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Over a decade after being branded as “kind of a d–k,” Miles Teller is working to overturn that negative perception.
The “Top Gun” star has largely avoided participating in editorial profiles since a 2015 Esquire article left him dissatisfied with how he was portrayed.
Speaking with IndieWire, the 39-year-old actor reflected on the difficulties of maintaining a long-lasting career in a constantly evolving industry. He expressed that his career path almost veered off course due to what he felt was an inaccurate portrayal in the magazine piece.
“That was so mishandled,” Teller remarked. “I’ve avoided doing profiles because I realized that if the interview isn’t recorded on camera, there’s a risk of being misquoted, having things taken out of context, or even having events misrepresented.”
“It felt like such a violation of what actually transpired,” he added.
Teller recalled telling his team that he wasn’t interested in that form of press, “Because I’m reading this and this doesn’t sound like me to me. This is not life, so why would I ever want to be a part of something where they can just put that in?”
“So it’s unfortunate that being a good person, that doesn’t sell,” Teller confessed. “People want to click on the negativity.
“If you go to bed and put your head on your pillow and how you treat people truly, that’s what matters. That [2015] interview was like 12 years ago.”
Despite what the public had access to through printed words, Teller defended his peers for being able to recognize work ethic over personality clashes.
“The actors, the directors, the crew, the producers … you can’t hide who you are when you’re on set,” Teller said.
Teller’s truth caught the ire of social media users who questioned the sincerity behind his self-inflicted media ban.
“Ironically, sounds like kind of a d—,” one user wrote, while another, “I mean, a bunch of people who’ve met him and talked to him irl have said he and his wife aren’t very pleasant to talk to. I don’t think it’s because of the press profiles.”
One user noted that it’s “tough how negativity sells these days.”
“I can see why he’d be cautious after that experience,” one user wrote on X. “Misquotes can be really damaging to someone’s reputation.”
Following the 2015 expose, Teller slammed the publication online, and wrote that they “couldn’t be more wrong” about the title bestowed upon him.
“Miles Teller is on a quest for greatness (with a bit of d—ishness too,)” Esquire tweeted at the time.
He responded, “@esquire couldn’t be more wrong. I don’t think there’s anything cool or entertaining about being a d-— or an a—ole. Very misrepresenting.”