Gay Rights Group: ''American Idol' Is Homophobic' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zebra 3 · 01-23-2006, 12:38 PM

(WENN) Bosses at America's leading gay rights group are demanding a summit meeting with the producers of TV talent show American Idol after claiming the program is "increasingly homophobic." Officials at the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) were appalled by homophobic remarks made by judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on the first show of the new season, which aired in America on Tuesday. On the program, Brit Cowell told one effeminate wannabe to "shave off your beard and wear a dress," while Jackson asked another audition hopeful, "Are you a girl?" Both contestants were rejected. Now GLAAD bosses are fighting back, demanding an audience with Idol bosses. A spokesman tells entertainment news website TMZ.com, "GLAAD is reaching out to the show's producers to discuss our concerns and the concerns of community members and allies, who have contacted us about this matter."

Karen* · 01-23-2006, 01:49 PM

WTF?

Dean Winchester · 01-23-2006, 01:52 PM

god, how stupid. I don't watch Idol but I doubt it's that bad... remember how many rumors have (and still do) circulated about Clay's orientation. If they were so caught up about that stuff, they would've dismissed someone like him before the show even started.

vashti1999 · 01-23-2006, 02:50 PM

I did have a problem with Simon's comment to the one dude about shaving off the facial hair and putting on a dress. It just didn't make any sense and was uncalled for in the context of the audition. As for Randy asking the other contestant if he was a girl, I can't say I blame him for asking. I don't think that had anything to do with homophobia, it was more about this one person being a bit "out there." They do that with contestants who one would assume is straight too. They crack on overweight people, they crack on the way people dress, they crack on the way people sing. The reason those two contestants were rejected had nothing to do with them possibly being gay. If the show is homophobic, that's just one in a list of things someone may be offended by. No big deal.

EmoJoe · 01-23-2006, 03:46 PM

so what were they supposed to do, let the guys who sounded like girls through just to please gay people?

i dont mind gay people, im not like "OMG GAY MARRIAGE IS WRONG!!11!!!!" but yeah when they do things like this, its kinda stupid.

he also made comments about fat people- do you see fat people sueing?

Dean Winchester · 01-23-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarrieCrazed

so what were they supposed to do, let the guys who sounded like girls through just to please gay people?

i dont mind gay people, im not like "OMG GAY MARRIAGE IS WRONG!!11!!!!" but yeah when they do things like this, its kinda stupid.

he also made comments about fat people- do you see fat people sueing?

well, some guys sound good with a high falsetto style voice, like Barry Gibb and Prince at times, and Toni Braxton has one of the most masculine voices in the business and it sounds great on her. So if the voice sounds good, I don't see why not?

EmoJoe · 01-23-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUNG UP!

well, some guys sound good with a high falsetto style voice, like Barry Gibb and Prince at times, and Toni Braxton has one of the most masculine voices in the business and it sounds great on her. So if the voice sounds good, I don't see why not?

well...the auditioners WERENT good....

Dr. Thong · 01-23-2006, 06:57 PM

The people on both sides of the issue need to "get a life."

EmoJoe · 01-23-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The people on both sides of the issue need to "get a life."

then what side are you gonna be on? o_O

Heart Shaped Box · 01-23-2006, 07:31 PM

Well, I didn't see the part where Simon said about "shaving your beard..", but I saw the one where Randy asked the guy if he was a girl. He got so like emotional about it, and I'm not trying to be mean, but hello! The guy practically dressed up like a girl, talked like a girl, and even had a girl hairstyle. Does that guy think that everyone will be able to tell what kind of sex he is?

EmoJoe · 01-23-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heart Shaped Box

Well, I didn't see the part where Simon said about "shaving your beard..", but I saw the one where Randy asked the guy if he was a girl. He got so like emotional about it, and I'm not trying to be mean, but hello! The guy practically dressed up like a girl, talked like a girl, and even had a girl hairstyle. Does that guy think that everyone will be able to tell what kind of sex he is?

Lexx82 · 01-23-2006, 08:22 PM

so lemme get this str8...eventhough archie bunker was a fictional character and in that time it was "ok" to get away with homophobic lines....but the people LOVED archie bunker...bigot or not

Simon cowell is 1 funny dude....i wish he had his own reality show...i dont mind what he says about "gay people" i mean damn he makes fun of fat people too....any type for that matter.....clay aiken...has simon ever said anything homphobic about him? no but the rest of the world does

the problem is not that thier gay but they CANT SING! and they make a fool out of themselves!!!!....and ur gonna tell me that girl/guy doesnt look like a girl? i mean cmon it looks like he/she got a sex change can u blame randy?????

Dean Winchester · 01-23-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexx82

and ur gonna tell me that girl/guy doesnt look like a girl? i mean cmon it looks like he/she got a sex change can u blame randy?????

well, androgynous performers are nothing new. Most people thought Boy George was a girl the first time they saw him, but still thought he had a good singing voice (before he got all into cocaine and heroin).

platinumblondelife · 01-23-2006, 10:51 PM

I found Simon's comments pretty homophobic. I don't understand why he wouldnt know it would be seen like that...the guy he told to wear a dress and become a woman did not sound that bad, and Simon pretty much humiliated him for his sexuality on national tv. Simon did not even criticize his singing, his only comment was to tell a gay person they should be a cross-dresser. The guy looked like he was on the verge of tears, and you could tell that his feelings were hurt beyond just "you sounded terrible" or whatever. I think even Ryan knew what Simon said was really wrong...

friendsfan77 · 01-24-2006, 10:22 PM

As for Randy's reaction to the guy that looked like a girl. He really didn't know! I'm gay myself and I wasn't offended. I don't think a lot of people knew what gender he was! I know I didn't. He or GLAAD shouldn't blame homophobia for being rejected. I hate when people play those kind of cards when they don't get their way (i.e. the race, sexist cards) and it really didn't happen like that. He should just face the facts that he was bad. That's why he didn't make it to Hollywood. It would have been different if they said "No matter what you are, you're not coming regardless. We don't care if you can sing or not. No way Not if you're like that." But they didn't say that. They gave him a chance. No matter what gender he is, it would not have helped him gain a decent singing voice. The boy was bad. He sucks as a singer. Period. GLAAD needs to chill about this.

