But as a general rule I don’t respond to questions about my personal life. I’m not going to try to prove what I am or am not. It’s silly, right? When you google yourself and the first thing that comes up is ‘Jeremy Renner gay,’ it’s like, ‘Oh, now you’ve arrived. You’re now a giant movie star.’ So I just had a big laugh about it. I don’t care, ultimately, if that’s what people want to think, read and care about. Fucking say whatever the hell you want about me. Look at where we’re at socially—leaps and bounds ahead of where we started. That’s an amazing thing. To suggest that it’s negative, that being gay is a terrible thing, a perversion or whatever—I just don’t get it. Don’t you wish we were in a world where we’re not shaming, judging and boxing people in?”
— Jeremy Renner asked about the rumors about his sexual oritentation in a wide-ranging interview with Playboy‘s Stephen Rebello
Alex Hernandez
People who care about if people think they are gay act like being gay is a shameful thing. It’s not lol.
Dusty Lee
I always heard he was. Oh well.
Kevin Cato
Looks like a young Bill Maher.
AxelDC
If he doesn’t care, why does he so vehemently deny it and what does he talk about it so much?
Xzamilio
Okay… I like him. His eyes look like buttons on a little kid’s raincoat, but I like him.
Roland Hamburger
He is bisexual. It’s ok but not a total bottom only when he is drunk beyond the limit
Cagnazzo82
He’s probably bisexual like Tom Hardy. Except Tom Hardy definitely doesn’t hide the fact that he’s bisexual.
James Franco is likely gay. Also Will Forte.
Rick Holtz
He’s got “it” either way he rolls. Fine actor, too!
LanaBoy
@Cagnazzo82: Actually, Tom Hardy has said that he “used” to be bisexual but that now men don’t do it for him anymore, so he came out and went right back in. AND then his publicist said he was referring to a character he was playing, which is clearly not the case. Tom Hardy is entirely hiding his queerness.
LanaBoy
He is always bringing up how not gay he is, which probably means that he actually is.
Bill Mountrey
If I knew who he is I might care….
MacAdvisor
I must disagree with Mr. Renner. Whether or not he is gay matters. He is an action hero. His movies are enjoyed by a specific subset of our population that is more homophobic than the public at large: young males. When he evades the question about his sexual orientation, he is drawing attention to that facet and making it seem unworthy. He certainly doesn’t hide his political orientation (he admires Joe Biden and “it goes without saying” he’d like to meet President Obama — those are not the thoughts of a Republican) and he discusses other likes and dislikes (he seems to like a strip club called “Tuna’s”). Yes, his personal life should remain personal and that means he doesn’t have to discuss if he pitches or catches, as the saying goes, but he does need to be clear about the team he plays for.
Harvey Milk made clear the need for everyone to come out. Our victory this week in marriage equality happened because gay people came out under considerably more dangerous circumstances than face Mr. Renner does and did so by the thousands. Their simple acts of courage changed the heart of a nation. Someday, maybe, the question won’t matter, but unlikely. Your mom is always going to want to know if she should be looking for a guy to introduce you to as a possible mate for those grandchildren or a women. There are just basic things about us we need to share: the language we speak, our allergies, our taste in fashion. They just can’t really be hidden and neither can sexual orientation without a real cost.
Mr. Renner, I urge you to take Glinda the Goods’ advice, “Come out, come out, where ever you are.” If not for yourself and your sense of self, then for the thousands you will inspire.
Giuseppe
I’m sure the guy in LA that he has a business flipping houses with (Kristofer Winters) cares. He’s fool with UGLY hands.
martinbakman
That really is the best answer.
Years ago Babwa Wawa pushed Richard Gere in a similar way because of how well Gere portrayed a gay kiss on stage. Gere responded to her by saying why should it matter? There is nothing wrong with being gay.
Cagnazzo82
@LanaBoy: Tom Hardy called Joel Edgerton sexy during an interview, so I’m not sure how far back in the closet he’s gone exactly. He’s (quote, unquote) ‘officially’ in, but I don’t think he cares that much. 🙂
Desert Boy
Jeremy Renner is gay? My Gaydar is good but, I missed this.
