Charlie Hunnam has long kept his relationship with Morgana McNelis out of the public eye. While the need to keep his private and public life separate is understandable, it does have its drawbacks. Rumors surfaced that the Sons of Anarchy star and McNelis were headed for a split after a long drought of public appearances. However, Hunnam recently put those rumors to rest after the two were spotted out an about in Los Angeles over the weekend.
According to Daily Mail , fans spotted Hunnam and McNelismaking their way through Melrose Place’s Waterworks showroom in casual attire. Hunnam wore a light grey hoodie and blue jeans with a pair of sneakers. For her part, McNelis wore a pair of grey seats, a black top and scarf to complete a matching look with her boyfriend.
The couple appeared more than relaxed during their outing, which put to rest the rumors that the two were having troubles in their relationship. Hunnam, who also sported his typical flat cap, carried a collection of papers and a tape measure. According to Just Jared , Hunnam and his girlfriend were running a few errands, which explains their dressed down look.
Charlie Hunnam and McNelishave been together since 2007. Although they keep a generally low profile, McNelis did open up about her relationship with Hunnam in an interview with Taylor Magazine . In particular, McNelis explained what she thinks are the main keys in keeping a relationship healthy and vibrant through the years.
“I think the key to maintaining a good balance is creating a safe space within the relationship for both partners in which to grow and evolve,” she shared. “It’s very important to be present and participate in each other’s experiences so that falling in love doesn’t happen just once, it continues to happen over and over.”
Given their recent sighting together, it would appear as though McNelis’ comments are being taken to heart as the two continue strong in their relationship.
Meanwhile, the latest sighting comes after the controversial announcement that the Sons of Anarchy star has landed a new role as a drug lord. According to Perez Hilton , Hunnam’s new character is based off the real life story of Mexican-American drug king Edgar Valdez Villarreal, also known as La Barbie. Considering Hunnam’s British roots and white skin color, many fans were very disappointed that he was selected for the role.
In fact, some fans took to social media to express their distaste in Hollywood’s choice of using white actors for the majority of multi-national roles. This issue is particularly heated following the controversy at the upcoming Oscars, which came under fire for a lack of diversity.
“Charlie Hunnam as La Barbie in American Drug Lord. Who is gonna play El Chapo? Ben Affleck?” one user posted to Twitter.
“Hollywood: Quick to fin Latinos to play drug dealers as background characters but will cast a white man for the lead to play El Barbie,” another Twitter user wrote.
For those that do not know, Villarreal was referred to La Barbie because of his light skin tone, blonde hair, and blue eyes. La Barbie was born in Texas and actually became the first United States citizen to become a leader in the Mexican drug cartel.
Although Hunnam does not look anything like a Mexican-American drug lord, he certainly has the experience to play that type of role. Even still, it will be interesting to see how the majority of fans react to Hunnam’s new role and whether or not their reactions will impact box office numbers.
Hunnam has yet to respond to the controversy surrounding his newest role.
Tell us! What do you think of Charlie Hunnam playing La Barbie in American Drug Lord ? Let us know in the comments below.
[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]