Damon Lindelof, the writer of Star Trek Into Darkness, has issued an apology for a "gratuitous" scene featuring British actor Alice Eve in her underwear. The controversial scene depicts science officer Carol Marcus undressing to put on a special torpedo disarming outfit.
Lindelof took to Twitter to address fan concerns, acknowledging that the portrayal of the barely clothed actress was unnecessary. He stated, "I copped to the fact that we should have done a better job of not being gratuitous in our representation of a barely clothed actress." Lindelof also noted that similar situations, such as having Kirk shirtless in underpants, occurred in both movies but expressed a commitment to being more mindful in the future.
Fans on social media shared mixed reactions to Lindelof's apology. Kristen McHugh emphasized the need for less male gaze and more substantial roles for women, while user Devon Faraci labeled Carol's scene as gratuitous compared to Kirk's shirtless moments, which made sense in their contexts.
Despite criticism, some fans defended the scene's inclusion. Mark Newbold expressed that Star Trek has a tradition of being sexy, and user Chris Blohm encouraged Lindelof not to shy away from future situations involving Kirk in underpants.
In response to questions about the purpose of the scene, Lindelof playfully maintained a sense of mystery in an email to MTV, stating, "Why is Alice Eve in her underwear, gratuitously and unnecessarily, without any real effort made as to why in God's name she would undress in that circumstance? Well, there's a very good answer for that. But I'm not telling you what it is. Because... uh... MYSTERY?"
