Dame Judi Dench decried trigger warnings in theaters and movies as "mollycoddling," telling U.K. outlet The Times on Friday that it "drives [her] wild" to see them.
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it → decry → them
The 91-year-old English actress expressed the thoughts in an excerpt for Dench's upcoming memoir, "Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?"
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It → express → It
As a stage and screen veteran, Dench claimed that placing trigger warnings in front of productions has gone beyond age limits or sound effects.
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placing → claim → limits
"I think they have gone too far," Dench said.
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Dench → think → ?
If you're that sensitive, don't go to the theater."
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you → go → theater
She added, "By all means, keep the warnings about strobe lighting and gunshots, and obviously there should be age limits for children, but that's about it.
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that → add → it
Otherwise, where will it end?"
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it → end → ?
Dench also joked that trigger warnings have potentially ruined classic stories by removing surprises and watering down provocative content.
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warnings → joke → content
And if you overdo the warnings, doesn’t it take away from the audience’s enjoyment of the story?
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it → overdo → story
Do you tell them that the butler did it in an Agatha Christie play so as not to shock them?
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butler → tell → them
Besides, in the safety of a theater or cinema, I want to be triggered, excited, stimulated, provoked and disturbed, to be taken out of my comfort zone.
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I → want → zone
Isn’t that what makes theater and films so thrilling?" Dench said.
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Dench → make → ?
She also remarked, "And who knows what might trigger people?
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what → remark → people
I have a friend who doesn’t like bananas.
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who → have → bananas
She feels physically sick every time she sees one.
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she → feel → one
Should supermarkets put up warning signs in the fruit and veg aisle?
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supermarkets → put → aisle
It drives me wild."
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It → drive → me
Fox News Digital reached out to Dench's representative for comment.
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Digital → reach → comment
The English actress made similar comments about content advisories in a 2024 interview where she expressed sympathy for some arguments but ultimately suggested those too sensitive should simply not go to the theater.
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those → make → theater
"I can see why they exist, and it is preparing people, I suppose, but if you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theater, because you could be very shocked
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you → see → theater
," Dench said.
In a comment to Fox News Digital, film critic and "Hollywood in Toto" podcast host Christian Toto called it a "sad state of affairs" that Dench's comments would be considered surprising but celebrated them regardless.
"
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comments → say → them
Dench's statement on trigger warnings is obvious, but it still needs to be said today.
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it → need → warnings
It's especially helpful coming from an artist.
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It → come → artist
Almost anything in art can be triggering, all depending on the audience.
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anything → trigger → audience
If your beloved dog died last week, any story with a sick pup can be 'triggering.'
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story → die → pup
Art is meant to challenge us, to question our beliefs and offer new perspectives on older ideas.
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Art → mean → ideas
All of the above might be triggering today," Toto said.
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Toto → trigger → above
He added, "So deal with it or don't consume art.
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He → add → art
The Aporia
