Jesse Eisenberg Clarifies His Comic-Con "Genocide" Comments, but Doesn't Apologize for Them

"I of course was using hyperbole to describe the sensory overload I experienced," he explained

By Francesca Bacardi Jul 15, 2015 2:49 PMTags
Jesse EisenbergImeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images

Jesse Eisenberg wants to clear the air about the comments he made about Comic-Con at the premiere for his movie The End of the Tour, which compared his experience at the event to "genocide."

"It is like being screamed at by thousands of people," he said of the annual convention. "I don't know what the experience is throughout history, probably some kind of genocide. I can't think of anything that's equivalent."

But The Social Network star clarified his comments Tuesday, attributing his analogy to excessive exaggeration. "I of course was using hyperbole to describe the sensory overload I experienced. I sometimes do employ that," he said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"I'm a normal person who has normal sensory experiences, so Comic-Con was very overwhelming for me. That said, it was really an honor to be on that end of such jubilation."

Eisenberg didn't apologize for his comments, but he did change his tune a bit, calling the San Diego event "wonderful."

Watch: Jesse Eisenberg Spills "Batman" Deets

"That people are excited about it in that way is unheard of and thrilling," he said.

The 31-year-old attended the highly anticipated event to promote the forthcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in which he plays villain Lex Luthor. The film has fans itching for its release, which Eisenberg said feels better than coming out with a movie that bombs.  

"I've been on the receiving end of movies that no one loves and no one anticipates," he explained. "That's worse, even though it's a much quieter press tour."

"You're also the villain in the movie. There's like a WWF-style theatrics to it," added Jason Segel, his co-star in The End of the Tour.

"They expect me to use hyperbole!" Eisenberg added. "If I didn't I'd be the hero who usually speaks pretty practically."

In The End of the Tour, Eisenberg plays David Lipsky, a journalist interviewing writer David Foster Wallace during the promotional tour for Wallace's novel Infinite Jest. In addition to his Comic-Con comments, Eisenberg threw another jab at journalists.

"Yes I have never been on the other side, on your side of journalism. I have normally been the victim..." he said before revealing how he prepared for the role. "I interviewed him. He taught me how to interview and what his process is like and now I understand the pariahs that you guys are."