More than 10 years after an Esquire profile he says misrepresented him as an “a**hole,” Miles Teller is finally speaking again. In a new IndieWire profile published Tuesday, the Top Gun: Maverick star revisits his 2015 media ban, his frustration with being mis
Miles Teller is rewriting the narrative.
In a new profile with IndieWire published on Tuesday, the Top Gun: Maverick star reflected on his infamous 2015 interview with Esquire, which in his opinion painted him as an “a**hole.”
The moment still hangs over him. In August 2015. at age 28. Teller appeared as Esquire’s August 2015 cover star. and the outlet did not hold back—calling him a “d**k” while highlighting what it framed as his defensiveness. Around the same time. the outlet tweeted: “Miles Teller is on a quest for greatness (with a bit of d**kishness too)”.
Teller fired back publicly on Twitter. He wrote, “@esquire couldn’t be more wrong. I don’t think there’s anything cool or entertaining about being a d**k or an a**hole. Very misrepresenting.”
That backlash didn’t fade into the background. Because of the disparaging article, the Whiplash actor adopted a media ban, promising he wouldn’t participate for any kind of similar interviews going forward. But more than 10 years later, he’s ready to reflect.
In his conversation with IndieWire, the now-39-year-old said, “That was so mishandled. The reason why I have not done profiles is because I said, ‘Wow, if I’m not doing this interview on camera, this person can misquote things or put things out of order or say things that didn’t happen.’”
He kept going, describing what the experience felt like in the aftermath. “It felt like such a violation of what actually transpired. I told my team. ‘Guys. I don’t think I’m doing this again. because I’m reading this and this doesn’t sound like me to me. This is not life. so why would I ever want to be a part of something where they can just put that in?’”.
For Teller, it wasn’t just about one bad article—it was about how negativity gets rewarded. “So it’s unfortunate that being a good person, that doesn’t sell. People want to click on the negativity. If you go to bed and put your head on your pillow and how you treat people truly. that’s what matters. That [2015] interview was like 12 years ago.”.
Even in making his case, he sounded appreciative of the people around him—the ones who can see past headlines. “The actors, the directors, the crew, the producers … you can’t hide who you are when you’re on set.”
Online, fans responded with sharp disagreement and even sharper takes. One wrote. “Ironically. sounds like kind of a d**k.” Another said. “I mean. a bunch of people who’ve met him and talked to him irl have said he and his wife aren’t very pleasant to talk to. I don’t think it’s because of the press profiles.”.
Some comments dug into the broader story around Teller himself—pointing to a moment involving FANT4STIC director Josh [Trank]. One fan wrote, “He literally got into a fist fight with Josh [Trank], the director of FANT4STIC, on the set of the movie.”
Others stayed closer to Teller’s explanation about misquotation and damage to reputation. “tough how negativity sells these days,” a commenter wrote. Another added, “I can see why he’d be cautious after that experience. Misquotes can be really damaging to someone’s reputation.”
One reader took issue with his framing even while defending the concern. “In his defense. this interviewer just sounds like an annoying person.” Another offered a practical solution: “There is a very simple solution and it’s unclear why the miles teller team doesn’t advise him to do this. Teller can simply let the interviewer know that he records all interviews for himself as backup in case. And if the interviewer is recording as well, then great.”.
And for those still unconvinced by the “good person” line. the skepticism was direct: “Anyone who calls themselves a good person — Not saying you’re not. but — I’m cautious of people like that.” Another echoed that sentiment in its own way: “ ‘It’s unfortunate being a good person’ is exactly what a dick would say.”.
Where that leaves the actor is the same place his decision started: in the tension between how celebrities are portrayed and how they believe they were actually treated—and how hard it can be to regain control of the story once it’s already on the cover.
Miles Teller IndieWire Esquire Top Gun: Maverick Whiplash Josh Trank FANT4STIC media ban profiles interviews celebrity news entertainment
So Esquire basically called him names and now he’s just “speaking again” lol. I don’t blame him if it was messed up.
Wait I thought this was about Top Gun Maverick publicity? Like he banned interviews but then came back for Indiewire? Doesn’t make sense to me.
Esquire doing that is wild, but also like… if you’re famous they’re always gonna spin stuff. Sounds like he should’ve sued back then instead of waiting 10+ years. Idk, just feels like drama.
This is why I stopped reading interviews, everybody gets painted as the bad guy. They literally tweeted “quest for greatness”?? That sounds like PR talk, not journalism. Also he said “misquote” but twitter screenshots are always outta context too, so who knows.