Pistolo
Chya right. He’s acting like gay marriage being legalized and a few gay characters in media means everything is sooooo incredibly different. Blockbusters don’t feature gay characters, they pretend like we don’t exist. Gay characters are never centric, they are very often stereotypical, and even gay actors have a hard time finding roles.
Actually, that last point is something I want to doubly emphasize. We go on and on about how gay showbiz is and, yet, how many gay actors do you know? How many get roles? How many get to play gay roles? How many are allowed to be sexual within those roles?
We have a long way to go.
Sansacro
Seen him in my neighborhood several times. don’t think he’s gay; so if he’s not (and I don’t believe he is), his response is perfect.
Cam
If being gay doesn’t matter and isn’t shameful then why does Renner struggle so hard dancing around the issue and refuse to answer. This is the same B.S. answer we used to here from people like Clay Aiken, Ricky Martin Anderson Cooper, Rosie O’Donnell and what we still hear from Queen Latifa
Previously Renner said he would choke somebody who called him gay. At least he is getting slightly less self hating.
Renner has lived with the same man for over a decade. They own a house together and when asked about a girlfriend claims he is too busy. Then of course there was the time his former college proffered accidentally putted him because he didn’t know he was closeted.
All of these closet cases say the same thing before they come out, “why does it matter?” Until after they come out when they realize that not being ashamed of yourself and your family matters a hell of a lot.
Michael Spike Vincent
I’m sure he’ll spin it and say he’s “bisexual” or doesn’t put himself in a box. If he DID CARE, he wouldn’t be in the marriage trouble with his wife who is threatening to “release embarrassing videos”
Richard Hernandez
Yep! Great Actor, I like watching his movies.
BJ McFrisky
. . . and we shouldn’t care if Mr. Renner is gay.
It’s his dick; why would anyone concern themselves with what he does with it?
Bauhaus
@Cam:
Is this the same Renner, who got busted for cruising for guys in a (known gay) cruising park, and then gave cops a false name? Not that there’s anything wrong with guys cruising in a park.
Ladbrook
@BJ McFrisky: Being gay is not about what you do with your dick, dumbass. It’s about what you do with your heart. You sound like those homophobes on talk radio more and more every time you post. I’d assume you were Sean Hannity out for a good troll, but that can’t be true because Hannity is a closeted bi guy, too, who desperately needs to be exposed by the MSM.
but I digress…
Renner is gay. He’ll marry in a few years and will then try to pretend he was never in denial. It’s how Hollywood rolls.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
You can always, ALWAYS depend upon BJ to come in here to defend gays staying in the closet.
Cam
I also love how Renner pretends the rumors are new.
Here is a Queerty article from several years ago, where not only are the rumors pointed out, but Renner emphatically says that he is straight.
https://www.queerty.com/bourne-identity-star-jeremy-renner-once-choked-a-dude-for-calling-him-a-gay-slur-20120404
Blazipitous
What is a Jeremy Renner?
BJ McFrisky
@Ladbrook: Why is it that the worst thing you can think of to accuse someone of is being gay or bi? Talk about your self-loathers . . .
Ladbrook
@BJ McFrisky: That’s hilarious. And to answer your question, I do not think that being gay or bi is an insult of the worst kind. On the contrary… Accusing Hannity of being closeted is not meant as an insult to his bisexuality. I’m attacking his hypocrisy on the issue of sexual orientation. Of course, you know this already. As is typically the case, you’re being deliberately obtuse for the purpose of siding with homophobes and self-hating homosexuals (your natural comfort zone).
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
Once again, BJ can ALWAYS be depended upon to defend the closet.
LanaBoy
@Cagnazzo82: As gay man, I call Jennifer Lawrence beautiful or sexy or whatever, it doesn’t make me straight or bisexual, it makes me not blind – a straight guy or a pretend straight guy, can call a man attractive and not not be straight. Tom Hardy’s camp has *actually* stated that he is not bisexual and that he was taken out of context, which is something they wouldn’t have done without his consent, so yes, sadly, he went right back into that closet. I mean you are right, he did say he slept with men, but he then said he doesn’t like it anymore, which is biologically not a thing. Same for Luke Evans from The Hobbit, he was an openly gay theater actor, but when he became a movie star, he was suddenly straight and began dating a model… 🙂
Cagnazzo82
@LanaBoy: Joel made a comment about sticks and balls or whatever, and Tom called it sexy during the interview.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m making jokes about someone’s penis being sexy it might be because I’m flirting a bit.
