u/RaccoonKlutzy3723

In 1997, while Apt Pupil was being filmed, the parents of a 14-year-old extra sued over minors allegedly being compelled to appear nude in the shower sequence. Other teenage boys subsequently supported the allegations. The DA investigated but did not bring criminal charges.

Bryan Singer, Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro

I recently came across Ian McKellen's "tribute" to Brad Renfro star of Apt Pupil, written on January 16, 2008, the day after Renfro died. After looking into the history surrounding Apt Pupil, I find the tribute increasingly difficult to read because of the context he chose to leave out.

Brad Renfro died on January 15, 2008, at 25, from an accidental heroin overdose. McKellen's tribute was published the following day.

McKellen begins his tribute by saying:

>«"I first caught sight of Brad Renfro when he was kicking a football around with Bryan Singer on the half-built set of Apt Pupil in Hollywood."»

He then remembers Brad as "a kid having fun" and says that this is how he would "always remember him."

That opening really bothers me now because Apt Pupil wasn't simply a happy Hollywood memory.

During production in 1997, allegations were made concerning underage extras and nudity during a shower scene. There were legal proceedings surrounding those allegations. Much later, in 2019, Victor Valdovinos alleged that Bryan Singer sexually assaulted him when he was 13 on the Apt Pupil set. Singer denied the allegations.

I'm not claiming that McKellen knew that Singer was abusing anyone, or that he personally witnessed a sexual assault.

But McKellen was an adult star working on that production with a 14-year-old Brad Renfro. And his own writings about Apt Pupil describe his relationship with Brad in very affectionate terms. So it is fair to ask what McKellen knew about the allegations surrounding the production and whether he ever reported or raised concerns about them**. I have not found evidence that he reported Singer or the allegations to authorities**.

What makes the 2008 tribute especially uncomfortable is that McKellen's chosen memory of Brad begins with Bryan Singer. He doesn't simply say, "I remember Brad as a wonderful young actor." He specifically places the first memory of Brad alongside Singer on the Apt Pupil set.

And there is another part of the story that makes this much more complicated.

McKellen did not simply have a professional association with Singer that ended after Apt Pupil. He subsequently worked with Singer on several X-Men films, including X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016. In other words, McKellen continued his professional relationship with Singer for years after Brad's death.

Then in 2019, when allegations against Singer were again receiving major public attention, McKellen made extraordinarily ill-judged comments about Singer and Kevin Spacey. He suggested that their being closeted had contributed to their problems and that, had they been open about their sexuality, they would not have "started abusing people in the way they're being accused." McKellen subsequently apologized and said he deeply regretted the remarks.

That 2019 statement is particularly relevant to how I read the 2008 tribute today. It doesn't prove that McKellen knew anything about abuse in 1997. But it does demonstrate that, even decades later, his instinct when discussing allegations against Singer could be to offer an explanation that contextualized or rationalized the alleged abuser's behavior rather than centering the alleged victims.

And that's why I find the tribute tone-deaf.

It's not that McKellen wasn't allowed to have happy memories of Brad. Of course he was. It's not even that his affection for Brad must have been fake.

It's the combination of things that bothers me:

• Brad was a child actor when McKellen met him.

• The production around which they met had allegations involving underage boys.

• McKellen's tribute was written immediately after Brad's death and nostalgically foregrounded the Apt Pupil set and Bryan Singer.

• McKellen continued working with Singer for years after Brad's death.

• And in 2019, McKellen made comments about Singer's alleged abuse that he later acknowledged were wrong and apologized for.

So I don't think the fairest criticism is "McKellen couldn't possibly have loved Brad because he remained friends with Singer." People can have contradictory relationships and genuinely mourn someone while making terrible judgments about other people.

The more troubling question, to me, is:

How can someone write such an intimate, affectionate remembrance of a young actor while continuing to maintain such a close professional relationship with the adult director at the center of serious allegations involving minors from that same period—and, years later, make comments that appeared to rationalize that director's alleged behavior?

That's the contradiction I can't get past.

And I think it is worth separating two questions:

What McKellen knew in 1997 is something we may never be able to establish.

What McKellen chose to do with his relationship with Singer after the allegations became public is much easier to document.

That's why I think the latter is the more legitimate subject of criticism.

Let's never forget how Ian Mckellen expressed himself.

https://www.advocate.com/people/2019/3/01/ian-mckellen-blames-closet-spacey-and-singers-alleged-abuse?utm_source=chatgpt.com

>Well frankly, I’m waiting for someone to accuse me of something, and me wondering whether they’re not telling the truth and me having forgotten (pointing to his head) you know*-Ian Mckellen at the Queer as F podcast*.

This thread is your space to speak freely. Use this for your general questions, feedback on the sub, or to discuss anything else on your mind.

https://preview.redd.it/z0peur5zlxqg1.png?width=670&format=png&auto=webp&s=84c1e0ea4092e6ed9ce26f125d9d59e9294fec9e

[DISCLAIMER ON PR✔️D.CT NAMES] I am listing the specific brands I used for strictly informative and transparency purposes. This is not a sponsored post, and I am not affiliated with any of these brands. I’m sharing these names only because I know how helpful it is to see the exact formulations that worked for someone else’s skin chemistry.

