Sebastian Stan has spoken out against a journalist who used an offensive term to describe his co-star who has a facial disfigurement.
At the Berlin Film Festival in February, A journalist asked the cast of “A Different Man” at a press conference, “What do you think happens after the transformation from this so-called beast, as they call him, to this perfect man?”
Adam Pearson, one of Stan’s co-stars, has neurofibromatosis both in the film and in real life.
The genetic disorder causes tumors to grow in the nervous system and skin.
Stan, 42, defended Pearson, 39, and politely responded to the journalist’s use of the term “beast.”
“I have to criticize you a little bit for your choice of words,” the “Pam & Tommy” star said.
“I think part of the importance of the film is that we often don’t even have the proper vocabulary,” Stan continued. “I think it’s a little bit more complex than that. And obviously there are language barriers and so on.”
“But you know, beast is not the word, I think,” he added.
In “A Different Man,” Stan plays Edward, who, after undergoing facial surgery, becomes obsessed with Oswald (Pearson), an actor who plays him in a stage production based on his former life.
Stan used heavy prosthetics to portray his character with neurofibromatosis in the first half of the film.
The Berlin interview resurfaced on social media this week as Stan and the rest of the cast promoted the A24 Movie for a theatrical release in the United States on September 20.
In a Interview with Variety Posted on Wednesday, Stan opened up about his experience transforming into the role with the help of nominated prosthetic artist Mike Marino.
“Even though he didn’t shoot until 11 in the morning, he would go to his studio or his apartment at about 5 in the morning,” said Stan, who filmed the movie in New York City.
“I wanted to walk around the city and see what was going on. On Broadway, one of the busiest streets in New York, no one was looking at me. It was like I wasn’t even there,” she shared, before revealing a nasty reaction she received.
“Someone would immediately stop and blatantly beat his friend, point at him and take a photo,” he said.
Stan also revealed that he spoke with Pearson’s mother in preparation for the film.
“She told me, ‘All I ever wanted was for someone to walk in your shoes for a day,’” he told Variety. “And I guess that was the closest I ever got to it.”
Pearson, who was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis at age 5 and began experiencing facial disfigurement at age 8, said People This week how he confronts people when they see his face for the first time.
“You walk in and you just jump in,” he shared. “Like, ‘Hi, my name is Adam. I’m new here. Let’s be friends.’”
Stan said in the same interview: “Adam is a very honest and sincere man. We understood each other immediately. He was very kind in speaking openly to me about his childhood and what he encountered in his life. All of that was vital for me to be able to build a backstory for my character.”
“A Different Man” opens in theaters on Friday.
