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April 1, 2008 Jay Leno Asks Ryan Phillippe For “Gayest Look”
Update: GLAAD issued this statement today, “We are proud of Ryan for refusing to participate in Leno’s thoughtless attempt at humor. Under the guise of comedy, the talk-show host is demonstrating a lack of respect for the gay community and insensitivity to both his co-workers and the audience, to whom he owes an apology.”
Jay Leno has apologized. He said, “I certainly didn’t mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize.”
Jay Leno’s super duper good-guy reputation is under some serious heat from the gay community (including me) and others after he made some recent on-air remarks during the NBC Tonight Show which in my opinion were highly inappropriate and uncalled for.
During his interview with guest Ryan Phillippe (whose appearance was keyed to his new movie Stop-Loss), Leno, (57), said to the actor, “Can you give me, like – say that camera is your gay lover …” Despite Phillippe’s instant discomfort, Leno went on to say, “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.”
I was among those in the home audience who quickly took offense, like Tony-winning Avenue Q librettist Jeff Whitty.
On his personal blog, Whitty displays Leno what he considers his “gayest look” – which consists of a well-known gesture with his middle finger. Whitty also asks, “Would you ask a guest to make their ‘blackest face?’ Their ‘Jewiest face?’ I may join the others who have posted their “gayest looks” for Leno – also involving the same gesture – at the newly created website, My Gayest Look.
Leno and his reps have not responded to requests for comment. Take me higher lord, that was so not funny or acceptable and it actually was very homophobic and tacky. Now you love muffins already know, that if Jay Leno asked a guest to do their best “Black impression” everyone would be up in arms, thoughts?
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Erica Nicole
April 1, 2008 at 10:19 am
Leno used to be funny, but he’s not anymore. Just wanted to point that out.
I agree, that was homophobic and very offensive not only to the gay community but also to straight people like me. I didn’t like what he said and it was very uncalled for.
Tiffany M.T.
April 1, 2008 at 11:20 am
I just think this is what comedians do…make people uncomfortable and say sometimes inappropiate things. I wouldn’t be offended or make a post about it, thus giving him even more attention.
Sasha
April 1, 2008 at 11:32 am
If Jay Leno can keep his show, then Isaiah Washington needs his spot back on Grey’s Anatomy.
Erica Nicole
April 1, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Nooooooooo – comedians do not cross the line offending people in regard to their sexual orientation. They especially do not do that during stand up on a stage.
They may joke about (e.g.) how someone’s hair looks like a Chi-chi-chi-pet LMAO, or etc. lol but NOT about someone’s sexual orientation, not even race. And that’s where Leno crossed the line.
R.A.S.Berry
April 1, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Okay let me get this straight….comedians don’t talk about sexual orientation or race? The hell they don’t. Now-a-days that’s 90% of the act (the other 10% is about relationships). I don’t see the problem. I can see if Leno was talking about some gay rumors that were circulating on the net, and this came from that. They were talking about a character that this guy played. If the guy had played a gangsta, Leno would’ve asked him for his most gangsta-est (lol) face. If this guy had looked in the camera and opened his eyes wide and done the lips (don’t act dumb like uhhhh duh, yall have seen the comedians do this NUMEROUS times) and all that, it would not be all this. WTF EVER. This is some foolishness. And why come (yes…why come, lol) people aren’t discussing the fact that this guy was SO uncomfortable with this subject. If anybody seemed HOMOPHOBIC in this interview it was him. Ain’t nobody commenting on that. Just some more BS to talk about.
Honesty87
April 1, 2008 at 12:48 pm
But wait, I’m confused?
When the pictures of Bow wow and Omarion were up, it was ok to mock them and call them gay, which could be perceived as incredibly offensive if they aren’t…because they have a ‘gay look’ in the photos.
But since Jay Leno does this in a different way, it is offensive. Its not that different to me. An I’m not homophobic at all. I do think double standards are pathetic. If you don’t go about making a mockery of people for exhibiting a gay look, then people won’t think an archetype exists.
