Breaking news... Isaiah Washington has agreed to tape a public service announcement for GLAAD. Hmmm. Here's a possible PSA for him: "Don't call people faggots. Even if they're faggots."
What's interesting about the latest Grey's Anatomy homophobic flare-up is the way the show's creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes, and ABC, seem quite willing to allow actor Isaiah Washington to get away with using (and then lying about using) the slur "faggot" to denigrate gay cast member T.R. Knight. If an actor used a racist or anti-Semitic slur against a fellow actor, would the response from producer and network be so benign? It's another sign of how acceptable casual homophobia remains, even among Hollywood uber-liberals.
Update. IGF's critique brings powerful to heel? Well, probably not. But according to the AP:
...on Thursday, ABC chastised Washington for using the term "faggot" about Knight in an on-set dustup in October with co-star Patrick Dempsey and then using the slur again at this week's Golden Globes as he denied ever uttering it.
Later Thursday, Washington, who's gotten hold of the biggest role of his career on "Grey's Anatomy," conceded using the invective and issued a heartfelt apology. But it remained to be seen whether it would mollify Knight or co-star Katherine Heigl, who had leaped to his defense.
I wonder if, this time, Washington actually knows what's in the apology being attributed to him.
Still more. I guess now it's a real story , with the NYT giving it major play.
Washington says Chastity Bono made him the "GLAAD poster boy" for his portrayal of a gay man in Spike Lee's "Get On The Bus." Then again, GLAAD can never resist going gaga over "inclusive" representations of gays of color, particularly in leftwing message films.
Still even more. Embattled 'Grey's' Star Now Headed to Rehab... Maybe he'll meet up with Mark Foley.
25 Comments for “Anatomy of a Slur.”
posted by ReganDuCasse on
Oh…the irony. Straight actors get their milk and bread playing gay too.
Isaiah Washington played half of a gay couple on their way to the Million Man March in Spike Lee’s “Get On The Bus”.
Using gay life to pay your bills, Isaiah?
You said it, you meant it, now go an apologize for it.
And I agree, shame on the producers at GA for letting him get away with it.
There are PLENTY of beautiful dark brothers that can fill in that role on GA.
Maybe he’ll appreciate what it means to be gay in Hollywood, since he can’t appreciate being BLACK in Hollywood!
posted by Roy X. Penguin on
He is up for a NAACP Image Award. Here is the e-mail address of the NAACP Image Awards if you feel like writing them.
imageawards@naacpnet.org
posted by CPT_Doom on
What’s interesting about the latest Grey’s Anatomy homophobic flare-up is the way the show’s creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes, and ABC, seem quite willing to allow actor Isaiah Washington to get away with using (and then lying about using) the slur “faggot” to denigrate gay cast member T.R. Knight.
Well, ABC basically demanded, and Washington FINALLY supplied, an apology, and the gossipt sites are abuzz with speculation that today’s “work” on the set of Gray’s Anatomy will be the rest of the cast vs. Washington, in a clear-the-air sit-down, so I don’t think ABC or Rhimes is ignoring the controversy (which would not have been that big a deal if Washington had just shut his mouth at the GGs). Quite frankly Rhimes is in a no-win situation. When you have the hot, hit TV show, with a large ensemble cast, the worst thing that can happen is for this kind of discord on the set (and rumors are that this is not the only problem with Washington). At the GGs she had to quickly make a decision about what to say after Washington’s lie, and while she at first seemed to back him up (saying the media did not get everything correct about the dust-up last October), she also stated that no member of the media made up the story, but apparently misreported some details (as we know now, one of the correct details was Washington’s use of the f-bomb).
And, why, exactly, would anyone assume that Hollywood, which could not stomach giving an Oscar to what was clearly the best movie of 2005 because it was a gay film, was completely gay friendly? If Hollywood were as liberal as certain critics claim, we would actually have a lot of out actors, not the handful we currently have. I also think it is great that at least one of Knight’s cast members is clearly on his side, and threaten to “throw down” with Washington if he kept running his mouth.
posted by Shuttitup on
I am just waiting for people to turn this into a “black versus white” thing and play a round of “who’s the bigger societal victim here” and the gay movement to just go aaahhhhhhhhh and quote Martin Luther King like usual and acquiesce.
posted by Carl on
This has already been turned into a black or white thing, since the show’s producer decided to bring up Washington’s race when people said he should be fired.
I don’t consider ABC all that liberal. They hired Glenn Beck for Good Morning America. They aired Path to 9/11. They aired that shameful smear piece against Matthew Shepard. They mentioned James Dobson on their home makeover show, and they pulled a reality show in 2005 because the religious right objected to the show having conservative people befriend gays.
