Jay Leno Apologizes for 'Gayest Look' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Augustus McCrae · 04-02-2008, 08:37 AM

Is this really that offensive or is it typical politcal correctness gone wild.

http://news.aol.com/entertainment/te...01152409990001

Jay Leno Apologizes for 'Gayest Look'
AOL
Posted: 2008-04-01 18:40:05
Filed Under: TV News, Viral Video
(April 1) - "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is giving his most remorseful look after making what some in the gay community felt were homophobic remarks during a recent interview with actor Ryan Phillippe.

Leno, 57, apologized in a statement to PEOPLE, saying his attempt at banter "came out wrong."

Photo Gallery
NBC Strong Reaction to
'Gayest Look'1 of 3 Ryan Phillippe refused to give Jay Leno his "gayest look" during an interview on March 19, but hundreds of angry viewers have done just that on a new Web site, My Gayest Look. On April 1, Leno released an apology, calling the remarks "dumb."

"In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong," the host said. "I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize."

On March 19, after a lengthy chat with Phillippe about his first major role on TV -- he played a gay teen on the soap "One Life to Live" -- Leno asked the actor to show him his "gayest look."

"Can you give me, like -- say that camera is your gay lover ..."

With the audience laughing but the "Stop-Loss" actor saying "I will not" and squirming in discomfort, Leno continued, "Can you give me your 'gayest look'? Say that camera is Billy Bob – Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming."

"Wow," replied Phillippe, 33. "That is so something I don't want to do. Are you just going to embarrass me tonight, or ... ?"

"No," said Leno. "I got more stuff. This is the least of it."

Among the TV viewers not amused by Leno's humor were "Avenue Q" playwright Jeff Whitty and blogger Melissa McEwan, who quickly co-founded MyGayestLook.com to give visitors a way to showcase their "gayest" expression.

The site urges people to send in photos and so far hundreds have participated, with most flashing the middle finger. "It's a fun way to get across a serious message," McEwan told AM New York Tuesday.

The site, she says, "raises awareness about the fact that gay jokes really just aren't funny."

Whitty said he has "no doubt that in the big picture, Jay Leno's a decent guy. ... There's just this one dated thing that bothers me about his comedy."

Sterling Holobyte · 04-02-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augustus McCrae

or is it typical politcal correctness gone wild.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augustus McCrae

Among the TV viewers not amused by Leno's humor were "Avenue Q" playwright Jeff Whitty and blogger Melissa McEwan, who quickly co-founded MyGayestLook.com to give visitors a way to showcase their "gayest" expression.

The site, she says, "raises awareness about the fact that gay jokes really just aren't funny."

Hey, remember when the word "gay" meant "happy", before it was hijacked and perverted by homosexuals?!

PlayOn · 04-02-2008, 10:38 AM

now i know why most stars are crazy. they are afraid to say anything because it might offend somebody. seriously, peope! get a life. it was a friggin' joke. remember those?

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 04-02-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceWillisFan

now i know why most stars are crazy. they are afraid to say anything because it might offend somebody. seriously, peope! get a life. it was a friggin' joke. remember those?

werd

*ClassicPinUp* · 04-02-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceWillisFan

now i know why most stars are crazy. they are afraid to say anything because it might offend somebody. seriously, peope! get a life. it was a friggin' joke. remember those?

Can't we ship these damn "PC police" to another planet or something. That way they can all live together in their sad, uptight little world

Dean Winchester · 04-02-2008, 03:31 PM

I can sort of understand the controversy, tho I think they're taking it too far. Leno kept bombarding Ryan about the fact that he ::::gasp:::: played gay on a soap 16 years age like it's such a shocker and unheard of and taboo. Ryan tried to change the subject to about how hard it was to play on a soap period, but Jay was hung up on the whole gay issue. He was the same way when Hal Sparks was a guest, going on and on about Queer As Folk and the fact that ::::gasp:::: Hal's character was gay on that show. I think it was basically just a big culmination of years of comments from Jay that reached the boiling point with the Ryan Phillippe interview.

