Over the weekend, “Succession” co-star Jeremy Strong was the subject of a lengthy and revealing New Yorker profile that dug deep into his biography and career… and also provoked astonishingly intense, heavily divided reactions from Strong’s fans and friends. For instance, his friend Jessica Chastain, who had this to say: Ive known Jeremy Strong for 20yrs & worked with him on 2 films. Hes a lovely person. Very inspiring & passionate about his work. The profile that came out on him was incredibly one sided. Don’t believe everything you read folks. Snark sells but maybe its time we move beyond it.— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) December 8, 2021 A great many readers proclaimed it proof that Strong is a soon-to-be-recognized genius (full disclosure: We think those people are right). Others thought he came off as basically a real world version of Kendall Roy, the damaged, tryhard failstorm he plays on the acclaimed HBO show. Still others declared the profile to be a hit piece, and some even saw it as a classist, personal attack on Strong by the author. And quite a few people came away thinking he’s a big jerk. Like we said, the discussion has been… intense. Written by Michael Schulman, “On ‘Succession,’ Jeremy Strong Doesn’t Get the Joke,” takes readers into Strong’s approach to acting while winding through his 20 years as an actor. Along the way, readers are given glimpses into his personal and professional life, along with some absolutely delicious — and occasionally bonkers — quotes from several people he’s worked with. The article, essentially, painted him as a dedicated, extremely serious actor whose insistent seriousness is part of why his performance is so widely acclaimed. But the wry tone also encourages the reader to find his personality amusing. For example, when told that many people consider “Succession” to be a comedy, Strong tells Schulman, “In the sense that, like, Chekhov is comedy?” Immediately after, we learn from executive producer Adam McKay, “That’s exactly why we cast Jeremy in that role. Because he’s not playing it like a comedy. He’s playing it like he’s Hamlet.” The article also includes this gem from “Succession” star Brian Cox: “The result that Jeremy gets is always pretty tremendous… I just worry about what he does to himself. I worry about the crises he puts himself through in order to prepare.” The article also hints at — though it doesn’t provide any real examples — the possibility that Strong might be “difficult” to work with, and there are also parts that insinuate insincerity and freeloading, again without evidence or named critics. But generally it’s just a deep dive into Strong’s approach to acting and his intense personality. But you came here for the reactions, not the post, which you can read for yourself at the link above. As for those reactions, we leave it to you to determine for yourself what they mean, but author Anne Helen Peterson has a very compelling argument that they’re evidence of how insubstantial and superficial profile articles have become. The response to the Jeremy Strong profile is evidence is just the latest evidence of the overall banality of the contemporary celebrity profile A lancing profile like this one used to be MUCH more common, even ten years ago— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) December 7, 2021 “Fandoms are so used to consuming total banal s— that anything that feels like scandal or insight feels, well, electrifying,” she continued. See some more reactions below: This is my read on the Jeremy Strong profile also. And I kinda think multiple comparisons to one of the most celebrated actors of the last 50 years leave the subject in a pretty favourable light https://t.co/Rvuh8jgjeB— Chris Turner (@theturner) December 8, 2021 Defending Jeremy Strong on this website? Sure why not, Brian Cox learning to act while having access to the NHS made him soft— Spike Friedman (@SpikeFriedman) December 8, 2021 everything I learn about Jeremy Strong just makes me like him more sorry! this man is dedicated to his craft and has hustled for way longer than he deserved to given his immense talent. of course he plays Kendall like he’s Hamlet. Succession is basically King Lear! https://t.co/XP5HVFpOOB— דניאל (@danielleyounai) December 8, 2021 I do not subscribe to the Jeremy Strong hate. Put THAT on the record!— Denny (@dennymfortin) December 8, 2021 What i took from this is 'Jeremy strong is an incredibly hardworking actor' and i'm really glad to see his stunning work. https://t.co/IQCjdmFEif— Karthik (@karthik_rus) December 8, 2021 actors defending Jeremy Strong after that profile is so funny to me because every regular person has been like “this only makes him cooler”— jess (@jesscacal) December 8, 2021 That @NewYorker piece on Jeremy Strong by Michael Schulman just drips with class contempt. How DARE a middle class bloke from Sudbury become a coffee snob, a foodie AND teach himself to quote from classical literature? HOW DARE HE!?— Yasmin Nair (@NairYasmin) December 7, 2021 Related stories from TheWrap:'Succession' Tops Critics Choice Awards Television Nominations'Succession' Season 3 Episode 8 Recap: The Kicked Roy Kids Keep Coming Back'Succession': Will Gerri and Roman Ever Seal the Deal? J. Smith-Cameron Weighs In......