of work, and a pan by him can be read as the most reliable barometer of what I am going to absolutely love.
But fuck it, I still like American Hustle, whether he does or not. And Resident Evil 5 is NOT better than The Master. (God, I can’t believe I even need to write that sentence)
Good riddance indeed. You simply may not behave like that and expect to keep that job.
(If I’m not mistaken: even Roger Ebert, before calling White a troll or something to the effect upon reading one of the latter’s odd reviews, reportedly had fallen for him at first in the sense that Ebert initially, somehow, didn’t believe White was a troll or the like.)
This heckling case was such an extreme because the incident also took place out of the blue and during a formal setting.
Just wondering why […] kept waiting until now — despite too many final straws prior to this one, I suppose . . . .
He brought it on himself. A minority appreciates his bold and fearless approach, but in the end he’s a mean-spirited troll who seems driven by his desire to oppose the majority.
Glad he’s gone. Not only his behaviour, but his entire philosophy of film criticism – that of trying to come off as a contrarian only to snuggle up to some of the most questionable films – is not what any serious film circle needs.
He should get his own troll-bait blog where he can have it out with all comers and those who don’t want to hear him don’t have to.
Glad he’s gone. Not only his behaviour, but his entire philosophy or film criticism – that of trying to come off as a contrarian only to snuggle up to some of the most questionable films – is not what any serious film circle needs.
He should get his own troll-bait blog where he can have it out with all comers and those who don’t want to hear him don’t have to.
Mr. White is a liar, liar, pants on fire! I’m glad the NYFCC found a way to expel him so that the organization can move on. Armond’s behavior was grossly unprofessional and egocentric.
Good riddance
He was there representing an organization. He embarassed them in epic fashion. He not only deserved what he got but considering he brought it on himself, he should have expected it, put on his big boy pants and the very least admit the wrongdoing.
P.S. It is kind of hilarious how he states proudly ” “I don’t cozy up to the hype machine,” and at the same time, he goes apeshit for something like American Hustle. Obviously he is not as edgy as he thinks he is…well, based on yesterday’s events, a case could be made he is as edgy as the Hollywood Foreign Press…there..a verbal slap in the face.
Adios muchacho! If you lose your job as a reviewer I’m sure there are openings for being a garbage man.
Looks like White is being very Clintonian. “There was no heckling from my table.” Well, yes, the physical table cannot, did not, speak.
I could do a long rant about there’s a difference in having a different opinion and being a trolling asshole but I won’t.
I’ll just say: Good riddance to bad rubbish.