Eve Hewson’s role in her new film, Flora and Son, has divided opinion on social media.
The actress, who is the daughter of U2 frontman Bono, plays a working class single mum from inner city Dublin in John Carney’s latest project.
While the film has garnered a 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, her role in the movie has attracted some negativity online.
Days after the film was released on Apple TV+, Irish actor and podcaster Joseph McGucken tweeted: “There’s something very uncomfortable about watching Bono’s daughter playing a working class, single mother, from the flats, in her new film Flora and Son.
“I know its made to tailor to an American audience, but my god. It’s a shocking, out-dated, out of touch performance!”
In another tweet, he claimed: “It’s borderline offensive. A characateur of the working class without the humor. Exacerbated by co-star Jack Reynor. (Who you know is definitely working class because, yeno… he wears a chain)”
There's something very uncomfortable about watching Bono's daughter playing a working class, single mother, from the flats, in her new film Flora and Son.
I know its made to tailor to an American audience, but my god. It's a shocking, out-dated, out of touch performance! pic.twitter.com/8QzOnbMKUf
— Joe McGucken (@JosephMcgucken) October 3, 2023
Another X user agreed with Joe, and replied to his tweet saying: “He’s right.”
“Eve Hewson, the definition of a fantasticallly privileged NepoBaby, throwing on a tracksuit, gold earrings, a hoodie & a sulky face does not make for an accurate portrayal of poor/working class people.
“We are real people & we are being stamped on,” they added.
He's right. Eve Hewson, the definition of a fantasticallly privileged NepoBaby, throwing on a tracksuit, gold earrings, a hoodie & a sulky face does not make for an accurate portrayal of poor/working class people.
We are real people & we are being stamped on. https://t.co/KkNUX2x06b— Greachán O'Ceallaigh (@YouKnowWhoIAmIE) October 4, 2023
However, others came to Eve’s defence on the social media app – including fellow actor Laurence Kinlan, the father of her co-star Oren Kinlan.
Laurence replied to Joe’s original tweet saying: “A piss poor take on it from you Joe. She’s absolutely brilliant! Are people from the flats only allowed play people from the flats??”
“‘A shocking out-dated, out of touch performance’ It’s called ACTING. Do you know how many people “from the flats’’ were in Love Hate?”
A piss poor take on it from you Joe. She’s absolutely brilliant! Are people from the flats only allowed play people from the flats?? ‘’A shocking out-dated, out of touch performance” It’s called ACTING. Do you know how many people “from the flats’’ were in Love Hate?
— Laurence Kinlan (@laurencekinlan) October 3, 2023
Another social media user defended the 32-year-old actress by tweeting: “It’s called acting for a reason and while I’m the first to call out nepo-babies, Eve Hewson has been terrific in anything that I’ve seen her in.
“She’s far more than just Bono’s daughter.”
It's called acting for a reason and while I'm the first to call out nepo-babies, Eve Hewson has been terrific in anything that I've seen her in. She's far more than just Bono's daughter. https://t.co/6Pe2OxaXp2
— Keith Mills (@KeithMillsD7) October 3, 2023
After winning critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, Flora and Son was picked up by Apple TV+ in a deal reportedly worth $20m.
Alongside Eve, the film also stars Jack Reynor, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Kelly Thornton and Sophie Vavasseur.
The film’s synopsis reads: “Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to occupy him with a beat-up acoustic guitar.
“With the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. From the musical mind of John Carney, Flora and Son explores the bond between a mother and son on a journey toward a new harmony.”