​AM Routine (Weekdays)

1. ​Moisturizer: I rotate between Cetaphil, Vanicream, CeraVe, or Avène Xeracalm.
2. ​The Sunscreen Strategy (Essential): * I apply EltaMD UV Restore Broad-Spectrum SPF 40.
   • ​20 minutes later, I layer EltaMD UV Restore Tinted SPF 40.
   • ​If I’m in a rush, I use Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint or ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless Tinted Mineral SPF 50.
   • ​Commute Tip: I wear a high-white-cast sunscreen (like EltaMD UV Skin Recovery SPF 50) for the drive to work, then apply the tinted version once I arrive.

​PM Routine

1. ​Double Cleanse: I use CeraVe Cleansing Oil followed by Cetaphil or Vanicream cleanser.
2. ​Note: Since tinted mineral SPF is sticky, I use paper towels to pat dry to ensure all residue is gone.
3. ​Treatment: Tretinoin (Monday–Thursday/Sunday).

​Weekly Exfoliation (Friday Night)

• ​Lactic Acid: DIY serum . my strength went from 5% to 20%.
• ​The Method: I wash with a 15% to 20% Lactic Acid solution (face and body) and sometimes I use exfoliating gloves.
• ​Post-Exfoliation: While the skin is receptive, I apply a self-made K.o.j.i.c Acid serum, then La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm or Avène Thermal Water, and seal it all with Vaseline.

My goal:Fading dark spots,even out my tone, and a glowy look

​The Progress

​Timeline: 9–10 months of consistent effort.

​Results: Achieved my initial goal of lighter skin, faded dark spots, and a much more even overall tone.

​Photos: Left is Before; Right is After. Both were taken in the same spot, at the same hour, and in nearly identical lighting to ensure the comparison is as accurate as possible.

​The Mindset & Coaching

​Beyond the p.ro.du.c.ts, I want to mention that I worked with an online life coach. While she isn't a dermatologist, she helps people set realistic goals and achieve them. She used information from r/skinwhitening to create my regime.

For me this is step 1.Now that I reached my initial oals I set another objective . My current focus is now shifting to going a bit lighter than my natural tone. Wish me luck!

​The Routine

​1. Oral Supplements (AM with Breakfast)

​Vitamin D & Vitamin C (1g)

​MSM (1 tablespoon)

​NAC (600 mg): I cycle this every 3 months.

​Glycine

​Dietary Glutathione: I eat avocados daily for natural Vitamin E and glutathione support.

​2. AM Topical Routine

​Moisturizer: I rotate between Cetaphil, Vanicream, or Avène Xeracalm.

​Sunscreen Strategy: This is my "holy grail." I layer my protection:

​Option A: EltaMD UV Restore SPF 40, followed 20 minutes later by the Tinted version.

​Option B (Fast): Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral Tint or ISDIN Eryfotona Ageless.

​The "Commute" Trick: I apply a high-zinc sunscreen (white cast) for the drive to work, then layer a tinted mineral sunscreen once I arrive.

​3. PM Topical Routine

​Double Cleanse: CeraVe Oil Cleanser followed by Cetaphil or Vanicream. I use paper towels to pat dry to ensure all sticky tinted SPF is removed.

​Treatment: Tretinoin.05 (weekdays).

​4. PM supplements:

Vitamin c 1 g.

NAC 600 mg

Glycine one tablespoon

Alpha lipoic acid one capsule

5. Weekly Exfoliation (Friday Night)

​Lactic Acid: I started at 5% and worked up to a 20% solution.

​Process: I use exfoliating gloves, apply a self-made K.o.ji.c Acid serum while the skin is "raw" (receptive), and seal everything with Cica-Plast or Vaseline.

​Note: I tried Hydroquinone (HQ) previously, but my derm stopped it after a few weeks due to an allergic reaction.

​Weekend Recovery: On Saturdays, and Sundays I stay indoors, skip SPF, and use a thick layer of Vaseline with a "cold face mask" to seal in moisture.

Holistic & Lifestyle Changes

​This was a total lifestyle overhaul. Lighting and environment matter as much as creams:

​Sleep: In bed by 9:45 PM; up at 6:00 AM.

​Light Control: At 8:00 PM, I switch all home lights to dim yellow bulbs..

​Diet: Organic food mostly; no alcohol or smoking; sugar/processed food limited to twice a month.

​Sun Avoidance: I use tinted UV filters on my car windows and hit the gym (located in a basement) to avoid peak UV hours.

After my derm stopped HQ he gave a light lactic acid peel last November.

​My "Holy Grails"to avoid pigmentation due to heat

​Cold Face Eye Mask: I use this on weekends instead of SPF ( I stayed locked up playing videogames in a dark room) to soothe heat and "seal" my moisturizers. It’s a lifesaver for avoiding inflammation and I think it helped me get protected from visible light from the sun.

Drinking a lot of water

​Environment: I use a silent tower fan instead of AC—it’s much less drying for my skin and better for my asthma

​Discipline: Consistency over 10 months was the real key.

Important: I didn't start with Tret .05, I worked my way up from .001%. Tret was my only active until November of 2025. Simple routines give great results.

​Happy to answer any questions about the specific strengths or textures!