Who knows though.
I still think Tom is more openly bi than most actors out there. Hell, most male bi actors are pretty much non-existent. That goes double when you’re talking about A-listers.
Scott Shanks
Jeremy, it is just wishful thinking on our part. Glad you are not sweating it!!!
BJ McFrisky
@Ladbrook: So, THAT’S why you believe everyone with an (R) after their name is hiding their secret same-sex desires? Because it would prove their hypocrisy? If so, then why is it you consistently accuse good liberals of the same sham, such as Josh Hutcherson, Tom Cruise, LaBeouf, Gyllenhaal, DiCaprio, Efron, Radcliffe, Hemsworth, Travolta, and hell, even Obama? Ya see the problem there?
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
And again BJ will always defend gays staying in the closet.
Cam
@Scott Shanks: said… “Jeremy, it is just wishful thinking on our part. Glad you are not sweating it!!!”
________________
Wishfull thinking? Ahh, yes, the exact same thing that was said about Anderson Cooper, Ricky Martin, Matt Bomer, etc… Funny thing was, they actually are gay.
Renner isn’t known as some sex symbol, and it’s less about wishful thinking than it is about the same B.S. commentary used by every other closeted actor and actress.
Gee, I’m just too busy to date (Really? For a decade?)
Oh, my good friend an I own that house together because we flip houses. (Oh, ok, well you’ve lived in the same house for about 8 years, that seems like a long time to flip a house.)
When people ask if they are gay they say “Why does it matter”?
1. Because when gay people come out it helps acceptance
2. Straight people never have trouble answering that question (Do they Queen Latifa & Jeremy Renner?)
Ladbrook
@BJ McFrisky:
Odd, I don’t remember regularly accusing any of those men of being gay, but it wouldn’t surprise me if a few of them are (or are bi). You sure do offer up a lot of straw men as you go about your day defending homophobes and closet cases.
Maybe you should consider hanging out over GayPatriot. They seem more your speed. I think you’ll find a lot of like-minded people over there. You can all reminisce about the good ol’ days when everyone was still in the closet, married to unsuspecting women, and sucking off stangers down at the truckstop… a lifestyle you’re probably very familiar with.
Bauhaus
@Cam:
“Oh, my good friend an I own that house together because we flip houses.”
Mmmmm hmmmm. Calling Marco Rubio.
John McMillin
Is there some sort of clause with Marvel/Disney? I mean, once out bisexual RDJ is suddenly all “I was kidding!” about it, and Renner, long rumored to be gay, suddenly starts bearding the moment his commercial stock started rising.
Ryan
@LanaBoy:
Lana can you blame him? Joel Edgerton is fucking sexy as hell. So is Tom Hardy. Jai Courtney too (though I sometimes wish he’d ACT in his movies…he is so pretty! :))
But Renner? If you aren’t gay, why get so hostile when asked? If you know you aren’t gay and are comfortable with who you are, no need to get upset.
Curty
He certainly has changed his tone. He used to get real ignorant, and say slurs when asked. “I ain’t no Fag!” Now just to, think what you want, like its a negative thing… I say he’s come along way. It seems he’s almost coming to terms with whatever but not quite there yet.
Saint Law
@Ladbrook: Gay Patriot! I only just discovered that site and…oh my lol! Self h8ting doesn’t describe it.
Why they don’t all just cut out the middle man and shoot themselves.
BJ McFrisky
@Ladbrook: Sorry to disappoint you, Laddy, but I’ve been in a monogamous relationship with the same guy since ’99. I realize that doesn’t fit your hateful image of me, but that’s because, like all good liberals, you’re enthralled in the joy of hate.
Get well soon.
Ladbrook
@BJ McFrisky: Jerking off in the mirror doesn’t qualify as a “monogamous relationship.” Sorry, try again.
Bauhaus
@Ladbrook:
Ladbrook KO’s Gay Patriot!