Well I recently joined Tumbler. And then I had to see such really explicit paitings from people which where reblogging mainly normal stuff. I don't have any problem with people having fantasies, but I don't want them to plant pictures in my head. I also don't want to see such paintings and I think they just do NOT belong there.
Also one of my first thoughts was, what do Martin and Ben think about this? Even as a public person I think this goes to far.

She doesn't really criticize the fanart itself, she commented on the fact that she wouldn't want her children to see pictures of their father in sexually explicit positions with a fellow actor. She also said that it's hard to draw the line between someone drawing Martin and Benedict as John & Sherlock or drawing Martin and Benedict as Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch. I find all of this very understandable, and I absolutely get her position. I think I'd feel similarly if I were her.

And, you know, it's not just the explicit fanart. What I personally find more than borderline is RPF or RPS (real person fiction or real person slash). Yes, there are people out there who openly write slash stories between actors and post them online. I don't know if this also exists for Martin and Ben, but I'm almost sure that it does. I'm usually a "to each his/her own" kind of person, but RPF, to me, is invasion of privacy, and I absolutely understand that actors may have a problem with it.

Last edited by TeeJay (January 27, 2014 7:05 pm)

I also think that RPS is crossing a line.  It just feels very wrong to me.

That said however I love my slash.  Art or Fic.  Explcit.   But for gods sack keep it in the fandom.  Don't send it to the actors themselves!  If I were ever lucky enough to meet any of the cast of Sherlock in person I wouldn't use that chance to say, I sure do wish John and Sherlock would shag.  The actors and writers and directors have produced a wonderful piece of art that in turn has inspired fans to create art of their own.  But they don't owe us anything else.  And if that art is brought to their attention they have every right to have an opinon on it.

Sherlock Holmes wrote:

I literally have no idea why anyone would feel the need to be upset about her comments.

Some people should not be on the internet.

Except maybe some fans who spent lots of hours drawing or writing stuff, of which some is quite artificially done, and never meant it to be slapped into the actors faces nor invading their personal space. Following a celebrity on twitter doesn't exactly make you their friends, that's also a serious crossing the line and as far as I can see much more common than not being able to distinguish between actors/fictional characters. Maybe I haven't seen enough of fanworks but I have a feeling it was not about the real celebrities?

Read that, too, and there can't be more than one opinion that this is absolutely out of bounds, threatening a leaving breathing human being, which loves and is beloved by people.
Not mentioning them though, as you can read. Just pointing out thatt I think most of the fans and fan-artists are quite reasonable people, bit crazy, but not dangerous or crossing lines but carefully avoiding to mix fiction and real live. I gues (hope?) it's the minority that Amanda refers to. And she has to protect her children in the internet anyway.
 

tonnaree wrote:

I also think that RPS is crossing a line.  It just feels very wrong to me.

That said however I love my slash.  Art or Fic.  Explcit.   But for gods sack keep it in the fandom.  Don't send it to the actors themselves!  If I were ever lucky enough to meet any of the cast of Sherlock in person I wouldn't use that chance to say, I sure do wish John and Sherlock would shag.  The actors and writers and directors have produced a wonderful piece of art that in turn has inspired fans to create art of their own.  But they don't owe us anything else.  And if that art is brought to their attention they have every right to have an opinon on it.

 
Absolutely agree. I love the slash and fanart too and none of it is intended for anyone else but the fans. I resent people like Graham Norton or Caitlin Moran rubbing the actors and producers noses in it, not to mention every interview that brings it up. Because of that we now have a backlash of sorts that has started to affect the show. Anderson has morphed into the "crazy fan" who has a Johnlock picture on his mantel. And if anyone thinks the sheriarty moment was anything but mockery really needs to reread every thing Moffat has said about Johnlock over the past two years.

When is the last time we've heard anyone associated with the show refer to it as a love story? Yet they will publish photos of Ben and Martin HOLDING HANDS in character (drunk name game) and call us crazy for assuming it means anything other than "best friends."

My love for this show is second to none but this season as left me very unsettled. And I just can't put my finger on why.

Last edited by LoveBug54 (January 28, 2014 6:23 pm)

Interesting, lots of Johnlockers (incl myself) think since S3 that it will actually happen on screen one day. So I can't quite understand the fuss.

The best response I've heard to the whole thing is this.