Fantastic Four cast left stunned by racist, sexist interview

Kate Mara, as Sue Storm, in a scene from the film, Fantastic Four. Photo / AP

What is it with morning show hosts and awkward interviews?

First it was Cara Delevingne on Good Morning Sacramento, now two cast members of the new Fantastic Four film have been subjected to awkward and offensive questions from two US radio hosts.

In the frosty interview, Atlanta's Rock 100.5 Morning Show radio hosts Steven J. Rickman and Jason Bailey start off by blasting actors Michael B. Jordan and Kate Mara for not having watched the movie.

"You haven't [seen the film]?" Bailey said.

"You just know your scenes and that's it?" Rickman asked. "When will you see it, or do you not see movies?"

Bailey goes on the ask the "obvious" question about how their two character could be brother and sister despite being different races.

Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, in a scene from the film, Fantastic Four. Photo / AP

"You're white and black. But how does that happen? ... There was no back story."

"There's a whole bunch of family dynamics that could be without the 'obvious' adoption," Bailey responded.

Just to add to the awkwardness, Rickman asks why they even bothered making another Fantastic Four film.

"Why do another one?" he said.

"I mean is it just a reboot, is this just what Hollywood's into - just redoing it again?

"Was that [the previous film] just not the right Fantastic Four?"

Rickman then reaches a new low when he starts commenting on Mara's short haircut and general attractiveness.

"You're way, way hot," he said.

"Why'd you cut the hair? ... Your hair was beautiful."

As she tries to disengage, Mara remarks that, "This is a great interview". Bailey goes on to enquire whether the commentary on her hair is "weirding her out", Rickman jumps in and adds, "I'm a toe guy, your toes are fine."

This leaves Mara with only one word in response: "Wow."

Bailey went on to defend the interview in an email to BuzzFeed.

"I was curious about the brother and sister thing. You have a white sister and black brother wouldn't you want to know how that happened? I did. The other Fantastic Four franchises explain the relationship so I figured with this new hipster version they'd have some different backstory," he wrote.

"My partner's (Southside Steve) conversation about Kate's hair is something that came up while Michael B Jordan took a phone call so I think they were kind of just going back forth in a playful way. As for him complimenting her toes and why people are upset about that...sorry...no idea. Steve likes girl's toes. People should be appreciative when they get complimented."

Watch the trailer for the new Fantastic Four movie:

- nzherald.co.nz