Under the editorship of David Perel, the Enquirer has enjoyed its share of outings. Larry Birkhead. Gayle King. Meredith Baxter. And yes, everyone's favorite "hiding in plain sight" 'mo, Anderson Cooper. The tabloid's batting average is pretty high, which lends some credence to their claims about the Oscar-nominated actor.
It doesn't make any of it right.
The Enquirer's main evidence comes from a quote — given to another publication years ago — from a forming acting coach, who said, "I have never had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy's boyfriend, but the fact that Jeremy is gay has never been a primary concern."
Now you can throw into the mix Renner's hug with co-star Anthony Mackie, called out by the Today show, and you have plenty of periphery evidence that Renner is A Gay. And then there's his 2002 flick Dahmer, where he plays the serial killer stalking a gay victim:
Read more: http://www.queerty.com/the-outing-of-the-hurt-lockers-jeremy-renner-20100310/#ixzz0hrXjGn5p
This is the perfect example of the price of being an actor. This right here makes me think that the whole gossip blog thing was a bad idea. How is it right to out someone who has no intention of making their private life public?
20 comments:
I think what you do is not "out" people, but intrigue your fans. A far cry from what the Enquirer does.
You provide snippets of showbiz life that may otherwise never be known.
Let's see how quickly JR is paired up with some girl...
It's a really valid and important question.
It all comes down to how much responsibility an actor should take. No one is naiive enough to believe that a television or film actor is able to keep their private life 100% private. Should actors therefore take some responsibility for putting themselves in that position? I think that they have to. Everyone profession has its downside, and this is the downside of acting at that level. I'm not claiming that it makes their whole life fair game, but they cannot plead complete innocence.
The other issue is "outing". Part of me completely disagrees with "outing". In fact, I absolutely hate the concept of "coming out". Heterosexual people do not have to do this.
However, part of me also feels strongly that young (and not so young) LGBT people are being done a disservice by those confident enough in their sexuality within the acting business. We all remember how difficult it was to realise that we are gay/bisexual/label-less and also how much it means to see one of your heroes come out.
There are thousands, if not millions of young and frightened kids out there. Actors do not have a duty to them. But you would hope that those who may have also struggled with their sexuality would extend them a helping hand.
Anonymous said...
I think what you do is not "out" people, but intrigue your fans. A far cry from what the Enquirer does.
You provide snippets of showbiz life that may otherwise never be known.
March 11, 2010 7:28 AM
^ I agree, nonnie.
GB, this is a whole different thing and you probably know it is.
More and more, what you're readers want is your insight. It's not the stories, but how you tell them. I personally can live without the names -because I'm not Ted C and I'm not familiar with, probably 80% of the popular guesses. But your words, no. Couldn't live without them that easily now. Not after those two great articles you wrote lately.
That I want and need. Hope you feel better about this soon enough.
You raise an interesting point and it's bullshit when people are outed against their will. There is a big difference between living openly but quietly and doing the fauxmance route of bearding with the intent to sell a product.
Gossip is a natural byproduct of communities and a means of feeling connected with each other. You don't directly out anyone and your initial intent was to flip-off the powers that be behind the scenes who keep people from being who they are with threats of ruined careers. Stick to that theme.
Because the talent becomes the face of the product and the industry; they make great fodder but the assholes who use their power to humiliate actors and actresses by requiring sex for meetings and parts basically get off scot-free. In the world outside of HW they would be considered rapist and pedophiles and treated accordingly.
I grew up around the industry and still have family members connected both behind and in front of the camera... I bailed out decades ago when a casting agent who was the best friend of my then boyfriend tried to fuck me during a reading. My bf who was pretty well connected thought it was no big deal so I decided a career change and getting rid of the bf was less toxic to my life. Sad to see things haven't changed at all except the stakes are much higher with the next generation paparazzi/tabloid slugs.
This post is long enough so I'll stop here. Sorry for rambling.
So why then are you writing about Renner too bring more attention to this subject?
No one has the right to out another person. I don't think that's what you're doing here at all. I think some of the other gossip bloggers are "gossiping" about pre-approved (by the celebs and their management)stories.
