A segment featuring Saoirse Ronan on The Graham Norton Show recently gained widespread attention as viewers praised her insightful comment amidst a light-hearted discussion dominated by male perspectives, which resonated particularly with women.
On October 25, Ronan appeared on The Graham Norton Show to promote her upcoming drama, Blitz, which is set during World War II and centers around a young boy and his mother. She shared the stage with Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal, who were there to discuss Gladiator II, as well as Eddie Redmayne, who was promoting his work on The Day of the Jackal. Ronan was the only woman among an all-male panel, and the conversation took an unexpected turn when it ventured into the topic of The Day of the Jackal.
During the discussion, Redmayne spoke about his training for the miniseries, emphasizing how he had learned self-defense techniques, including how to utilize a phone as a defensive tool against an assailant. The humorous aspect highlighted by the men drew laughter, dismissing the seriousness of the situation. Ronan attempted to contribute to the conversation, but her voice was drowned out by the ongoing jokes. Mescal chimed in with a sarcastic remark about not thinking to use a phone to defend himself if attacked, mimicking a clumsy phone defense maneuver.
Ronan then delivered a powerful and impactful comment that shifted the atmosphere. She pointed out, “That’s what girls have to think about all the time,”prompting an abrupt silence from the male panelists. Following this, she gestured towards the audience, asking, “Am I right, ladies?”which was met with enthusiastic applause. Graham Norton quickly redirected the conversation, moving away from the topic without further discussion.
This moment went viral due to its striking illustration of the differences between male and female privilege. While the men appeared to find the self-defense technique trivial and humorous, for women, such strategies can represent significant real-life implications. Ronan’s serious tone effectively halted the banter, earning her considerable admiration from viewers.
“That’s what girls have to think about all the time.” *awkward silence* “Am I right, ladies?” *applause* Kudos to you, Saoirse Ronan. End Violence Against Women & Girls? #EndVAWG #GrahamNortonShow #BBC pic.twitter.com/yznF5yt8QM
— Amanda Ferguson (@AmandaFBelfast) October 26, 2024
What frustrates me the most is that Saoirse Ronan, the sole woman on the panel, had to practically fight for her point to be heard amidst a sea of male laughter that disregarded her input and the realities women face. Isn’t that the core issue? pic.twitter.com/TAAenUR0J7
— Supertanskiii (@supertanskiii) October 27, 2024
I’m liking and retweeting every single post featuring Saoirse Ronan putting those men in their place pic.twitter.com/unHzhhEIbm
— we ☄ (@subrbnlegnds) October 27, 2024
The male guests on the show failed to reflect on their own privileges. It’s hoped that Ronan’s candid remarks will leave a lasting impression, encouraging deeper contemplation about these issues. We need more moments of such honesty on talk shows!
Images Credit: Themarysue.com
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