I’m surprised more conservative blogs haven’t talked about this issue, since it showed the homophobia and double standards that continue to thrive in Hollywood.
I would suggest, if people want to praise TR Knight and stop ABC from possibly forcing him out, they should write ABC. You can find contact information at their website.
posted by Northeast Libertarian on
It’s a shame that decent behavior should be mitigated — or excessively expected — based on one’s skin color. If one utters a racist comment, a sexist slur, or a homophobic smear, the color of his own skin should have no bearing on the expectation that he apologize (if he wishes to be considered a professional).
posted by Bobby on
“It’s another sign of how acceptable casual homophobia remains, even among Hollywood uber-liberals.”
—That’s why I support the paparazzi and the tabloids. Hollywood is a dirty town full of hypocrites, and I want those bastards exposed for who they are. By the way, the show “Dirt” on FX is wonderful.
Also, ABC is not a conservative network. First it has John Stossel which is fair and balanced, secondly, it has Rosie O’donnel who is controversial.
The show ABC cancelled had bad ratings. As for Dobson, he’s popular with a lot of people. Or do you think evangelicals don’t watch TV?
posted by Bill from FL on
The reality show was the one that had the gay couple among others move into the neighborhood with the fundies, wasn’t it? I don’t think that show aired because of some racial issues and someone threatening to use Federal housing laws.
posted by ETJB on
I dont watch the show and try to ignore the behind the scene cat fights.
For better or for the worse “faggot” is not seen (socially) as deragotry as the “N-word.” But the fact that this got any mainstream press at all (and the actor did have to aplogize) is a sign of the times.
If it was his [Isaiah Washington] first workplace offense I would have him aplogize and send him to senitivity training.
posted by Frank Lee on
Washington did not use “faggot” as a slur against anyone at the Golden Globes. He simply said, “I didn’t call T.R. a faggot.” The problem isn’t his actually uttering the word in his denial; the word doesn’t have scary magical powers if uttered. The problem is he was lying: he had in fact called T.R. a faggot on the set of the show.
posted by Bobby on
Blacks use that word a lot, anyone who listens to hip hop knows that. However, TR needs to understand that just like a white man is not supposed to say the n-word in public, a straight man is supposed to have the same courtesy. Rosie O’donnel didn’t call Donald Trump a “goddamm breeder” after he said he would send some goons to seduce her girlfriend, or something like that.
It’s time to stop giving minorities a pass when it comes to bad behavior. I’m a minority, I don’t get a pass, neither should they.
posted by Bill from FL on
There is also another angle here with the F word vs. the N word.
A white (etc) guy using the N word in the wrong place will get him a punch in the face. Can you say the same thing for a straight vs gay and the F word?
posted by Larry Kressley on
If ABC does not fire Isaiah Washington, it will send a message to bullies everywhere that violence and hate speech are OK in the workplace and everywhere else. I can only imagine what the NAACP would be (and should be) calling for if the hate speech had been reversed.
posted by Stepehn B. on
Gays have to take some responsibility for the pervasive tolerance for non-physical gay bashing. They tolerate it too much themselves and in doing so, set a precedent.
Look at the recent Saturday Night Live skit with Jake Gyllenhaal. Much of the response from the gay community was in the form of wolf whistling at Gyllenhaal. There was hardly any response from the liberal community (our supposed defenders).
Imagine, if you will, Sidney Poitier hosting Saturday Night Live with a couple of stereotyped mixed couples (7ft. tall African American basketball player studs or ghetto gangster rap boys rather then sophisticated men with doctorates) sitting in the audience and Portier performing a tap dance number on stage wearing an African headdress.
I’m not sure weather the lack of reaction to this Gyllenhaal skit means the Gay and liberal communities think that we’ve made so much progress that such stereotyping is no longer a threat, or whether it’s an indication that Gays are still such an acceptable target that everyone simply knows to keep their heads down. Either way, keeping quiet about such hate humor only encourages the likes of Isaiah Washington.
We should be asking ourselves, does any minority group that can only respond to malicious stereotyping of itself by sexually objectifying the stereotypers really deserve any respect.
posted by Stephen B. on
By the way, as an occasional substitute teacher, I am certain that the social acceptability of the term faggot originates (or at least doesn’t stop) in public schools. I hear kids from grade-school level on up calling unpopular kids faggot and I have never once heard a regular teacher, coach, or administrator reprimand a student for using the term. This, in four small-town, and one small-city Midwestern school districts. I grew up in one of these districts forty years ago and endured being called faggot (and worse) in front of staff, who all turned away and pretended not to see what was going on. Every time I read about a school shooting, I think, therefore but for grace and lack of ammunition…
posted by ETJB on
“Blacks use that word a lot, anyone who listens to hip hop knows that.”
