Jason Bateman apparently did not have a Brat summer in 2024 as he was left floundering in an ’embarrassing’ interview with Charli XCX.
The Chains of Love singer was on his Smartless podcast to promote the Wuthering Heights movie, which she soundtracked.
Unfortunately for all involved, including co-host Sean Hayes, the chat devolved into a rather awkward discussion about kids about 20 minutes in.
Charli was speaking about how she handles conflict compared to her friends, reflecting that this may stem from being an only child.
Jason wondered if that would mean she wants to ‘have more than one kid’ or one ‘who has the same experience as you?’
‘I actually don’t really want to have kids,’ the 33-year-old replied, prompting surprise from the Zootropolis actor and his co-host Sean.
Sean asked ‘why’ before noting that was ‘really none of his business’, adding that he and his partner do not have kids.
Charli acknowledged she ‘might change her mind’ before explaining her reasoning, revealing she likes the thought of naming a child, as that sounds ‘so fun’.
‘That is exactly a sign to me to why I should not have one,’ she continued. ‘The fact that that feels like the coolest part about it and like, maybe I’m not ready, you know?’
In an attempt to connect with Charli, Jason shared the story of his wife, Amanda Anka, who he said didn’t want kids before they met.
The pair now have two daughters, Francesca Nora Bateman and Maple Sylvie Bateman, born in 2009 and 2012, respectively.
This is where things turned awkward as he told Charli she ‘might find somebody’ who changes her mind.
‘I’m married,’ Charli quipped, having tied the knot with The 1975’s George Daniel last year.
Jason admitted he needed to ‘pick up a newspaper’ with the singer graciously saying she knew where he was going with his story and had been excited to respond.
Trying to recover, he said maybe her ‘next husband’ will be the one to change her mind, to which she laughed in agreement before it cut to an ad break.
While Charli laughed off the uncomfortable moment, fans online have been less impressed with Jason’s ‘outdated’ and ‘sexist’ comment.
RottenBrunette on X branded it an ‘incredibly rough listening experience’, calling it ‘bad enough’ that he even posed the question in the first place, let alone telling her she’ll change her mind.
‘I always forget certain celebrities I like are old and still think like this,’ quipped rachellacroixs.
Buturlosingit added: ‘This is such a bad interview overall, what do you mean Bateman didn’t even know what brat was… I’m so embarrassed for them.’
‘Sometimes you have to laugh at sexism so you don’t cry man,’ said nosebleedportr8. ‘It always makes smart people look stupid to be sexist too, because if they did the bare minimum of background research by listening to brat they’d know she’s *already* thought this through.’
Charli released the track I Think About It All The Time, ruminating on the possibility she will want kids after she has ‘run out of time’.
‘I think about it all the time / That I might run out of time,’ she sings. ‘Cause maybe one day I might / If I don’t run out of time / Would it give my life a new purpose?’
Fans pointed out how ‘disrespectful’ it was that Charli ended up having to explain Brat to Jason, who they claimed had done ‘no research’.
During the chat, she told him, ‘it was only a cultural phenomenon,’ when he had no idea Kamala Harris’ green-themed presidential campaign was a reference to her.
At the end of the episode, Will Arnett appeared, having missed out on the interview, praising Charli as an ‘impressive artist and person’.
Metro has reached out to Jason’s team for comment.
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