Jodie Turner-Smith Discusses How the Media Treats White Male Failures Differently

Jodie Turner-Smith says, “We don’t get to fail upward like a lot of white men,” calling out Hollywood’s glaring double standard. The entertainment industry has long shown leniency to white male directors and actors when they fail, while women of color, like Turner-Smith, face severe repercussions for the same or smaller missteps. The unequal treatment isn’t new, but Turner-Smith’s words remind us of the systemic inequalities embedded in Hollywood’s core. Her experiences highlight a broader issue, as women of color constantly fight for opportunities that others receive easily, even after failures.

Joker: Folie à Deux and Aquaman 2 Contrast

Todd Phillips and Jason Momoa, two celebrated men in Hollywood, both faced underwhelming performances with Joker: Folie à Deux (Joker 2 )and Aquaman 2. Yet, the industry continues to back them. Media outlets brushed aside Joker 2‘s struggles, highlighting its artistic ambition rather than its disappointing $37.8 million opening weekend.

Hang in there, Todd Phillips. https://t.co/jkYc4kDMSY

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 6, 2024

Similarly, articles gently labeled Aquaman 2 as “sinking” rather than a failure, framing the film as part of a larger universe to protect Jason Momoa’s reputation as a bankable star. Neither man faced any real career repercussions for these flops—Hollywood sure loves to keep the spotlight soft on its golden boys.

Now, compare that to The Marvels, directed by Nia DaCosta, which earned $47 million in its opening weekend, beating Joker 2’s numbers. Yet, the media wasted no time branding the film a flop, completely ignoring its creative ambition and quick to point fingers at DaCosta as if she single-handedly derailed the MCU. Similar to DaCosta, Chloé Zhao, director of Eternals, also faced the same scrutiny and media bashing. Notice the difference? When a woman helms a project that doesn’t break records, the media’s pitchforks are out. But for men like Phillips and Momoa, media spins even their lackluster performances as artistic risks or opportunities for future success.

This stark double standard shows that Hollywood and the media are more than willing to give men the space to fail upwards. Women, on the other hand? They’re expected to stick the landing every time—or else. It’s a glaring imbalance that continues to punish women for even minor stumbles, while the men get to keep playing the game, no matter how many times they trip.

When Women Fail, the Industry Punishes Them

Women of color like Nia DaCosta, Zhao and Jodie Turner-Smith don’t get the same luxury of failing upwards. DaCosta’s The Marvels faced disproportionate media scrutiny before it even hit theaters. Headlines questioned her directing capabilities, a pattern that often emerges when women of color helm big-budget projects. When the film opened to lower-than-expected box office numbers, critics rushed to declare it a disaster, with many speculating whether DaCosta would ever direct another major studio film. The media and industry alike viewed her perceived failure as a reflection of her competence, not simply the result of factors beyond her control.

Turner-Smith also deals with a similar dynamic. Despite consistently delivering strong performances, she faces more intense criticism than her white counterparts. Her roles and choices are scrutinized, with any misstep amplified. Hollywood places women of color under a microscope, forcing them to be perfect, while offering white men multiple chances to rebound from failures. This creates a hostile environment where women of color, no matter how talented, constantly walk on eggshells, knowing that one failure could permanently harm their careers.

The Long-Term Impact on Women Like Jodie Turner-Smith

The unequal treatment of women in Hollywood leaves lasting effects, particularly for actresses like Jodie Turner-Smith. In an industry where women already face intense scrutiny, the judgment becomes even harsher when they don’t meet impossibly high expectations. For women like Turner-Smith, every project feels like a high-stakes gamble, where even minor perceived failures can result in fewer opportunities. When Turner-Smith commented on not being allowed to “fail upwards,” she wasn’t just making a personal observation—it reflects a broader systemic issue that women in Hollywood face. Men are given multiple chances, but women are often expected to succeed flawlessly every time. If they stumble, the consequences are much more severe.

Jodie Turner-Smith isn’t alone in facing these struggles. Her co-star Amandla Stenberg, star of The Acolyte, provides another stark example. Before the show even aired, she faced a wave of bigotry and hatred online, much of it fueled by racist and sexist undertones. The vitriol she experienced only intensified when The Acolyte was canceled after one season. Stenberg’s comments about the attacks on her and the cast emphasize the targeted nature of the harassment. The backlash was so strong that it even affected an unrelated movie with the same title, demonstrating the sheer force of the bad-faith campaign against the show.

Hollywood’s Urgent Need for Change

For women like Turner-Smith, DaCosta, Zhao, and Stenberg, the stakes are higher, and the consequences of failure are harsher. We’re not suggesting that women of color shouldn’t face criticism, but the reality is that their very presence in major projects often triggers an ongoing, never-ending racist backlash that trolls eagerly monetize. The way the media and critics go on, you’d think these women broke laws to deserve the degree of onslaught they receive. Hollywood’s double standards make it almost impossible for women to “fail upwards,” leaving them to navigate an industry that unfairly rewards men while punishing women for even the smallest perceived misstep.

Jodie Turner-Smith’s critique of Hollywood’s double standards shines a spotlight on a deeply ingrained issue within the industry. Women (especially women of color) face harsher criticism, fewer opportunities, and a higher risk of career-damaging repercussions when they fail. Meanwhile, men like Todd Phillips and Jason Momoa can weather their failures with little to no impact on their careers. Hollywood needs to address these inequities and create an environment where all creators, regardless of gender or race, have equal opportunities to succeed—and to fail—without their careers hanging in the balance.