Tom Holland has turned down one of TV's most coveted gigs—and spelling out exactly why. The Spider-Man star says he has repeatedly passed on hosting Saturday Night Live because reading live cue cards terrifies him, explaining on Amy Poehler's Good Hang podcast that he is "heavily dyslexic" and "I'm just so petrified at the concept of, like, trying to read something and they change." He added that table reads for his roles can trigger a "mental block," so he preps by highlighting scripts and memorizing lines in advance, reports the BBC. Poehler wasn't totally buying his argument, notes Deadline, telling Holland, "You have to remember, there have been people that have hosted who have been fully on drugs, so I think you can do it."
Disability advocates and people with dyslexia say his candor matters. Kay Carter of the Dyslexia Association called Holland's comments "powerful and genuinely brave," while Scope's James Taylor said they underline the workplace hurdles disabled people can face, especially when in the spotlight. Artist Ashley Walker, who has dyslexia and uses images instead of text to make comics, said hearing someone so prominent discuss it makes her "feel happy" and hopes it pushes more people to seek assessment and support. Advocates say visibility from high-profile figures like Holland can help chip away at the stigma.
Holland also addressed the pressure of Hollywood, reports the San Francisco Chronicle, and said of his fiancee Zendaya, "It's so nice to have someone that understands that in such a personal way so that you can talk each other down, or you can big each other up. It's a lifeline. It really is. I couldn't imagine doing what I do without her."
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