However, I don't agree that gays are crybabies, because gays were called crybabies over wishing the gay couple would kiss on As The World Turns, but yet it's okay to show characters getting raped and the sort, but two guys kissing is off limits in 2008

Augustus McCrae · 04-02-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I can sort of understand the controversy, tho I think they're taking it too far. Leno kept bombarding Ryan about the fact that he ::::gasp:::: played gay on a soap 16 years age like it's such a shocker and unheard of and taboo. Ryan tried to change the subject to about how hard it was to play on a soap period, but Jay was hung up on the whole gay issue. He was the same way when Hal Sparks was a guest, going on and on about Queer As Folk and the fact that ::::gasp:::: Hal's character was gay on that show. I think it was basically just a big culmination of years of comments from Jay that reached the boiling point with the Ryan Phillippe interview.

However, I don't agree that gays are crybabies, because gays were called crybabies over wishing the gay couple would kiss on As The World Turns, but yet it's okay to show characters getting raped and the sort, but two guys kissing is off limits in 2008

I was curious about how you felt about this. Since you thought that it kind of went to far, do you believe that it needed an apology from Leno? I understand why he did it. It was better to do it than face the controversy.

Ireneparalegal · 04-02-2008, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augustus McCrae

I was curious about how you felt about this. Since you thought that it kind of went to far, do you believe that it needed an apology from Leno? I understand why he did it. It was better to do it than face the controversy.

Why are you curious as to how John felt abt this issue?

If Jay Leno had told a guest who was gay, "Give a straight look"...that would be funny as hell.

Wanna know why? Because there is NO DIFFERENCE on giving a gay or straight look. That is why there should have been no issue here.

Dean Winchester · 04-02-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augustus McCrae

I was curious about how you felt about this. Since you thought that it kind of went to far, do you believe that it needed an apology from Leno? I understand why he did it. It was better to do it than face the controversy.

I don't really think an apology was necessary, it would've blown over anyways. I do think Jay focuses too much on if someone played gay on a show (keep in mind, Ryan also did Ellen to promote the movie and she spent less time talking about his OLTL stint) but I don't think he's this evil master "homophobe" that militants are making him out to be. I mean, it's nice that he apologized but it wasn't really necessary. He was just trying to be funny, but it just didn't go over as well as he hoped.

Augustus McCrae · 04-02-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Why are you curious as to how John felt abt this issue?

If Jay Leno had told a guest who was gay, "Give a straight look"...that would be funny as hell.

Wanna know why? Because there is NO DIFFERENCE on giving a gay or straight look. That is why there should have been no issue here.

He's a gay man, right? Unless I have read things wrong on here.

Ireneparalegal · 04-02-2008, 05:01 PM

He is but still, I think I would think if you make a thread you are directing the question or issue to everyone here, regardless if they are gay or not.

I am not gay. But I have a gay daughter. Still, I have an opinion on the matter.

Augustus McCrae · 04-02-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

He is but still, I think I would think if you make a thread you are directing the question or issue to everyone here, regardless if they are gay or not.

I am not gay. But I have a gay daughter. Still, I have an opinion on the matter.

I was directing it towards everyone hence all of the other replies. Once he posted on the thread I thought I would ask him directly. I have no clue you why assumed that it was directed at gay people only. No where did I say that.

Ireneparalegal · 04-02-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Augustus McCrae

I was directing it towards everyone hence all of the other replies. Once he posted on the thread I thought I would ask him directly. I have no clue you why assumed that it was directed at gay people only. No where did I say that.

No you didn't say directly that it was geared to any one person. But it appears that you were waiting for someone who was gay to give their opinion and see if in fact Jay was wrong, if he should have apologized, etc. As if John's being gay gives him more credence somehow.

Just letting you know how I read that. Nothing more, nothing less.

Janice · 04-02-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

No you didn't say directly that it was geared to any one person. But it appears that you were waiting for someone who was gay to give their opinion and see if in fact Jay was wrong, if he should have apologized, etc. As if John's being gay gives him more credence somehow.

Just letting you know how I read that. Nothing more, nothing less.

I think you're right, and so what. You've weighed in on gay topics, citing your gay daughter, as if it gave your opinion more credence. And it does. John's opinion as a gay man does matter more, in the sense of a gay person being offended, or not, by what Leno said.

