Actor Matt Smith, renowned for starring roles in House of the Dragon and Doctor Who, shared his criticism of trigger warnings in a recent interview with The Times of London. A popular opinion among numerous high-profile British actors, Smith argued that trigger warnings reduce the emotional impact of storytelling, and contribute to a wider culture of censorship in creative media by preventing audiences from feelings of discomfort.
According to Deadline, Smith discussed at length his experience with trigger warnings, and why he believes they are ultimately detrimental to the art of storytelling. As an actor, many of Smith’s roles have utilized morally gray themes or unethical personalities; his notorious character in House of the Dragon, for example, employs extreme cruelty both on and off the battlefield, while other, smaller roles include the titular character of Sky Atlantic’s television series The Death of Bunny Munro, in which Smith plays a misogynistic sex addict.
In regard to controversial characters such as these, Smith stated that utilizing trigger warnings only minimizes the emotional impact of his performances, and prevents artists from wanting to tell morally complex stories for fear of being censored. He added that his own exposure to inappropriate content at a young age was formative rather than harmful, recalling watching Friday the 13th at nine years old as a terrifying but ultimately positive experience. According to Smith, feelings of discomfort are an invaluable aspect of artistic performances, and attempting to police them only serves to degrade the quality and impact of the art itself.
Debates Over Trigger Warnings Unite English Actors
Matt Smith is far from the only actor to convey such concerns. In an interview with the U.K.’s Radio Times, English actress Judi Dench was surprised to learn that theater audiences nowadays expect to hear warnings about certain types of content, including graphic displays of violence, flashing lights, or loud noises. Dench, whose repertoire encompasses such impressive roles as “M” in several James Bond movies, stated that those who feel they need trigger warnings should not attend the theater at all, whether to observe live performances or movies. Actor Sir Ian McKellan has also expressed his disagreement with trigger warnings, citing the importance of feelings such as shock, surprise, or discomfort — in art as well as real life.
Despite these criticisms, the use of trigger warnings has drastically increased in popularity among the entertainment industry, and opinion editorials in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Variety routinely discuss the ethics and morality of trigger warnings. Proponents argue that trigger warnings are largely for the benefit of those afflicted with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), who may be more sensitive to loud noises, flashing lights, or certain topics such as graphic violence. However, opponents of trigger warnings, such as Matt Smith, believe that they are coddling audiences and creating an atmosphere of censorship.
Unfortunately, these debates seem unlikely to disappear anytime soon. The increasingly prevalent use of trigger warnings coincides with a growing awareness of accommodation needs for people with mental and physical disabilities, who are more likely to feel discomfort and even distress when exposed to specific theatrical elements. Although trigger warnings might seem as though they spoil the content of a play or movie, they have become instrumental when it comes to preserving the safety of some audiences.
