Come on.. take what he said out of context a little more?

Yeah, I bet you anything he was talking about filming a rape scene. But then hey, I could be wrong... Basically, I'd like to read the entire interview.

I always love that rebuttal, that "taken out of context" thing.

Exactly what context would justify what's here, as is?

I'll admit, I have no idea what context this was in...I'll even venture to guess that it was supposed to be a joke. But as David points out--does it really matter? That shit is not funny.

"Keanu Reeves has landed in hot water with a domestic violence group after carelessly joking in a magazine interview about how "some women" like rough sex. The star tells Playboy how difficult it was to perform a rape scene with Hilary Swank in The Gift, but, when asked if his roughness may have helped the actress get into character for boxing film Million Dollar Baby, he quips, 'Yeah. And, by the way, I also learned a bit of... well, that some of the ladies don't mind it... Hah, that's awful to say.'"

He was talking about rough sex, not rape, so I'd say you were definitely taking it out of context.

Of course the rough sex comment could be problamatic on its own, I just don't think a headline like: "Keanu Reeves on rape: 'some of the ladies don't mind it'".

It's not at all clear to me, from that quote, that he's talking about rough sex rather than rape. The scene in The Gift was a rape scene, so I don't see what other "it" he could be referring to.

Besides, if he was just referring to rough sex, he would not have said "that's awful to say." Consensual S&M is an accepted part of Hollywood sexual culture; if he considered it "awful," he would have let us know by now.

So yeah, the Feministing headline is still accurate from where I'm standing.

Cheers,

TH

But I believe that just because he said some women enjoy rape doesn't necessarily mean that he meant to say some women enjoy rape. He's not the world's most articulate guy.

Cheers,

TH

OBVIOUSLY he was referring to women FILMING RAPE/SEX scenes.

Jeez people.

In the Playboy interview he said "Nah, that's awful to say" not "Hah, that's..." which makes a huge difference in terms of tone and intended meaning.

In the part right before that, when asked what it was like playing that character, he said:

"Once Hilary and I were improvising in a trailer. I just kept saying "You're lying. You're lying. You're lying." We were rehearing this argument, and Sam said, "Every time you say, ‘You're lying,' instead of saying it, just hit her." Hilary was like, "No, Donnie, I wasn't......" [makes slapping noise] "Donnie, I wasn't......." [slaps] Sam was like, "Grab her face." This went on until finally I pushed her up against the wall and started taking her pants off. I stopped, but it was very scary. It was like, "Oh shit. Okay. Now I get it. I get it." It was very frightening."

Clearly the guy is not a member of MENSA, and I think his poorly worded thoughts on a subject in which he is not well versed, made him seem like one of those "she was askin' for it" ruffians. But any dime-store psychologist with an interest in women’s issues will tell you that some domestic violence victims who stay in abusive relationships will justify the brutality with "he hits me because he really loves me."

I would imagine that Keanu must have been shocked to learn, while studying for the part, that some battered women are still in love with and defensive of the brutes who treat them so terribly. His quickly retracted remark may have had to do with that.

I'm no fan of the guy's work, but I think this was a case of over reaction to a few words uttered during an interview. It's not like it came from an essay or thesis paper.