Comments on: Les News, 052209

By: Joanne

Joanne — Sun, 24 May 2009 04:21:12 +0000

It’s called being an ACTOR … if he isn’t willing to go to some uncomfortable places – then he needs to find another profession.

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:37:27 +0000

The same sex ballroom dancers on SYTYCD were not a couple. One was straight and one was gay. I thought that it was interesting and different because I had never heard of same sex ballroom but to be honest, they weren’t that great dancers. Just because it was a different style of dance they didn’t judge them in any other way than they judged other dancers. The woman who was born with 3 vertebrae and danced was extremely brave and was a lot better than either one of those men and she was still critiqued by all the judges.

By: Elle O. Elle

Elle O. Elle — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:13:56 +0000

@Gabi:
Well, a nude scene isn’t going to happen on daytime TV, and I think many actors get to pick out a double, so it’s sort of a moot point, but if his character was supposed to be nude, and he wasn’t given the option to use a double, then yes, he should do it, because it’s his job! There’s many things about my job that I don’t like, but I do them, because it’s what I get paid for. He hasn’t been on the show THAT long, he would’ve known this would probably happen. And in another article I read on this, it sounds as though he just walked off the set before filming the scene. He had plenty of time to bring it up with writers and producers and discuss it rather than just leaving.

@Gillian:
Unless someone is talking about chopping ginger or garlic, “mincing” is meant as a homophobic slur towards men.
As far as the Y&R dude, like I said, he signed a contract, he probably knew about this for quite some time, he should have done his job. This really is the same as someone working in a supermarket refusing to handle pork or alcohol, or someone refusing to fill a birth control script. And I’d say the same thing if it was a woman. The only REAL difference is that lesbianism would be more likely to be shoehorned in just to titillate viewers and get higher ratings, and may or may not have anything to do with the plot. But even then, the women involved would have enough time to voice their objections beforehand. And it’s not intolerant to expect someone to fulfill the legally binding contract that he willfully signed.

By: Gillian

Gillian — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:45:38 +0000

As for the Young and the Restless star quitting because he didn’t want to kiss another man, I would say that’s fair. If someone isn’t comfortable kissing another man, then they shouldn’t have to, it still doesn’t make it offensive to anyone who is homosexual. Also, if the scenario featured a woman not wanting to kiss another woman, would the situation be the same? Probably not, people would be pointing fingers and saying that it was sexual harassment of some sort if the did. Tolerance is a two way street, I think people need to remember that.

By: Gillian

Gillian — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:41:58 +0000

I don’t think Nigel’s comments were homophobic at all. But, when two dancers who have been dancing together for awhile make mistakes and fall during an audition, they certainly aren’t going to be given a good critique. Especially when they don’t determine a leader and a follower in the dance. I think they were given an overly fair chance by letting them go to the choreography round, rather than refusing them right on the spot. The judges weren’t even mean to them, the girl whose audition was shown after them was terrible, and they blasted her for it. Should a person’s sexual orientation really determine special treatment, especially on a dance show? I don’t think so, just look at Lance Bass on Dancing with the Stars.

By: Gabi

Gabi — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:37:47 +0000

So if he was asked to do a nude scene and refused, it’s his job?

By: Elle O. Elle

Elle O. Elle — Sat, 23 May 2009 03:05:31 +0000

@ Gabi:
IT’S HIS JOB! It’s on par with a pharmacist not filling prescriptions, or a bagger at a grocery store not handling certain items due to religious beliefs. There are plenty of straight actors playing gay characters (and gay actors playing straight characters) who have no problems doing their job. So yes, he’s a homophobe, because his discomfort led him to refuse to do his job.

By: Gabi

Gabi — Sat, 23 May 2009 02:18:43 +0000

wow, so because a man refuses to KISS another man, he’s labeled a homophobic? Really?

I’m sure there are many in your gay community that would be utterly disgusted to kiss someone of the opposite sex and would outright refuse, does that make them heterophobic?

By: Cory

Cory — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:22:23 +0000

I’m surprised about the outrage on SYTYCD.

So many people are upset that the judges “confused” masculine with leading and feminine with following, but I think it’s an honest and accurate look at the situation. In the majority of ballroom dancing the female follows while the male leads. Seeing two men dance together (in ballroom) confused the judges (and myself) because one of the men had to follow (a typically female role). Even Mary, the resident ballroom expert, was thrown for a loop by it.

Should these gender roles be forced on these two men if they want to dance with one another? No. But having a fit over one of them being called a feminine dancer for following is ridiculous.

If you’re a guy and want to wear a dress to your wedding, fine by me. Have a grand time. But don’t get upset when someone is confused because it’s a typically feminine action.

By: Elle O. Elle

Elle O. Elle — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:48:00 +0000

Not only is Nigel a homophobe, he sounds like a misogynist as well. When you check out the first link, that article includes a link to another AE article which includes this charming quote: “What I don’t like on the dance show, to be frank, is effeminate boys that mince around the stage.”
So being feminine is bad, Nigel?

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:12:28 +0000

re: SYTYCD judge comments
I’m so happy you put up that link Trent. I heart that show, but was disgusted with the way those men were treated. If you haven’t seen the clip of what happened, you all should. Makes me sick!! Seriously thinking of boycotting that show from that one incident. Such stupidity!

By: Sav

Sav — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:43:01 +0000

OMG. I can’t wait for the day when it is not okay to be a homophobe. At this point people will revolt when someone is outwardly racist but there are no repercussions for being homophobic. Imagine if the Young and Restless guy had refused to kiss a woman because she was African American!

By: nicole

nicole — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:37:34 +0000

that has to be the most expensive peck on the cheek ever.

By: Apples v 2

Apples v 2 — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:48:02 +0000

The Nigel thing pissed me off a lot.

By: It's Trent, Bitch!

It's Trent, Bitch! — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:42:35 +0000

@K – I believe he sold two kisses, for at least $20,000 each … but whatever the actual cost, it was a lot of $$$.

By: K

Fri, 22 May 2009 19:16:35 +0000

Yahoo said the people paid $55,000 US dollars, ($20,000 euros) I wonder which story has it right.
It’s crazy either way! But I wouldn’t mind planting a kiss on him!!!

By: It's Trent, Bitch!

It's Trent, Bitch! — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:15:05 +0000

@Joanna — I pasted the link wrong, try this: http://tvguide.sympatico.msn.c.....htm?isfa=1

By: Joanna

Joanna — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:08:19 +0000

MSN took down the link to the Y&R actor same-sex-kiss story. Boo hiss!