Bay Windows, MA

Jodie Foster comes out, sorta

by Ethan Jacobs
staff reporter
Thursday Dec 6, 2007

Maybe it was that Out magazine cover, or maybe it just felt right, but Jodie Foster finally came out of the closet, more or less, on Tuesday while receiving an award at the Women in Entertainment Breakfast. The Los Angeles Daily News reports that Foster thanked "my beautiful Cydney who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss," which likely refers to her long-rumored partner, Cydney Bernard.

Does this mean we’re going to see Jodie give a tear-soaked interview to Diane Sawyer, write some god-awful memoir about her life in the closet ("Silence of the Lez"? "The Well of Jodieness"?), and go on a tour giving keynote speeches at HRC dinners across the country? God, I hope not. I’m all for out and proud celebs who aren’t afraid to talk about LGBT rights (Sir Ian McKellen and Sheryl Swoopes come immediately to mind), but Jodie’s determination to keep her private life private has always struck me more as classy than closety, and I can’t imagine that her desire for privacy will change now that she’s confirmed what we pretty much knew all along.

I’m guessing she’ll follow the Nathan Lane/Neil Patrick Harris/Michael Stipe school of celebrity coming out by letting the world know that yes, she’s partnered to a woman, but that she’d much rather talk about her work. At a time when every Hollywood celebrity seems to be starring in their own reality show or having their photos splattered all over Perez Hilton or In Touch Weekly, Jodie’s reserve is a welcome change. I’ll take Jodie Foster over Tila Tequila any day.

I must say bravo to Jodie. She's the first bonafide A-list movie actor to come out of the closet. Granted, her being a lesbian is old news to most people but it's good to see her admit it, compared to chicken****s like Wentworth Miller (who it's well known is in a relationship with the guy who plays Scotty on Brothers And Sisters, but refuses to come out because he's afraid of scaring off the straight male audience which makes up Prison Break's target following, and the fact he's a sex symbol with women).

Wait...Michael Stipe is gay????? Where was I when this came out? :eek: :lol: Serious.


Jodie is one classy gal. Her being a lesbian has nothing to do with what she is first and foremost. She is a caring human being, she is a beautiful lady, she is educated and intelligient, she loves her family and she is head-strong. Her being lesbian makes no difference to me. That doesn't define her. No more than being heterosexual doesn't define me. I love her movies and the way she has led her career without all the tragedy that seems to befall a lot of celebs.

Michael Stipe came out a good ten years ago. He just doesn't really love to parade himself for the paparazzi and has kept his personal life personal.

I agree with everything you said about Jodie. She is a total class act and has always been professional. While she had a few lean years in the 80's before "The Accused" won her an Oscar and gave her an adult career, she's totally defied the child star stereotype. Unlike a lot of actors who work frequently because they want the cash, Jodie works at her own pace and only takes roles that she is passionate about, and she is one of the only women in Hollywood who hasn't been harmed in the slightest by hitting 40. While this might hurt her standing to some people, I think for the most part it won't affect her career as a whole because people have come to expect quality from Jodie.

I remember seeing Jody Foster in The Courtship Of Eddie's Father. She beat up Eddie, LOL.

There goes another fantasy shot to h-e-double hockey sticks!

I remember seeing Jody Foster in The Courtship Of Eddie's Father. She beat up Eddie, LOL.

One of her first roles was a boy: she was the voice of Pugsley on the first
animated version of THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1973-1975).

There goes another fantasy shot to h-e-double hockey sticks!
lol, it hasn't been obvious to you for the past decade? :lol:

There goes another fantasy shot to h-e-double hockey sticks!
Awww don't take it so bad. Now, just imagine her with her girlfriend in your fantasies. ;)

When I was a kid i thought she was a boy, no shock HERE :lol:

Awesome!!! Good for her! :cheer:

I knew that Michael Stipe was gay for the past several years.


It's great that Jodie Foster has acknowledged being, well, not as being so heterosexually enhanced as previously thought. :cool:


Now watch all my churchy friends all get on her case and treat her like brocolli
pudding like they did with Ellen. :rolleyes:

Jodie is sweet and a great actress, i wish she would just come out if she was because being gay isnt a sin :)

Plus just because you may look like a boy if your a girl or a girl if your a boy it does not mean your gay!!

