CLARKE: THAT F*CKING GUY!

2nd February 2010

Post with 7 notes

*NSFW: SO WHERE THE F*CK IS THE LINE?? NSFW*

I’ve been thinking about this for a few days, but have now decide to write. READ right to the end and you’ll get the point.

So last week my son was sick, so sick that he was rushed to hospital 3 times in 4 days. Not something that was pleasant for him or for me for that matter. So while I’m in AnE with my sons screaming. Someone comes up to me and asks …

“Hey, are you the guy from Kidulthood and Adulthood?”

“Yes” I said.

“Can I get a picture with you?”

So I’m here in AnE, which stands for what? Accident and Emergency, with a real family emergency but this guy wants a picture. So in my anger and after we get away from that area, I tweeted what happened. Why? I don’t know, I could argue with myself that I shouldn’t have been at that point, but we were waiting for a doctor for a while and I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. I shouldn’t have done, because some of the responses that came back surprised me.

“Just give him a picture and he’ll go away.”

“That’s part of your job.”

Part of my job..? So this is where I ask the question. Where exactly is the line? I choose to do a job that puts me in a position where I’m scrutinized. I’m fine with that. I, Through love, not for fame I do a job that puts me in front of people, lots of people. in interviews, on TV, Films, radio, etc and it’s my choice. Because of that job, everyone who sees me in those places on their TV, Cinema, whatever has the right to like what I say and represent, or not. And like I said, I’m fine with it.

I’m up in front of people, and everything I say is looked at by thousands and on rare occasions millions of people. It must be one of the only jobs in the world where, you can do your job and before it’s even released, people are telling you how good or bad you did it, seconds after it is released, some guy is online talking about how shit you were and how much they hate you, and wish you weren’t in the film or show, or in anything else for that matter, as you ruin everything, and then of course other people love you, really love and support you and it’s strange because none of these people really know you. I personally (most of the time) let it wash off my back. It rarely fazes me either way. I’m just a regular guy doing a job he loves.

Do I like being liked by people I don’t know? I’m appreciative but mostly indifferent, that’s not why I do what i do. but, sure okay.

Do I like being hated by people I don’t know? Even more than I like being liked.

You know you’re in a weird profession where you can evoke so much emotion in people who don’t actually know you. They can hate or love you because of something you’ve said or done on a screen. I bet someone right now is reading this and saying, well what’s he moaning about, he makes films etc… I’m not at all, I’m just making a point.

So do these people that don’t know me have a right to do it? Do they have the right to go online, and tell the world what they think of me??? Do they have the right to see me in the street and stop me and ask me for a photo or autograph, if they have bought my films on DVD or seen me in the cinema and supported me? Do they have the right to expect me to stop and give them each individually the time of day and talk to them when “they” want me too… In short… YES!

It almost doesn’t matter what is happening in my real life at any point. If someone has supported me and comes up to ask for an autograph, I smile take a picture, be polite and sign stuff and go about my business. Anyone who’s met me will know that. If someone tells me they love me or don’t like me or what I do, I kind of have to deal with it, because I have chosen through the love of the work to do a job that has those consequences, and so… Yes that kind of is part of my job, and not only am i fine with it. I understand that.

So when is it not part of my job? Where is the fucking line? When do I get to be me? I’ll tell you. For one, when I’m in hospital AnE with my son. At that point all an am is a father to a little boy, and that is not the time to ask for a photo. That… is… not… the… time.

I think even if I understand my part in all this, which I do, there has to be some respect. Common cutesy, and sense dictates that there has to be some moments where you just can’t ask me. That’s not too much to ask is it?

So anyway, here’s what we’re gonna do. The guy that asked me for the autograph in the AnE, with my son sick in my arms.

Fuck you!

The guy that told me I should just give him a photo so he’d go away.

Fuck you!

The guy that told me that fans were part of my job and I should sign and take pictures whenever they want.

Fuck you!

The guy that ran his mouth when I got angry at the guy that told me it was my job at all times.

Fuck You!

Anyone who thinks that I should be a smiley accessible clone type fake 100% of the time.

Fuck you!

And lastly anyone who just got offended by this, or who believes that I’m letting myself down in this blog by not continuing eloquently, but instead using profanities, and thus potentially highlighting the fact I may have a rather limited vocabulary, when I could have continued pleasantly instead of lowering my standards to this, at best what could be described as uncouth vernacular…

Fuck you too!.

Shocked?!?! I am at myself… That kind of crossed the line, and that’s the point.

There are lines… CLEAR LINES.

You don’t cross them… and I won’t either.

All other comments, positive, defamatory, inflammatory are welcomed here https://twitter.com/NoelClarke. (don’t worry. I can handle it. It’s my job)

To all supporters. THANK YOU, Come again. : )

NC