Leno's 'Gayest Look' Gag Upsets Gay Community

[cnredd]

Leno's 'Gayest Look' Gag Upsets Gay Community

Jay Leno has come under fire for asking actor Ryan Phillippe to give him his "gayest look."

Phillippe had revealed that his first paid acting role was as a gay teen on the soap opera "One Life To Live." Leno decided to poke fun at Phillippe's admission when the actor was a guest on the "Tonight Show."

He asked Phillippe, "Can you give me your gayest look? Say that camera is Billy Bob ... Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming."

But the joke has backfired on Leno.

Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q" star Jeff Whitty, who is gay, took offense, and posted on his blog, "Would you ask a guest to make their 'blackest face?' Their 'Jewiest face'?"

And a Web site has been set up so gay rights activists and those shocked by Leno's joke can respond to the talk show host. The My Gayest Look site features people who let Leno know just how his comment made them feel.

The role Phillippe played in "One Life To Live" made TV history as the first openly gay teen on a U.S. soap.

Looks like the gay community has taken the proper notes from the Al Sharpton handbook...

[saltwn]

Are we just going to go around ti pee -toed and angry forever? It is great we are awakening to the rights of various groups. But, honestly, I have some very funny ethnic jokes going to waste while I'm waiting for everyone to assimilate to the Borg.
Poles tell Polish jokes. Jews tell THE funniest Jewish jokes. I guess it's still too early for some to relax with poking fun at gays. That's cool. I wish African Americans would take a cue from Whoopi Goldberg and her man, when he dressed up in black-face and accompanied her to some posh dinner. It was a joke some didn't think was funny even though Whoopie is black and thought it hilarious.
But there's always some cracker out there to grind it in and make a person just spreading their wings feel unwanted. Then they meet someone with a sense of humor and take it wrong.
Maybe someday.

[Yagmi]

Originally Posted by cnredd

Leno's 'Gayest Look' Gag Upsets Gay Community

Looks like the gay community has taken the proper notes from the Al Sharpton handbook...

Actually, no, the "gay community" hasn't. Some people that are gay are upset.. some poeople that are not gay don't care what that pointed chin talk show wanna be has to say. ;o) I am sure there are some straight people the same way....

[Yagmi]

Originally Posted by saltwn

Are we just going to go around ti pee -toed and angry forever? It is great we are awakening to the rights of various groups. But, honestly, I have some very funny ethnic jokes going to waste while I'm waiting for everyone to assimilate to the Borg.
Poles tell Polish jokes. Jews tell THE funniest Jewish jokes. I guess it's still too early for some to relax with poking fun at gays. That's cool. I wish African Americans would take a cue from Whoopi Goldberg and her man, when he dressed up in black-face and accompanied her to some posh dinner. It was a joke some didn't think was funny even though Whoopie is black and thought it hilarious.
But there's always some cracker out there to grind it in and make a person just spreading their wings feel unwanted. Then they meet someone with a sense of humor and take it wrong.
Maybe someday.

I am always taken the wrong way... no one ever gets me.. lol....

[tristanrobin]

There is a difference between telling a "joke" and ridiculing an actor for playing a gay person.

What exactly is funny about saying "make your gayest face"? Nothing. It was meant to be derisive and offensive. Now, I can find offensive things funny - but that doesn't mean they're not offensive.

[crazyflamingos]

Originally Posted by cnredd

Leno's 'Gayest Look' Gag Upsets Gay Community

Looks like the gay community has taken the proper notes from the Al Sharpton handbook...

One dude and his buds with a blog is "the gay community"?

Who knew?

Leno is always making gay jokes. (and lesbian jokes and bi-sexual jokes) I have yet to hear one that really offended me. Guess I'm not part of the gay community, huh?

BTW, I looked up the "My Gayest Look web-page. It is pretty funny. In addition to pages 'n' pages of photos of people giving Leno the finger, there are photos of people with some interesting labels. Jeff refers to himself as a "huge homo." Melissa, we are told, is a "huge bitch."

What? Derogatory remarks are only offensive if Leno makes them? Or is this all a big gag?

My Gayest Look

[tristanrobin]

those are so funny!

[Idealogically Promiscuous]

Originally Posted by cnredd

Leno's 'Gayest Look' Gag Upsets Gay Community

Looks like the gay community has taken the proper notes from the Al Sharpton handbook...

Or you could just be taking the whole thing way to seriously. I hardly think this applies to the "gay" community.

[chuck7251]

Originally Posted by tristanrobin

There is a difference between telling a "joke" and ridiculing an actor for playing a gay person.

What exactly is funny about saying "make your gayest face"? Nothing. It was meant to be derisive and offensive. Now, I can find offensive things funny - but that doesn't mean they're not offensive.

It was a joke.

I also find it funny that someone from Avenue Q would find offense in it... I believe that show has a song called "Everyone is a little Racist"...

[foundit66]

Originally Posted by crazyflamingos

One dude and his buds with a blog is "the gay community"?
Who knew?

It's the same ol' media riff, different day.
You have an example where it's a blogger and a few other complainers?
Say it's the "gay community", and suddenly it's a much "bigger" problem that people will listen to.

Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q" star Jeff Whitty, who is gay, took offense, and posted on his blog, "Would you ask a guest to make their 'blackest face?' Their 'Jewiest face'?"

I see no real response to this question.
Although, there are comic routines that do perform stereo-types of Jewish and black stereo-types.
And typically, people don't get up in arms over that...

What would have been the reaction if Jay had asked for people's "best Christian face"?

The demeanor of the routine is important. Is the focus to laugh AT Jews, or is there a bigger picture involved.
Context is important.

Originally Posted by crazyflamingos

What? Derogatory remarks are only offensive if Leno makes them? Or is this all a big gag?
My Gayest Look

After looking at the web-site, it could very well be a very orchestrated "big gag".
However, I kind of doubt it because the humor at the web-site is based on the "commentary" back at Jay, presumably motivated as a response to his offensive remark.