In a few other stunning developments, it was discovered today that the world is, indeed round, the sky is blue, and the Titanic sank back in 1912.

In a few other stunning developments, it was discovered today that the world is, indeed round, the sky is blue, and the Titanic sank back in 1912.
that was funny, lol

It does seem like most people are all "about time", nobody is the least bit shocked :lol: I am curious to see where Jodie's career direction will go in the next 3-5 years since while her sexuality was common knowledge, she never openly admitted it until now. She will definately be taking the litmus test for Hollywood A-list gay actors to see if it affects their ability to get roles or not. I personally think Jodie is so established at this point (two Oscars and her last three leading roles all opened at #1 at the box office, proving she can still draw a crowd) that it likely won't make any difference than when Elton John finally confirmed being gay, he was so established already that it didn't really make a difference in his career.

In a few other stunning developments, it was discovered today that the world is, indeed round, the sky is blue, and the Titanic sank back in 1912.

How clever of you! :lol:

I don't think it will affect Jodie's career a bit. People love her acting and she chooses good movies. It was the worst kept secret going anyway. She also didn't "officially" come out. Seems she more or less put one foot out the door. It wasn't an Oprah moment or something she said in a magazine article. I haven't heard about it on tv or splashed across the web, like I did when Neil Patrick Harris came out. That was on Entertainment Tonight, everywhere, and he's a fraction of the star Jodie is. I just did a search on TMZ.com and nothing came up about Foster.

well, Jodie is a rather low-key celebrity, she acknoledged it while receiving an award, she has never been the type to call People or US up and grant a huge exclusive. She's always been rather low-key, which is refreshing considering how many celebrities whore themselves out to get tabloid/Perez/TMZ notoriety

In a few other stunning developments, it was discovered today that the world is, indeed round, the sky is blue, and the Titanic sank back in 1912.
Let's send this info to Sherri Shepard. ;)

well, Jodie is a rather low-key celebrity, she acknoledged it while receiving an award, she has never been the type to call People or US up and grant a huge exclusive. She's always been rather low-key, which is refreshing considering how many celebrities whore themselves out to get tabloid/Perez/TMZ notoriety
Still, she hasn't said the words, even to a reputable magazine like Vanity Fair. She's given plenty of interviews over the years to Time Magazine, People, etc. She was recently on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, plenty of magazines, appeared on 20/20. No shame in that.

The only reason I mentioned TMZ.com is because if it's big celebrity news, they cover it. They're not covering Jodie Foster's "coming out" because she didn't officially do it.

Let's send this info to Sherri Shepard. ;)
:lol: She'll think we're serious.

I am surprised TMZ hasn't covered this too:


In a surprising and moving speech on Tuesday, Jodie Foster, 45, thanked "my beautiful Cydney who sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss" when she accepted the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at the 16th annual Women in Entertainment Power 100 breakfast.

The award is named after the former chief of Paramount Pictures, Sherry Lansing, who told the Associated Press that she was "overwhelmed to be presenting it to Jodie."

The L.A. Daily News reporter covering the event, Greg Hernandez, noted surprise "at the public acknowledgment of who I presume is Cydney Bernard, the woman who is widely reported to be her life partner," because Foster has always been "so intensely private."

In her speech, which the Daily News described as "funny and heart-warming," Foster went on to say, "I don't feel very powerful. I feel fragile ... unsure, struggling to figure it all out, trying to get there even though I'm not sure where there is ... I've been working in this business for 42 years and there's no way you can do that and not be as nutty as a fruitcake."

Characterizing herself as a "professional" and a "gentleman," Foster admitted: "I always feel like something of an impostor. I don't know what I'm doing. I suppose that's my one little secret, the secret of my success."

But, she added: "Growing up, there were hardly any women in my professional sphere — there was maybe a script supervisor, the makeup artist and the lady who played my mother. I became the prodigal daughter after I proved myself in a family of men."

Foster has steadfastly refused to discuss or publicly acknowledge her relationship with Cydney Bernard, whom she reportedly met on the set of Sommersby in 1993. Although Bernard has accompanied her to premieres and public events outside the United States, Foster has never brought her to public events in America.

