Brett Ratner lost out on his chance to produce the 2012 Academy Awards when he thoughtlessly told a reporter that “rehearsals are for fags.”
When word got out, Ratner apologized—saying the slur “was a dumb way of expressing myself.”
And he backed out of the prestigious ceremony, saying in a statement, “As painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represent.”
LGBT leaders called foul on Ratner’s language: GLAAD issued a statement saying, “this apology is a good start, but we’re working with Ratner’s people for more action, to clearly send a message to Hollywood that the anti-gay slurs used by bullies and bigots have no place in the world of entertainment, or anywhere else.”
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And, soon enough, Ratner partnered with Tom Ford and GLSEN on a public-service announcement addressing the use of anti-gay language among teens.
So far, a fairly familiar arch for a publicity fumble like Ratner’s.
Cut to now, 16 months later: GLAAD is bestowing its Ally Award on the Rush Hour director at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York on March 16. The-media watchdog group is also launching a “Coming Out for Equality PSA” series Ratner worked on. (The clips feature celebrities like Jackie Chan, Charlie Sheen, Giada De Laurentiis and Pauley Perrette speaking in support of the LGBT community.)
“Brett Ratner’s dedication and leadership will inspire countless people to speak out in support of LGBT friends, family, neighbors and children,” says GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “From high-school jocks to faith leaders, those who follow Brett’s lead are admired and heralded, while anti-LGBT bullies are increasingly ridiculed and marginalized.”
There’s nothing wrong with Ratner being acknowledged for his personal growth, and the lengths he went to to make things right. But let’s not forget it wasn’t pure altruism that got the director involved in the LGBT-equality movement.
Maybe Madonna can give him a good spanking on stage? If not for his foul language then for helping to foist Movie 43 on the world.
The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 16, in Los Angeles on April 20 and in San Francisco on May 11.
Photo: David Shankbone
AlexM
They’re giving him an award? are you serious?
QJ201
@AlexM: GLAAD is so obsessed with celebrities it would give Orson Scott Card and award if he apologized for supporting NOM
2eo
I always consider Ratner to be among the people in Hollywood who exist just to see how utterly shit they can be and still make money. They sadly exist because halfwits let them, they pay to see his films, they read his interviews.
2eo
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t elitism, Dan Brown and his books for stupid people not clever enough to follow an actual plot that isn’t spoonfed like an episode of Murder, She Wrote Murder are exactly the same principle.
Fidelio
I consider this a net positive for the gay community. Ratner garnered alot of press for using a derogatory term, suffered real consequences, immersed himself in community awareness benefiting LGBT youth, and – inadvertently – helped expose some of the bigotry that still exists even in the most liberal of industries. This ought not to be about whether Ratner is truly contrite, rather the measurable good our community can harness from his misstep.
boring
Ratner is a terrible human being regardless of his feelings towards the gay community.
jwrappaport
@2eo: You leave Dan Brown out of this! He never hurt no one!
BJ McFrisky
If Jackie Chan, Charlie Sheen, Giada DeLaurentiis, and Pauley Perette are the best celebrities GLAAD could recruit, then they need to reexamine their definition of “celebrity.” I mean, Charlie Sheen as advocate? Might as well get Charlie Manson.
Ajai
Yeah, I saw Tower Heist. Clearly some of those faggy rehearsals is what was needed.
IzzyLuna
Because GLAAD is all about celebrity and not much about anything else.
the other Greg
@BJ McFrisky: Oh, BJ, don’t pick on Charlie. The episode of 2-1/2 where he pretends to be gay is hilarious. He’s better at pretending to be gay than you are!