Jenna Ortega fans left grossed out by steamy scene with Martin Freeman in new film Miller’s Girl

By Abby Amoakuh

Published Feb 7, 2024 at 12:22 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

54562

Jenna Ortega’s new movie Miller’s Girl is stirring up considerable controversy due to a steamy scene between her and English actor Martin Freeman, who is 31 years her senior.

Miller’s Girl is an American black comedy drama starring Ortega and Freeman in the lead roles. The movie is about creative writing teacher and author Jonathan Miller, who enters a complicated relationship with his student Cairo Sweet following a challenging writing assignment.

Miler’s Girl examines the boundaries of teacher-student relationships, and their lines to obsession, exploitation and abuse. It levies a sharp critique of the power imbalances between Sweet and Miller, by delving into their age gap, his position of power, and her being a fan of his writing. It was released on 26 January 2024 and man, the internet had thoughts:

https://twitter.com/ye_grandson/status/1753900258478698965
https://twitter.com/BigBadWolf_84/status/1754177886880223361
https://twitter.com/germanguy30/status/1754103456070050077

The majority of viewers seemed to be surprised to see Ortega, Wednesday Adams herself, engage in behaviour that didn’t exactly seem PG.

Others just found one particular scene “disturbing” and “uncomfortable.” The film features a dark and erotic scene in which Miller reads a creative writing assignment that Sweet submitted. The two become immersed in the reading, as he starts to stroke his student and bends her over a bed, before leaning in very close. Then they engage in further intimate acts, not as the characters in the movie but as the characters from Sweet’s story.

Many of Ortega’s fans pointed out that the scene was meant to be disturbing and that the actress only seemed to receive intense scrutiny for it because viewers couldn’t divorce her from the pre-teen character of Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/misericordiamm/status/1753934624055513308
https://twitter.com/charlieholltea/status/1753624898952372645
https://twitter.com/myrsexual/status/1737760434919252182

The movie, which hasn’t been a hit with fans or critics, seemed to spark intense reactions about exactly the type of dynamics it intended to critique. Nevertheless, netizens were shocked to discover how Ortega was being patronised and desexualised by her fanbase. After all, she’s 21 years of age, which should give her the power and autonomy to present herself in her body in whatever ways she deems appropriate.

On a different note, fans also broke the fourth wall by taking a look at Freeman’s personal life. More specifically, the fact that the English actor is currently dating Normal People star Rachel Mariam, who is 29—23 years Freeman’s junior.

Unsurprisingly, some netizens took this real-life relationship to mean that Freeman, much like Miller, has a certain penchant for younger women. And while it is undeniable that older men who date younger women are subject to far less scrutiny than women who date older men, may I propose something else?

Maybe both Freemand and Ortega are just really good actors, whose roles are supposed to make us feel uncomfortable and challenge our belief systems. And maybe we shouldn’t project what happens on camera onto their personal lives. Just a thought.

Keep On Reading

By Mason Berlinka

Wednesday actor Percy Hynes White accused of sexual assault and racism in viral Twitter thread

By Deanna Pearce

5 must-have makeup products to recreate Wednesday Addams’ viral goth glam look

By Alma Fabiani

Percy Hynes White officially written out of Netflix’s Wednesday following sexual assault allegations

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

From Top G to PM? Andrew Tate’s Bruv Party launch sparks outrage

By Charlie Sawyer

Blake Lively’s allegations against Justin Baldoni: Why perfect victim narratives must end

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Bhad Bhabie accuses Alabama Barker of stealing her boyfriend in since-deleted post

By Charlie Sawyer

Resurfaced Frenemies clip proves Trisha Paytas manifested SNL appearance

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

I had to sign away my freedom to tell their story: A photojournalist on documenting Afghan women under the Taliban

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

US women turning to South Korea’s radical 4B movement after Trump’s election win

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

German island to scrap controversial Christmas tradition of hitting women brutally with cow horns

By Erika Mané

Why bleach your brows when you can shave them off entirely? Unpacking Gen Z’s favourite beauty trend 

By Abby Amoakuh

Jacob Elordi divides the internet with new beard and long hair, setting off different theories

By Abby Amoakuh

Airbnb joins forces with domestic abuse charity to offer safe, free housing for survivors

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Student expelled after criticising how her school dealt with unrapeable list scandal

By Charlie Sawyer

It’s not ok that netizens are calling Wicked star Cynthia Erivo a homewrecker on social media

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Unmasking exploitation in Africa: My undercover journey into Kenya’s Chinese seafood factories

By Abby Amoakuh

Lavender marriages are going viral right now as Gen Z throws in the towel on modern dating

By Charlie Sawyer

Young men are turning to testosterone boosters in new TikTok trend linked to right-wing rhetoric

By Charlie Sawyer

Anna Kendrick’s revelations about her 7-year abusive relationship on Call Her Daddy matter more than you think

By Charlie Sawyer

Women are having their images stolen from Vinted and posted on misogynistic websites