But in the last year or so, Foster has seemed to be taking small steps toward making her private life a little bit more public.

In an interview with More magazine in September to promote her recent film The Brave One, the interviewer commented on the Tiffany ring she was wearing, and Foster acknowledged it was "an eternity ring" that she never takes off, but refused to elaborate further. That same month she used the word "partner" for the first time in an interview, when commenting on her acting career to The Denver Post, saying, “I need to have something that doesn't belong to my mom, doesn’t belong to my kids, doesn’t belong to my partner.”

When Foster donated funds in July to the newly opened Saban Center for Health and Wellness in Woodland Hills, Calif., she also donated plaques bearing the handprints of her sons, Kit Bernard Foster and Charles Bernard Foster.

"I just wanted to stand for what I stand for," Foster said yesterday. "I wasn't really interested in living someone else's career."

The annual event, co-sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter in conjunction with their annual Power 100 issue honoring powerful women in entertainment, was attended by 640 guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel, with Queen Latifah and John Travolta serving as keynote speakers.

Of Foster's award, Travolta said: "There's no one better suited for this than Jodie. She's powerful, she's talented, she's creative, she's got a lot of stamina to get things done. So this is her award, you know?"

I am surprised TMZ hasn't covered this too:
There's no real news there, so I can understand why they didn't cover it. It seems to me that Jodie steps to the edge, then steps back, in terms of coming out. It's completely her own business anyway, and I'm a big believer in privacy. Jodie's a very private person, always has been. It's her nature. It looks as if she's getting closer to officially acknowledging the fact that she's gay. If I was listening to her give that acceptance speech, I wouldn't know who Cydney is. If she said, my partner Cydney, I'd know. Otherwise, she could be talking about her sister, or her agent. In other words, unless a person knows about Cydney, the speech didn't enlighten them.

But the thing with TMZ, they don't seem to care abt "official" news items, even if they have just a slight hint of something gossipy or news worthy, they jump on it in a heartbeat. I have seen some of the segments they do on TMZ and I am put off by how they seem to make something "news" when in fact, it is speculation. They have done that too many times with Britney Spears.

But the thing with TMZ, they don't seem to care abt "official" news items, even if they have just a slight hint of something gossipy or news worthy, they jump on it in a heartbeat. I have seen some of the segments they do on TMZ and I am put off by how they seem to make something "news" when in fact, it is speculation. They have done that too many times with Britney Spears.
Jodie Foster being gay is not news though. If she came out, really came out, they'd cover it. Even then, probably not even too much. It's old news, and definitely not a newsflash. Readers would be thinking, tell me something I don't know, lol.

it wasn't on TMZ, but it was on PerezHilton.com about 2 or 3 days back, Perez is just as popular (well, he's actually hated by a lot of people, I meant, the site is visited) as TMZ

Jodie Foster being gay is not news though. If she came out, really came out, they'd cover it. Even then, probably not even too much. It's old news, and definitely not a newsflash. Readers would be thinking, tell me something I don't know, lol.
That's probably why they don't cover it. There is nothing to cover or offer their viewers/readers since Jodie doesn't talk much to the media and she'd surely not talk to TMZ. :lol:

it wasn't on TMZ, but it was on PerezHilton.com about 2 or 3 days back, Perez is just as popular (well, he's actually hated by a lot of people, I meant, the site is visited) as TMZ
Even the article you kicked this thread off, said "sorta" and "more or less" in regards to her coming out. I'm going by your reaction that you really want to believe that Jodie came out. If thanking Cyndey during an awards speech is officially coming out to you, that's your opinion. I need more than that. Too obscure. Gonna have to agree to disagree on this one.

In a few other stunning developments, it was discovered today that the world is, indeed round, the sky is blue, and the Titanic sank back in 1912.
Not to mention the sky gets dark at night, and we breathe oxygen. :brent Alert the media, Janice!!!

That's probably why they don't cover it. There is nothing to cover or offer their viewers/readers since Jodie doesn't talk much to the media and she'd surely not talk to TMZ. :lol:
Does anybody talk to TMZ? :lol: The point I'm making is that we all knew when Ellen, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosie O'Donnell, David Hyde Pierce and some others went public with their sexuality. It was in the celebrity section of newspapers, the one I have delivered to my home every day, The Boston Globe. It becomes official.