Also, I do agree as well that comment to the other guy about shaving facial hair and getting a dress was out of line.

01-23-2006, 12:38 PM	#1
Zebra 3 Striped Tomato Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 26, 2002 Location: Bay City Posts: 5,812	Gay Rights Group: ''American Idol' Is Homophobic' (WENN) Bosses at America's leading gay rights group are demanding a summit meeting with the producers of TV talent show American Idol after claiming the program is "increasingly homophobic." Officials at the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) were appalled by homophobic remarks made by judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson on the first show of the new season, which aired in America on Tuesday. On the program, Brit Cowell told one effeminate wannabe to "shave off your beard and wear a dress," while Jackson asked another audition hopeful, "Are you a girl?" Both contestants were rejected. Now GLAAD bosses are fighting back, demanding an audience with Idol bosses. A spokesman tells entertainment news website TMZ.com, "GLAAD is reaching out to the show's producers to discuss our concerns and the concerns of community members and allies, who have contacted us about this matter."
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01-23-2006, 01:49 PM	#2
Karen* paradox. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 28,365	WTF?
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01-23-2006, 02:50 PM	#4
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	I did have a problem with Simon's comment to the one dude about shaving off the facial hair and putting on a dress. It just didn't make any sense and was uncalled for in the context of the audition. As for Randy asking the other contestant if he was a girl, I can't say I blame him for asking. I don't think that had anything to do with homophobia, it was more about this one person being a bit "out there." They do that with contestants who one would assume is straight too. They crack on overweight people, they crack on the way people dress, they crack on the way people sing. The reason those two contestants were rejected had nothing to do with them possibly being gay. If the show is homophobic, that's just one in a list of things someone may be offended by. No big deal.
	__________________ .

01-23-2006, 03:46 PM	#5
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478	so what were they supposed to do, let the guys who sounded like girls through just to please gay people? i dont mind gay people, im not like "OMG GAY MARRIAGE IS WRONG!!11!!!!" but yeah when they do things like this, its kinda stupid. he also made comments about fat people- do you see fat people sueing?
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01-23-2006, 06:57 PM	#8
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	The people on both sides of the issue need to "get a life."
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01-23-2006, 01:52 PM	#3
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	god, how stupid. I don't watch Idol but I doubt it's that bad... remember how many rumors have (and still do) circulated about Clay's orientation. If they were so caught up about that stuff, they would've dismissed someone like him before the show even started.

01-23-2006, 07:31 PM	#10
Heart Shaped Box Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 16, 2005 Location: New York Posts: 2,510	Well, I didn't see the part where Simon said about "shaving your beard..", but I saw the one where Randy asked the guy if he was a girl. He got so like emotional about it, and I'm not trying to be mean, but hello! The guy practically dressed up like a girl, talked like a girl, and even had a girl hairstyle. Does that guy think that everyone will be able to tell what kind of sex he is?
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01-23-2006, 08:22 PM	#12
Lexx82 The Honeymooners #1 Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 23, 2006 Location: Jerz Posts: 262	so lemme get this str8...eventhough archie bunker was a fictional character and in that time it was "ok" to get away with homophobic lines....but the people LOVED archie bunker...bigot or not Simon cowell is 1 funny dude....i wish he had his own reality show...i dont mind what he says about "gay people" i mean damn he makes fun of fat people too....any type for that matter.....clay aiken...has simon ever said anything homphobic about him? no but the rest of the world does the problem is not that thier gay but they CANT SING! and they make a fool out of themselves!!!!....and ur gonna tell me that girl/guy doesnt look like a girl? i mean cmon it looks like he/she got a sex change can u blame randy?????
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01-23-2006, 10:51 PM	#14
platinumblondelife smooches. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 14, 2005 Posts: 2,189	I found Simon's comments pretty homophobic. I don't understand why he wouldnt know it would be seen like that...the guy he told to wear a dress and become a woman did not sound that bad, and Simon pretty much humiliated him for his sexuality on national tv. Simon did not even criticize his singing, his only comment was to tell a gay person they should be a cross-dresser. The guy looked like he was on the verge of tears, and you could tell that his feelings were hurt beyond just "you sounded terrible" or whatever. I think even Ryan knew what Simon said was really wrong...
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01-24-2006, 10:22 PM	#15
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	As for Randy's reaction to the guy that looked like a girl. He really didn't know! I'm gay myself and I wasn't offended. I don't think a lot of people knew what gender he was! I know I didn't. He or GLAAD shouldn't blame homophobia for being rejected. I hate when people play those kind of cards when they don't get their way (i.e. the race, sexist cards) and it really didn't happen like that. He should just face the facts that he was bad. That's why he didn't make it to Hollywood. It would have been different if they said "No matter what you are, you're not coming regardless. We don't care if you can sing or not. No way Not if you're like that." But they didn't say that. They gave him a chance. No matter what gender he is, it would not have helped him gain a decent singing voice. The boy was bad. He sucks as a singer. Period. GLAAD needs to chill about this. Also, I do agree as well that comment to the other guy about shaving facial hair and getting a dress was out of line.