Idris Elba: #MeToo is 'only difficult if you're a man with something to hide'

Idris Elba has responded perfectly to a question about the difficulty of being a man in Hollywood during the #MeToo movement.

Proving his own deeper understanding of the #MeToo era, which has seen a reckoning against sexual abuse in the entertainment industry over the past year, Elba recently told The Times: “It’s only difficult if you’re a man with something to hide.”

The British actor’s response has been met with praise on social media, with Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes and Valerie Jarrett showing their support for the Luther star.

“See?” Rhimes tweeted, alongside a link to the interview.

Jarrett reiterated the point, writing on Twitter: “Listen up, fellas.”

Others agreed, pointing out that Elba’s understanding of the movement is part of his appeal.

“See, this is why Idris Elba is the sexiest man alive,” one woman wrote of People magazine's choice.

The British actor’s response is in stark contrast to responses offered by some of his male colleagues over the past year, such as Henry Cavill, Matt Damon, and Casey Affleck - who have struggled with similar questions about the movement.

Following backlash over their comments, Cavill, Damon, and Affleck all publicly apologised.

However, this isn't the first time Elba has been applauded for his comments on the #MeToo movement.

In 2017 while promoting Molly’s Game, the actor described the timing of the story of female empowerment as “quite poignant.”

“This is a film that was made a year ago, and probably prepped two or three years ago, but to come out when it’s coming out now is actually quite amazing, when we’re seeing women stand up and have a liberation movement of speaking up against some of their atrocities that has happened,” Elba told Den of Geek.