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For the most part, the history of TV and movies has been a wondrous and larger-than-life adventure, expanding our imaginations and our emotions. But sometimes that history has gotten weird. That’s where we come in. Welcome to So THAT Happened, a corner of the internet devoted to dredging up some of the most surprising pop culture moments and reminding you how weird pop culture history actually is.
One of the sweetest and most beloved stories in cinematic history is the Tom Hanks’ led Forrest Gump. Through its trusting, pure, and insanely lucky protagonist, this iconic movie explored four decades of American history in a way that was both funny and more often than not sorrowful. And at the heart of all of Forrest’s adventures stands Jenny.
At its core, Forrest Gump is a love story, and a gorgeous one at that. However, there’s a dark cloud over this relationship that we should probably mention.
WTF HAPPENED?
Since the movie was released almost 20 years ago, I hope I’m not spoiling this for anyone. At the end of the movie, Forrest (Tom Hanks) finally gets to see Jenny (Robin Wright) again, but Jenny has a big surprise for him — a son. This isn’t too shocking since the lovebirds had sex when Jenny stayed with Forrest in Alabama. However, this plot point begs us to ask an uncomfortable question. Did Forrest have the mental capability to consent to having sex with Jenny?
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
This question was originally brought up, but not explored, by Vice. Though it’s never clearly defined, it’s clear that Forrest has some sort of mental disability. Most viewers agree that Forrest is mildly cognitively impaired, though the severity of this impairment is never fully explained. Forrest is mentally capable enough to serve in the army and to attend college, but he rarely knows what’s going on. In fact, when he’s playing for Alabama, he only knows when he should start and stop running from the crowd’s instruction. It’s a funny bit, but it seriously calls into question Forrest’s mental limitations.
In order to legally have consensual sex with someone with an intellectual disability, most states require a series of tests. These tests determine whether or not the individual with the intellectual disability understands the nature of the conduct, the nature and consequences of sex, and the situation’s morality. It’s hinted during Forrest’s visit to Jenny’s college that he doesn’t fully understand sex. When he has an orgasm, he seems more surprised and embarrassed than anything else. However, when Forrest shares a night with two prostitutes and Lieutenant Dan, he seems to understand the implications of the night and knowingly says no. It’s very possible that uncomfortable college scene was more about Forrest’s inexperience and lack of knowledge about sex than his ability to consent. So years later, when Jenny and Forrest have sex, it’s possible that he has become more educated and he is now completely aware of the implications and consequences of their actions. At least, that’s the way it seems when Jenny and Forrest do actually have sex.
Cards on the table, I do think Forrest was able to consent to having sex with Jenny. Time after time, Forrest shows that he’s able to not only live on his own but excel, and he is more than capable of making his own well-informed choices. However, Forrest Gump can be watched as a movie about a time in history when we were painfully misinformed, about mental disabilities, sexual and emotional abuse, and the dangers of sex. Watched through that lens, Forrest and Jenny’s relationship takes on an odd tone. I still think Forrest Gump is a sweet and loving story that makes me cry every time I watch, but that underlying question about consent probably wouldn’t play as well if the movie was released in 2016 rather than 1994.
