Thomas Gilder Says ‘And Just Like That’ Cut Over ‘Woke’ Views
Avery Sinclair here. Oh, this should be good.
Actor Thomas Gilder claims he was shown the exit door from HBO’s hit revival series And Just Like That because his off-screen activism was too “woke,” sparking debate in Hollywood’s echo chamber. The performer, who appeared in a handful of early episodes, pulled no punches when discussing why his storyline vanished midseason. According to an interview he gave to Variety on October 12, Gilder believes network executives feared his progressive stances might overshadow the show’s glossy brand. He pointed to heated online reactions after he publicly supported transgender rights at a Pride rally last June—a cause he says producers quietly flagged as “risky.”
Sources at People Magazine corroborated production chatter that bosses planned to streamline the cast to refocus on franchise favorites. One insider told Page Six that writers were instructed in August to rewrite Gilder’s subplot out, despite it being filmed as late as July 30. Gilder said he first sensed trouble when checks bounced for reshoots he’d been asked to attend. “I got this text: ‘We’ve decided not to bring your character back. Thanks for your work.’ No explanation. No dialogue. Just radio silence.”
This abrupt cut fuels a larger conversation about diversity and activism in entertainment. Gilder joins a growing list of creatives who argue network suits prefer performers who toe the line rather than rock the boat. He isn’t the first to believe his convictions cost him a job. In 2022, director Maya Benton publicly accused a streaming giant of shelving her project over its social justice themes, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Industry-watchers note that And Just Like That has seen its fair share of public relations crises, most recently around its handling of LGBTQ representation and casting criticism. For Gilder, however, it was personal. “I signed on because I thought my character could bring something fresh,” he told Variety. “Then suddenly it was vanished, as if I’d never existed. It felt like punishment for speaking up.”
Despite the setback, Gilder says he remains undeterred. He’s already in talks for two indie films and plans to host a panel on activism in media next month. “You can exclude me from your soap opera,” he said, “but you cannot silence the causes I believe in.”
With awards season looming, viewers and critics alike will be watching HBO’s next moves. Will the network double down on a risk-averse approach or answer the questions raised by Gilder’s exit? Stay tuned.
So there you have it—another star’s journey ended by the very network that promised to embrace modern values. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Variety, People Magazine, Page Six
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
