After Backlash, Andrew Garfield Says Comments On Being Gay Were Taken Out of Context

Andrew Garfield is defending himself after coming under fire earlier this month when he explained how he prepared for his role in the London production of "Angels in America," where he plays a gay man with HIV. At the time, he said he watched a lot of "RuPaul's Drag Race" and that he's "a gay man...without the physical act."

When responding to a question about how he prepared for his "Angels in America" role, the 33-year-old Brit discussed his own sexuality, saying he wouldn't rule out a same-sex relationship, the Gay Times reported at the time.

"As far as I know, I am not a gay man," he said. "Maybe I'll have an awakening later in my life, which I'm sure will be wonderful and I'll get to explore that part of the garden, but right now I'm secluded to my area, which is wonderful as well. I adore it, but a big concern was what right do I have to play this wonderful gay role?"

"I had to trust that it was the right thing and Tony [Kushner, author of "Angels in America"] had asked me and maybe if he'd asked me, it was the right thing," Garfield went on to say. "It was as about doing honor, doing justice and knowing my herstory."

"The preparation had begun before (rehearsals began) with a lot of my friends. (The play is) As much devoted to my friends in the gay community as it is those that passed during the epidemic," he said.

The "Spider-Man" star said that binge-watching "Drag Race" also helped him in his role.

"I mean every single series of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' I mean every series.My only time off during rehearsals - every Sunday I would have eight friends over and we would just watch Ru. This is my life outside of this play," he said. "I am a gay man right now just without the physical act - that's all."

After his comments made headlines, the actor faced online criticisms from the LGBTQ community, with many pointing taking issue with Garfield boiling down the gay experience to a reality show and for gay baiting.

Earlier this week, Garfield spoke with the BBC's Newsbeat and defended himself, saying his remarks were taken out of context.

"That's of course not what I meant at all," he said. "That discussion was about this play and how deeply grateful I am that I get to work on something so profound.

"It's a love letter to the LGBTQ community," he added. "We were talking about, 'How do you prepare for something so important and so big?' and I was basically saying, 'I dive in as fully as I possibly can.'"

Garfield also said he felt "welcomed" by the LGBTQ community and wanted to serve them as long as possible.

"The intention [in my comments] was to speak to that, speak to my desire to play this part to the best of my ability and to fully immerse myself in a culture that I adore," he told Newsbeat.