Jodie Foster thanked Cydney during an awards speech. That doesn't constitute coming out to me. I never heard of Cydney until yesterday, and I don't think I'm alone there. Who spells Cydney with a C anyway, lol.

Does anybody talk to TMZ? :lol: The point I'm making is that we all knew when Ellen, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosie O'Donnell, David Hyde Pierce and some others went public with their sexuality. It was in the celebrity section of newspapers, the one I have delivered to my home every day, The Boston Globe. It becomes official.

Jodie Foster thanked Cydney during an awards speech. That doesn't constitute coming out to me. I never heard of Cydney until yesterday, and I don't think I'm alone there. Who spells Cydney with a C anyway, lol.
OH shoot, I thought it was CYNDY, not CYDNEY...damn dyslexia!!!!:crazy: :lol:

OH shoot, I thought it was CYNDY, not CYDNEY...damn dyslexia!!!!:crazy: :lol:
Proves my point, Irene! You know a lot about Hollywood, and you didn't know about Cyndy...ooops, Cydney. ;)

Proves my point, Irene! You know a lot about Hollywood, and you didn't know about Cyndy...ooops, Cydney. ;)
It should be SIDNEY OR SYDNEY...:lol: Besides, when I hear that name, I think of a man, not a woman. Then again, with Jodie, who the hell knows. :lol:

I want to see a picture of Cydney. I'm so out of the loop, but did Jodie give birth to her children or adopt? I'm wondering if Cydney is a legal parent or did she give birth? Anyone know?

I know Jodie adopted a boy. I have never seen a pic of Cydney.

Ok here Janice, click this link and then scroll down to the fifth picture on your left, that is CYDNEY, whatever her name is :lol:

http://www.dotspotter.com/celebrities/Jodie_Foster

Ok here Janice, click this link and then scroll down to the fifth picture on your left, that is CYDNEY, whatever her name is :lol:

http://www.dotspotter.com/celebrities/Jodie_Foster
Well, they must be very happy, being together all these years. I thought Jodie had a couple of kids. I don't know much. Jodie is getting better looking with age, I swear.

Well, they must be very happy, being together all these years. I thought Jodie had a couple of kids. I don't know much. Jodie is getting better looking with age, I swear.
She certainly is beautiful. And educated, that makes her even more stunning to me. She is very private. Good for her.

I think Jodie gave birth to at least one of those kids. I seem to remember her being pregnant. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

God, I used to know, now I can't remember. Aside from Dyslexia, Alzheimers seems to have taken over me. :lol:

God, I used to know, now I can't remember. Aside from Dyslexia, Alzheimers seems to have taken over me. :lol:
Same here, it's that 40s thing. :lol:

Same here, it's that 40s thing. :lol:
DAMNIT!!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!:eek:

Let me add, I am cranky too, and a b*tch. It shows up on this board quite a lot...I better behave!!!!

DAMNIT!!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!:eek:

Let me add, I am cranky too, and a b*tch. It shows up on this board quite a lot...I better behave!!!!
You are!? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just kidding, Irene, you know I love you!!! :bighug:

You are!? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just kidding, Irene, you know I love you!!! :bighug:
To all my ladies on the board...:bighug:

CNN was talking today abt Jodie's speech and whether it is her coming out...this story is so old news to me now :lol:, I wonder why they chatted abt it today?

CNN was talking today abt Jodie's speech and whether it is her coming out...this story is so old news to me now :lol:, I wonder why they chatted abt it today?
slow news day. :lol:

slow news day. :lol:
Ya think? :lol: Boy, the news they were talking abt really added to my migraine. :crazy:

Ya think? :lol: Boy, the news they were talking abt really added to my migraine. :crazy:
:lol:

It's great having you back Irene. I was wondering where you went. I hope you're feeling better. :)

:lol:

It's great having you back Irene. I was wondering where you went. I hope you're feeling better. :)
Yeah, I will get better. No biggie, this too shall pass. ;) THANK YOU SONNY.