I think you give us more of the truth without naming names - and there's nothing wrong with that.
there is absolutely NO way Jeremy is gay. My best friend (a non famous female) is currently sleeping with him on a regular basis. They have known each other since before his famous days. I just told her to check out this article and she started laughing
There will always be a certain level of interest in what goes on in the lives of prominent people in our society. Celebrity comes with that price tag.
Forcing someone out is different than that. It is as mean as damaging as forcing someone to stay in the closet.
While you may feel like you are outing people, you give them a reasonable level of deniability.
At the same time you are giving us all a view into a machine that we support but that doesn't really care about the damage it inflicts on those who make them wealthy.
Not to mention some really fun riddles. It's a gift. Actually, I think you are doing more good than damage. Keep it up Bro!
I guess it depends whether you think you have effectively outed people or not.
If, in your heart, you think you've overstepped that line, then maybe you're right to question your content. But that's for your conscience to decide.
I would say it's a fine line you're walking. But you're no worse than other bloggers in that department, and much better than some *cough* Perez *cough*)!
And I like your insights. You seem to be a thoughtful person with a good moral compass. I would be sorry if you stopped blogging.
Definitely something to think about GB, because if you are concerned about outing people who do not want to be outed, then you can't use this column to flip the Hollywood PR system the bird, as you've said you want to. And either you can write vague blind vices no one can guess or you can worry about outing people by writing guessable blind vices. I hope you worry about outing people who don't want to be outed. It's their private lives and their choices, not yours. Or wait. It's also your choice and you don't want to be outed. I can see why you have some concerns about the ethics of this site.
Others have responded to this much better than I can, but I will say this: I no longer bother with guessing, I'm more intrigued by what you say about the business. There really isn't a way for a non-connected (everyday?) person like me to actually learn about the business that is HW.
When you discuss folks here, you do it with compassion, humor, thought and sometimes outrage. That doesn't make you anything like the jackals at those tabloids. Why? Tabloids offer titilation. You remind us that everyone is human, with the same problems we all have. If you were to cease to publish the BVs I would still read for the insight pieces.
and wow, sorry for the rambling post!
we will read you no matter what
Someone mentioned his friend was sleeping with this guy - doesn't matter. Gay men have been having very satisfying sexual relations with women since there were men and women. Get married, have kids, cover provided - plausible deniability - then have your piece on the side. There's a long list of married gay men and lesbians, with kids. The public drinks the kool aid the actors collect the check.
Even in the two weeks I've been following this blolumn, I think it's been an evolving work in progress.
The gossip is fun, but like others have said above me, the real interest comes from reading your conflicting thoughts about what it is to be a gay man in Hollywood, and the price of pretending not to be who you are.
I work here, and the number of terribly screwed up people I deal with on a daily basis is frightening. Many are like you, but without the self-awareness you seem to have.
It's an enlightening journey to be on with you as you figure out what you want to do and who you want to appear to be. I think you know WHO you are, it's just how to present that person to the world at large.
I'd personally like to see people's sexuality not be an issue. But, people are curious, and it's not going to go away.
There are no easy answers, which is why I'm really loving your blog - you know that, and don't try to make things black & white.
I work in the industry too and like AsstGeek I am intrigued by watching you and your blog evolve. I have seen first hand the struggle of celebs in the closet and I am not sure how I feel about outing. In Jeremy's case I think he should do/say nothing and just conduct business as usual and when people ask questions he should tell them they can read about it in his book. I'm sure one day he plans on writing one...
I didnt know he was gay...whatever he is, hope he is happy
I am a straight female, but I can imagine how incredibly hurtful and intrusive it must be to be outed. GB: I do not believe your postings every really outed anyone, but gave me a more realistic image of HW. On the contrary, you bring up very interesting dilemmas.
On a good note: let's hope that events like this will actually help social progress by taking the mystery out of being "gay" for the rest of us, and at some point in the very near future it will be a non-issue.
Really does it matter? He is such a great actor!
Jeremy Cushing
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