Ireneparalegal · 04-02-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

I think you're right, and so what. You've weighed in on gay topics, citing your gay daughter, as if it gave your opinion more credence. And it does. John's opinion as a gay man does matter more, in the sense of a gay person being offended, or not, by what Leno said.

I think me and John will always see the funny side of stuff that happens to be of a gay issue. That is because we don't see the difference that anyone else might see, such as those folks who felt offended. There will always be two sides (or more) to an issue or story. There might even be some straight people here who think Jay was out of line.

My sister for one.

04-02-2008, 08:37 AM	#1
Augustus McCrae Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 04, 2008 Posts: 562	Jay Leno Apologizes for 'Gayest Look' Is this really that offensive or is it typical politcal correctness gone wild. http://news.aol.com/entertainment/te...01152409990001 Jay Leno Apologizes for 'Gayest Look' AOL Posted: 2008-04-01 18:40:05 Filed Under: TV News, Viral Video (April 1) - "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is giving his most remorseful look after making what some in the gay community felt were homophobic remarks during a recent interview with actor Ryan Phillippe. Leno, 57, apologized in a statement to PEOPLE, saying his attempt at banter "came out wrong." Photo Gallery NBC Strong Reaction to 'Gayest Look'1 of 3 Ryan Phillippe refused to give Jay Leno his "gayest look" during an interview on March 19, but hundreds of angry viewers have done just that on a new Web site, My Gayest Look. On April 1, Leno released an apology, calling the remarks "dumb." "In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong," the host said. "I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize." On March 19, after a lengthy chat with Phillippe about his first major role on TV -- he played a gay teen on the soap "One Life to Live" -- Leno asked the actor to show him his "gayest look." "Can you give me, like -- say that camera is your gay lover ..." With the audience laughing but the "Stop-Loss" actor saying "I will not" and squirming in discomfort, Leno continued, "Can you give me your 'gayest look'? Say that camera is Billy Bob – Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming." "Wow," replied Phillippe, 33. "That is so something I don't want to do. Are you just going to embarrass me tonight, or ... ?" "No," said Leno. "I got more stuff. This is the least of it." Among the TV viewers not amused by Leno's humor were "Avenue Q" playwright Jeff Whitty and blogger Melissa McEwan, who quickly co-founded MyGayestLook.com to give visitors a way to showcase their "gayest" expression. The site urges people to send in photos and so far hundreds have participated, with most flashing the middle finger. "It's a fun way to get across a serious message," McEwan told AM New York Tuesday. The site, she says, "raises awareness about the fact that gay jokes really just aren't funny." Whitty said he has "no doubt that in the big picture, Jay Leno's a decent guy. ... There's just this one dated thing that bothers me about his comedy."

04-02-2008, 10:38 AM	#3
PlayOn ADHD: what I have not who I am Senior Member Join Date: Jun 17, 2006 Location: I'll never tell. :p Posts: 2,745	now i know why most stars are crazy. they are afraid to say anything because it might offend somebody. seriously, peope! get a life. it was a friggin' joke. remember those?
	__________________ Have you heard the ? Jesus saves!!!

04-02-2008, 03:31 PM	#6
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I can sort of understand the controversy, tho I think they're taking it too far. Leno kept bombarding Ryan about the fact that he ::::gasp:::: played gay on a soap 16 years age like it's such a shocker and unheard of and taboo. Ryan tried to change the subject to about how hard it was to play on a soap period, but Jay was hung up on the whole gay issue. He was the same way when Hal Sparks was a guest, going on and on about Queer As Folk and the fact that ::::gasp:::: Hal's character was gay on that show. I think it was basically just a big culmination of years of comments from Jay that reached the boiling point with the Ryan Phillippe interview. However, I don't agree that gays are crybabies, because gays were called crybabies over wishing the gay couple would kiss on As The World Turns, but yet it's okay to show characters getting raped and the sort, but two guys kissing is off limits in 2008

04-02-2008, 05:01 PM	#11
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	He is but still, I think I would think if you make a thread you are directing the question or issue to everyone here, regardless if they are gay or not. I am not gay. But I have a gay daughter. Still, I have an opinion on the matter.