CNN was talking today abt Jodie's speech and whether it is her coming out...this story is so old news to me now :lol:, I wonder why they chatted abt it today?
I know, I was wondering why this was on the local news only yesterday here

I know, I was wondering why this was on the local news only yesterday here
How weird. Here we were chatting abt it almost a week ago and stating we hadn't seen the "news" on any reputable new source or magazine and here they are now just barely talking abt it. How strange. :crazy:

Wait...Michael Stipe is gay?????

:lol: That's exactly what I said!

http://news.bostonherald.com/track/star_tracks/view.bg?articleid=1062294

Rupert Evertt on Jodie Foster's "Coming Out"

Sexuality won't harm her career

Rupert Everett dismissed Jodie Foster’s “coming out” as insignificant, insisting the Oscar gal is too old for it to have an impact on Hollywood, the New York Post reports. Foster appeared to confirm rumors about her sexuality earlier this month when she thanked her “beautiful” partner, Cydney Bernard, at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles. But the openly gay actor said the gesture was too little too late and blasts Foster for not encouraging closeted gay stars to be more open earlier in her career. “She is 45 and just couldn’t be bothered anymore. After a certain age you can be gay in Hollywood,” Everett steamed. “Before that, it’s not only not good, it’s impossible.”

lol @ Rupert still running his mouth off. Granted, Jodie definately hit her peak in the early/mid 90's, but I'd say she still has far more clout and ability to get a film made than Rupert does.

lol @ Rupert still running his mouth off. Granted, Jodie definately hit her peak in the early/mid 90's, but I'd say she still has far more clout and ability to get a film made than Rupert does.
That could very well be his point. He came out, really came out. Loud and early. Jodie didn't, hinted at an award ceremony, and she enjoys stardom. He took a risk, while Jodie didn't.

I think what really derailed Rupert's career was a series of bad movies, most notably The Next Best Thing with Madonna. The audience loved him in My Best Friend's Wedding, and he also got good reviews and acclaim for An Ideal Husband, but then he kept taking bad movie choices to the point people moved on to the next scene-stealing co-star. He was out from the time he did My Best Friend's Wedding and yet it didn't really affect his career at that point in time.

I see every movie Rupert's in. I enjoy most of them. Not every movie can be a hit. There are plenty of A-list actors making low-budget Indies. Those are some of my favorite movies. I saw Nicole Kidman in an incredible movie last week, Margot At The Wedding. It made 1.5 million at the box office. I'm sure she didn't get her usual 20 million dollar salary, lol.

I think it gets to the point with most actors that they just want to work. It's their passion. Robert DeNiro, he's in some little movies sometimes. They want to work. Short money, not much time, maybe an award or two.

I do wonder how much Rupert's trajectories would've been different had he not done The Next Best Thing. I love Madonna as a singer and entertainer, but if you find yourself co-starring in a movie with her, you know you're in trouble :lol:

I do wonder how much Rupert's trajectories would've been different had he not done The Next Best Thing. I love Madonna as a singer and entertainer, but if you find yourself co-starring in a movie with her, you know you're in trouble :lol:
Yeah, she's the kiss of death in movies, lol. Although, I loved her in Evita.

Yeah, she's the kiss of death in movies, lol. Although, I loved her in Evita.
yep, it took Sean Penn a long time before he could finally shake the curse of Shanghai Surprise off him and once again get great roles.

Jodie is one classy gal. Her being a lesbian has nothing to do with what she is first and foremost. She is a caring human being, she is a beautiful lady, she is educated and intelligient, she loves her family and she is head-strong. Her being lesbian makes no difference to me. That doesn't define her. No more than being heterosexual doesn't define me. I love her movies and the way she has led her career without all the tragedy that seems to befall a lot of celebs.

Perfectly put. Hey, we've all pretty much figured it out a while ago, and its fine if they don't want to say anything directly, but I do give kudos to those who do. Afterall, they're no longer denying not only themselves of being who they are, but their partner. I've known a few guys who secretly felt really badly about their partner not wanting it known they were a couple (his partner was much more "masculine" and in the construction industry). He understood, but I know was still hurt.

lol - I've always loved Jodi as an adult, but didn't like her as a little girl - I know I was jealous of her for some reason. She must have had some part where she kissed a cute guy or something.....meanwhile....little did I know then. ;)