At a time when the unlikely romance movie Brokeback Mountain has become a monster hit with American audiences, it's ironic that homosexuality may not be as welcome on America's most popular TV show, American Idol on Fox, reports TMZ.com.Effeminate male contestants often sing at their own peril. ''I don't mean this disrespectfully . . . shave off your beard and wear a dress,'' a scowling judge Simon Cowell told rejected Idol wannabe Charles Berry. Fellow judge Randy Jackson had this pointed question for Zachary Travis, another reject: "Are you a girl?''
The show hasn't exactly adopted the Seinfeld mantra: ''Not that there's anything wrong with it.'' Idol host Ryan Seacrest and Cowell have frequently traded on-air insults, each implying the other is gay.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has issues with American Idol's tone. A GLAAD spokesperson told TMZ: "GLAAD is reaching out to the show's producers to discuss our concerns -- and the concerns of community members and allies -- who have contacted us about this matter.''
Jim Verraros, a gay finalist from American Idol's first season, feels the tone comes from the top. He tells TMZ, "I honestly think that if I had come out [as gay] while I was on the show, Fox would've edited it out.''
Some don't agree with the outcry.
''The critics totally miss the point,'' says Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey, senior executive producer of the TV show Extra. "No one is exempt from the razor tongues of all three judges. Who goes on the show thinking it's a Miss Manners tea party?''
from The Miami Herald
No comments:
Post a Comment