Back on April 26, Newsweek went and posted an absurdly homophobic article on their website that essentially stated that while straight actors play gay roles all the time, gay actors cannot play straight roles. You guys just pray about that ridiculous statement for a minute.
The article mentioned actors like Sean Hayes (formerly Jack on Will and Grace, currently the lead in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises) and Jonathan Groff (Rachel’s new boyfriend on Glee, also a pretty big deal on Broadway) come off as “wooden and insincere” while playing straight. I have not seen Promises, Promises, but I watch Glee like it’s my job, and Jonathan Groff could seduce the fuck out of anyone, male or female, so you better open your eyes, Newsweek.
Kristin Chenoweth, Sean Hayes’ costar and a guest star on Glee, had some strong words to say about this article:
“This article offends me because I am a human being, a woman and a Christian. For example, there was a time when Jewish actors had to change their names because anti-Semites thought no Jew could convincingly play Gentile. Setoodeh [the author of the article] even goes so far as to justify his knee-jerk homophobic reaction to gay actors by accepting and endorsing that ‘as viewers, we are molded by a society obsessed with dissecting sexuality, starting with the locker room torture in junior high school.’ Really? We want to maintain and proliferate the same kind of bullying that makes children cry and in some recent cases have even taken their own lives? That’s so sad, Newsweek!”
Ryan Murphy, the creator of Glee, has taken this a step further by inviting the president of GLAAD to boycott Newsweek until apologies are made to all actors mentioned in the original article. The author hasn’t apologized, but he has attempted to explain his reasoning and point of view on the issue, and nobody even cares.
I’ve seen all sides of this issue in action, and it seems to be more of an individualized thing. I’ve seen straight actors play gay and vice versa with no problems whatsoever. I played a lesbian once, and nobody told me I was wooden and insincere. I’ve also seen gay boys struggle to butch up as required by certain roles. However, my favorite experience with this issue by far is watching a straight man be completely unable to play a flamboyant gay man. If you have never seen a somewhat insecure straight man attempt to do an elaborate drag routine involving a stripper pole to “Proud Mary” in a gold minidress, I highly recommend it.
Has this guy not watched How I Met Your Mother? NPH rocks that role.
DEFIANTLY!
That’s exactly what I was gonna say too :D
I was just about to type that! Love me some Barney!!
Great post. I agree that the guy “playing straight” on Glee rocks it out. I had no idea who he was and it never once crossed my might that he was gay (and it should not matter!!).
Yeah I had no idea he was straight, I thought he had great bedroom eyes, haha.
“However, my favorite experience with this issue by far is watching a straight man be completely unable to play a flamboyant gay man. If you have never seen a somewhat insecure straight man attempt to do an elaborate drag routine involving a stripper pole to “Proud Mary” in a gold minidress, I highly recommend it.”
molls, you shouldn’t take such Glee in your fathers awkwardness.
* Emily
I’m Team “whoever is the dyke that hates the Glee kids.”
“Glee Is Not Going To Take Your FUDGE”
No…they are going to pack it.
I remember reading an article about Newsweek being sold, or they were looking for a buyer. Something along those lines. So I’m assuming that they only printed the article to get some press for themselves so they can stay legit before they sink into obscurity.
newsweek was right. these fags got way too much sugar in the tank to play a believable straight guy.
hahaha sugar in the tank? u fairies crack me up
Rock Hudson.
Ummm….Jonathan Groff turned me on (and I’m a girl) LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS when he first came onto the scene!! I must have watched his performance of “Hello” with Lea Michelle 10 times on Hulu! He’s better at acting straight than most straight actors I’ve seen…
That guy is gay in real life?! Never had a clue! He’s sexy, I’m disappointed I wouldn’t even stand a chance!
The writer of the Newsweek article has obviously never seen Richard Gere act. R.G. does a great job of playing straight men.
I think the real issue may be that, in general, the media-consuming public (in America, particularly) is markedly more open to seeing straight men playing characters who are gay than gay men playing characters who are straight.
I would go to town on Jonathan Groff, gay or straight. He has got the naughtiest eyebrows.
Also – the inspiration for the article appears to be a reaction to watching Sean Hayes play a hetero unconvincingly, but did anyone else see him do a guest turn in Scrubs a few years ago? He rocked it out – he was playing a ‘straight’ character (and by that I mean someone serious and not the comedic foil for once) and it was incredible. He is actually a really good actor – something which was easy to miss on Will & Grace.
I know a few gay actors in the business (theater and on screen), and let me tell you, if you didn’t know that they are gay, you’d have no clue. One in particular always gets typecast as a dad or husband figure, even though that’s totally not who he is in real.
There will always be people who are amazing, some that are good at what they do, some who are mediocre, and others who are bad at what they do. Sexuality aside, acting is not different.
On name: Neil Patrick Harris. He plays the womanizer Barney on HIMYM!
that guy on newsweek is an ignorant fuck. jonathan groff is gay?! D:. i feel sad. and also, i never realised the guy who plays barney was gay either. he plays a womaniser really well, so fuck u newsweek!. i think the guy from newsweek is jealous…hes clearly angry that he cant come off as a straight guy..
In the new episode of Glee: Gay people are meant to stay alone and wait until i angels walk in front of them.This is not their world but its our world too. I boycott on glee
I’ve seen Hugh Jackman be the most flamboyant gay man ever in The Boy from Oz, then follow it up with the manliest role ever Wolverine. His whole physicality changes between the two roles and you would not even know he was the same man. That’s one hell of an actor. Also the same vice versa goes for NPH, who all my single male friends idolise and I love letting them know he’s gay after they quote something ridiculous he has said. They still love him afterwards.