Kristen Stewart called critics of her latest Rolling Stone cover 'sexist' and 'homophobic.'
On March 11, the 33-year-old' Love Lies Bleeding' star discussed the cover on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' calling out critics for their unfavorable comments.
Stewart Calls Out Critics
The host, Colbert, showed the audience what the fuss was about by bringing out a picture of the polarizing cover when he disclosed that CBS had asked him not to display it on the show.
Colbert told Stewart that he and the audience thought it was a lovely cover before showing it. He said that CBS asked not to show it and understood why.
To the audience's cheers, he revealed the cover and told Stewart she looked better than he ever did in a jockstrap.
Stewart can be seen posing with her hand slithering down the front of the Rolling Stone cover. She is wearing a white jockstrap and a black vest.
In response to Colbert's question regarding the negative reaction to the cover, she said, "Well, okay, let's keep this light. You know, I think it's a little um ... well, it's a little ironic because I feel like I've seen, like, a lot of male pubic hair on the cover of things."
She thinks there is a certain overt acknowledgment of female sexuality that has its own volition in a way that is annoying for people who are sexist and homophobic.
Colbert added that he had seen more revealing covers on Rolling Stone or Sports Illustrated, assuring the actress that it was not remotely explicit. He claimed that it also violates public expectations of female sexuality as opposed to how Stewart was presenting it on the cover.
Stewart agreed and said that female sexuality is not supposed to actually want anything but to be had, and that feels like it is protruding in a way that might be annoying.
"But f*** you," Stewart said while looking into the camera to more cheers from the audience. At the same time, as Colbert added "I think that's why they're mad at you!" She joked, "But I never will!"
In her Rolling Stone cover interview, Stewart talked about wanting to make people uncomfortable, saying she wanted the cover shoot to be the "gayest f****** thing you've ever seen in your life."
Stewart is promoting 'Love Lies Bleeding,' produced by arthouse production company A24. The vengeance thriller focuses on the romance between Lou, the gym manager played by Stewart, and Jackie, the driven bodybuilder.
Stewart Comes Out as Queer
In 2017, Stewart publicly came out as gay during her 'Saturday Night Live' monologue. She referred to the rumors surrounding her affair with director Rupert Sanders and ex-president Donald Trump's excessive tweets about her breakup with Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson.
"But that is so OK. And Donald, if you didn't like me then, you're probably not going to like me now because I'm hosting SNL, and I'm so gay, dude."
She also discussed whether she thinks she is expected to be a spokesperson for the LGBTQA+ community. Stewart admitted that she did more when she was younger and was hounded about labeling herself.