Yeah, and rich hip music artists are really an accurate representation of black America…
The Rosie and Trump things seems like two spoiled children with nothing better to do with their lives.
I do not feel that the Grey’s actor is getting a ‘pass’ because of his skin color. Nor do I feel that homophobia should be blindly compared to racism or vice versa.
posted by ETJB on
BTW; I attended both public and private American schooling.
No one is going to persaude me that private schools are some magical paradise for gay youth.
posted by Bobby on
“Look at the recent Saturday Night Live skit with Jake Gyllenhaal.”
—Can you describe it? I don’t know if I remember that skit. I did see one of two gays from New Jersey which were masculine and talked just like New Jersey stereotypical men. I liked that one, it didn’t have the limp wristed, effeminate stereotypes we’re so used to seeing. Both guys sounded like Joe Pesci.
“Yeah, and rich hip music artists are really an accurate representation of black America…”
—Not every hip hop artist is rich, almost all of them start poor and they all sing that homophobic crap. There’s also a website for gay hip hoppers who also use that term a lot.
And to be fair, I didn’t like that character from The Kids in the Hall who used to use that term. He’s a great actor and most of his skits are funny, but there’s no excuse to use the f-g word unless absolutely necesary.
“Nor do I feel that homophobia should be blindly compared to racism or vice versa.”
—All I’m saying is that if a black person makes a homophobic statement, he should be judged just as harshly as a white person would be.
posted by Bill from FL on
I would be curious to hear what that SNL skit was. Especailly with someone like Jake Gyllenhall! Mind you if he was tawkin like Joe Pesci he would be a stereotypical NORTH jersey man! 🙂
Anytime I have ever called out someone for using the F word they always said “I didn’t mean it in a gay way or against you” or something like that. I think that is the same as with teems. The word is also used as a generic weapon of sorts for unpopular, unmanly, loser, etc etc. It’s a shame.
posted by Carl on
-I’m not sure weather the lack of reaction to this Gyllenhaal skit means the Gay and liberal communities think that we’ve made so much progress that such stereotyping is no longer a threat,-
#1 No one gives a crap about SNL anymore. Nothing SNL says or does makes notice. The last time they got press was Ashlee Simpson running off the stage. #2 The only offensive part of the sketch was the cowboys in the audience cuddling. Jake Gylenhaal in a dress, lipsynching was a funny parody of the Dreamgirls mania. #3 This is a big reach on your part to say that we shouldn’t complain about being called “faggot” because we didn’t march in the streets over an SNL sketch.
I do agree that schools are a reason why America hates gays so much. Not only “faggot”, but “that’s so gay”. It would be nice if this site and other gay sites mentioned GLSEN more often, as they are trying to stop homophobia in schools.
-GLAAD can never resist going gaga over “inclusive” representations of gays of color, particularly in leftwing message films.-
Stephen Miller (not to be confused with Stephen B), have you ever seen the film? The movie is not all that leftwing. They have a Jewish character who is driving the bus and then quits when he realizes they’re going to the Million Man March, since some of the people in charge of the March had a history of anti-Semetic statements. Washington’s character in the film is a very strong and positive gay character. You shouldn’t put the movie down just because of Isaiah Washington or because the character is black.
posted by Bobby on
“#2 The only offensive part of the sketch was the cowboys in the audience cuddling. Jake Gylenhaal in a dress, lipsynching was a funny parody of the Dreamgirls mania.”
—Why is cuddling offensive? It’s all in good fun. Jake is obviously comfortable with his masculinity to do a sketch in a dress. I think we forget how gay sketches used to be, I’m too young to remember, but does anyone here remember the homophobic jokes Johnny Carson used to tell?
posted by Stephen B. on
Here’s a link to a vid of the skit:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3832355600819882297&q=dreamgirls+jake
posted by Stephen B. on
More seemingly acceptable stereotyping: Cutting edge historical parody or offensive modern slur?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTN6Du3MCgI
–S.
posted by Bobby on
OK Stephen, the SNL skit I watched on TV but I had forgotten it because I found it very boring, so I had to forward it. I think since Jake did play a gay cowboy, he was within his rights to do that.
The second video did have some stereotypes, but it was kinda hot seeing some of those guys touch each other.
I would not scream homophobia at either. They’re not good, but they’re not bad either. They’re just stupid.
posted by 123123 on