Honesty87
April 1, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I’ll add more to clear up what I‘m saying.
I guess, what I’m saying is that if we want pejorative discourse to end on anything, we are going to have to stop pointing fingers at people. As someone who is against homophobia, and other discrimination and fights for justice in these areas, I’ve noticed sometimes people’s discriminatory views come from people labeling them and categorizing them as something they don’t identify with. And we have to recognize that its ok for people to say ‘I don’t like this’ or ‘I don’t like that’. And we have to realize, its not ok to point fingers and try to categorize someone for a good laugh. When the finger is at you, or myself, or someone else its not funny.
This Leno comment, clearly isn’t necessarily indicative of this. But it’s certainly a form of homophobia, and it is important to recognize and remember that homophobia is bred, reproduced, and solidified in a number of different ways. Its unfortunate I have to refer to it as ‘bred,’ but it’s a type of ideology that stems from people being cultivated a certain way. These people are jumping on the bandwagon and this may become the new fad. But we have to think about some of the ways we ourselves are guilty for contributing to discrimination by espousing certain views and promoting stereotypes not by how we act, because we are who we are. But how we treat others, and refer to other’s behavior as well.
I don’t expect you to be ‘baby Jesus’ and your blog is fun. But when you try and blend sociopolitical awareness that is inherently contradictory based on previous posts, I can’t help but cringe. I only hope that you will continue to foster a blog environment that can be a blend of Hollywood, while HONESTLY addressing social issues and their causes. Its all connected in my view. Peace. And can we stop with the whole, “if it was race, people would be this or that, but since its [gender/orientation] people don’t care.” Its called BIASED, and pejorative discourse within media for a reason. Marginalization pits marginalized groups against each other to compete for equality and social respect–it has always been this way. Its the beautiful horror of social constructs. Lets avoid the oppression Olympics and address the base of all of the issues—discrimination. That whole ‘if this’ or ‘that’ thing doesn’t help anyone involved I assure you!
rickyluvsit
April 1, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I’m a gay man and wasn’t offended at all. It’s all in fun, and he didn’t mean anything by it. Sometimes GLADD gets to sensitive about any little thing.
imdone
April 1, 2008 at 4:45 pm
i think GLAAD is overreacting on this one, similar to how the NAACP does on other issues. i regularly see on Perez Hilton and other gay-authored blogs reference to “gay face” (notably in reference to Zac Efron) and I don’t see GLAAD calling them out.
ReinventingBlack
April 1, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Overreacting – for sure. Jay Leno is one of the biggest supporters of gays. i.e. Ross the Intern who he actually refers to as his son. So I think he was touching on what the media refers to as his metrosexuality…
B. Scott
April 1, 2008 at 6:03 pm
It doesn’t matter if Jay Leno is or isn’t “one of the biggest supporters of gays” but rather what he said coming across as being insensitive and homophobic, both of which he apologized for.
sorithickulous
April 1, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Well, I do think what he said was wrong point blank period. So are all the racial jokes and what not. The problem is with all of this is that there are way too many double standards. It seems that, in the presence of the right crowd, whether the joke is about sexual orientation or race, it is not always taken so harshly. When will we realize that it is ALL wrong and shouldn’t be said without expecting folks to get mad.
ReinventingBlack
April 1, 2008 at 10:23 pm
In the context of what they were talking about as a gay male I don’t see a problem with it. Jay Leno is a comedian he make a lot of off the cuff remarks. He asked what was “his gayest look” not what look made you most look like a “f*g.” It was in jest. Jay plays with all of his guest in this manner. And I don’t agree that Ryan was truly offended by it but more so awkward about the fact the video which hadn’t been distributed in America would be shown. Again this is just my opinion.
Shaheed
April 2, 2008 at 11:46 am
Interesting! Well, like Mariah Carey says “shake shake shake shake shake it off.”
Znakomka
January 9, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Thanks for sharing your work with us! Your theme is just awesome!