Jodie Whittaker: Doctor Who’s First Woman Juggles Toxic Fans, Gender Controversy

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Jodie Whittaker, who played the first female lead on the popular BBC sci-fi show Doctor Who from 2018 to 2022, has shared her thoughts about her time on the series and the challenges of dealing with some toxic fans. During her tenure, she portrayed the Thirteenth Doctor across three series and 31 episodes. Regrettably, Whittaker’s casting generated both positive and negative reactions. While many viewers appreciated her portrayal as the Doctor, there were others who expressed their disapproval of her version of the Time Lord, sometimes labeling a female in this role as “woke.” This criticism has also been directed at Ncuti Gatwa, Whittaker’s successor.

In an interview with The Times, promoting her latest Netflix series Toxic Towns, Whittaker opened up about her experiences during her tenure on Doctor Who, particularly discussing the prejudice surrounding her appointment and the stress she endured.

Whittaker noted that the crowd was quite noisy, with rage being particularly boisterous compared to compliments. Moreover, the show was unique, as it had become part of our everyday language – Tardis, Daleks, exterminate! Before Whittaker’s role, all Doctors were white men. Although these actors were distinct individuals, they all seemed to fit into a specific stereotype, and Whittaker felt that she didn’t.

Despite facing undue stress being the first female incarnation of The Doctor, Whittaker found it disappointing. Particularly vexing was the belief that transforming The Doctor into a woman would diminish the ability of young male fans to admire her in the same way countless young girls had idolized past Doctors. Whittaker expressed this sentiment:

“The idea that my gender somehow makes me less capable or worthy of playing The Doctor is frustrating and unfounded.

If Peter Capaldi hadn’t done well as the Doctor, it would have reflected poorly on him. However, if I had struggled with this role, I felt like I was setting a bad precedent for other actors. I believe it’s unfair if that were true, but that’s how I felt…It’s never been in question that I needed to look up to men. So it was intriguing to me that some people couldn’t see women as role models. The Doctor remains the Doctor. But also, I was portraying an alien! My gender wasn’t the issue.

Jodie Whittaker Totally Avoided Social Media During Her Time as Doctor Who

When it comes to unfavorable responses from fans on social media, Whittaker opted out of such interactions. As she puts it, “I can’t let myself be swayed by a harsh comment because I don’t read them.” She jokes, “I’m certain people said, ‘I disliked your Doctor,’ but I just cover my ears and go ‘la la la’. I have an exaggerated idea of who I am.” However, she did mention that her time on Doctor Who was enjoyable, interacting with fans throughout the years.

I appreciate it when people continue to be avid fans of my work, as it indicates that I haven’t let it down. When someone approaches me discussing Doctor Who, I find myself getting carried away and talking at length. I can tell they’re trying to move on.

On July 14, 2017, it was revealed that Jodie Whittaker would portray The Doctor. While many welcomed this news, with Whittaker receiving backing from past “Doctor Who” actors such as David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston, Sylvester McCoy, and Tom Baker, the decision was met with controversy. This came on the heels of the GamerGate scandal and the ensuing harassment campaign directed at the female-led “Ghostbusters” in 2016. Additionally, it occurred just a few months before “The Last Jedi” would be released in theaters, which made discussions about “Star Wars” particularly challenging.

Whittaker’s term as the Doctor began amidst an uproar on social media due to the fact that discussions around gender and racial politics on the internet have transformed into a heated cultural debate, which many online communities found appealing because controversial topics tend to generate negative attention and profit. As a result, the BBC felt compelled to issue a statement in defense of their casting choice following the backlash, some of which was sexist in nature.

Lately, there’s been chatter suggesting that “Doctor Who” could be coming to an end. Some unfounded opinions are pinning the blame on the casting of Ncuti Gatwa and Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor, but it’s important to note that even during the Peter Capaldi era, the show’s ratings were far from the peak they reached under David Tennant or Matt Smith. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the revival of “Doctor Who” on television, which means it’s only a few years away from when the original “Doctor Who” series was taken off the air.

It’s been around for two decades that pop culture icons like the Marvel Cinematic Universe have held sway, and this is a challenge they currently face. However, it might not be the “woke” nature of Doctor Who, but rather the franchise could benefit from a break to spark nostalgia among fans. By the time ten years have passed, Whittaker may well be fondly remembered by the younger generation who discovered Doctor Who through her series, just as their predecessors are today.

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2025-02-24 17:01