Eddie Redmayne has been the subject of brutal criticisms on social media after his performance at the 2024 Tony Awards for Cabaret.
Redmayne, who plays the Emcee in the 2024 revival production of the cult-classic musical, was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. However, he lost to Merrily We Roll Along's Jonathan Groff.
However, it wasn't his loss that got social media talking, but his performance as the Emcee in the musical. For some, Redmayne's performance of the song "Willkommen" had people describing it as their new '"sleep paralysis demon" because of his terrifying movement and appearance.
Eddie Redmayne and the cast of #Cabaret perform together at the 2024 #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/6rYwDIRK4c
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 17, 2024
"Everyone now thinks they have to try to out-Alan-Cumming Alan Cumming in this role, and in the process take it to places it was never intended. I am tired of it frankly," a user said, comparing Redmayne's performance to Alan Cumming, who once assumed the role on the 1993 West End revival of the musical.
"My brother: "I thought The MC was supposed to entice you to pleasure, not make you worry he was gonna tear off your flesh," another shared.
"my biggest hater opinion is that eddie redmayne sounds like kermit the frog and i can't take him seriously in any musical i've seen him in. someone get him in a muppets movie," a third person posted.
READ ALSO: Jonathan Groff Is Reduced to Tears After Winning His First-Ever Tony Award
However, many seemed to have defended Redmayne and his performance, noting that the character and his performance were laudable.
"I feel like a lot of people are unaware of how deeply uncomfortable a good performance of Cabaret is supposed to make you...." a user pointed out.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't cabaret supposed to be unsettling? And isn't his character supposed to represented the grimy underbelly of authenticity? And isn't the puppet movements supposed to show how the nazi's puppeteered ppl in the 30s? Isn't this the point?" another echoed.
"I truly believe that people actually don't understand what Cabaret is about...what Eddie Redmayne did with his Emcee is a piece of art, a remarkable and unforgettable work, scary, twisted, dark and yet clean and beautiful," one declared.
Despite bagging nine Tony nominations, including Best Revival, Cabaret only won one - Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical.
READ MORE: 2024 Tony Awards Winners: 'The Outsiders', 'Merrily We Roll Along,' 'Hell's Kitchen,' More!
