“I think that, still, there’s a stigma to being gay that we can’t shake — the world can’t shake. It’s something about two men being together — two women being together they can more accept — but two men being together. I’m doing this TV show called Empire and you sit in the room with people as you’re testing the show and you are seeing immediate feedback through a one-way mirror, and they have this knob, where zero is they hate it and 10 is they love it. And they’re at a 10 until the two men kiss, then it’s down to a zero. So at the end the questionnaire asks, “why is it a zero when two men kiss?” And you knew that the 100 people in the room — 95 percent of them heterosexual — didn’t want to admit their homophobia, so they sort of look at the floor. It was like not admitting to being a racist. I think [acceptance] is slowly becoming a think because we are making it a thing. It is the “civil rights” of our time right now, and I think that we have to not back down.”Lee Daniels speaking to Daily Extra about test audience reaction to gay content in his show Empire. Watch the clip below:
Captain Obvious
It’s not just the test audience. Twitter and IMDB has been whining nonstop about the “hottest guy on the show” being gay. Personally I think the oldest brother is the hottest and the whiny homophobes are still watching so who really cares?
Empire is the hottest show on television and kudos to Daniels for not caving under pressure like most shows do.
Cam
@Captain Obvious:
True, and the best part is, they’re bitching, but their STILL WATCHING!
crowebobby
I don’t want to watch any two people I personally find unattractive, be they straight, gay, old, young, fat, thin, black, white, brown, yellow or red, kissing. I don’t deny their right to do so, I just don’t want to watch it. It seems like a pretty normal reaction to me. I’m gay, but I can’t get too upset about straight people feeling the same way.
Tackle
Ok just last month and the month before that, he was talking about homophobia in the Black community. So I’m willing to bet that this test audience was majority White. And he leaves race out of it. And he should. When you are fighting homophobia, you should fight homophobia, and NOT a group of people. Don’t call out one group, for endearment of another.
MisterDemand
The only way for people to get comfortable with it is to see it more. The more its shown in mainstream movies, tv, and in person the less aversion people will have to. Lesbian kisses are so second nature people hardly notice anymore
plazaro1
Because its up in there faces, but it happens, a lot… except no one was talking about it, exploring it and showing it like it is. Keep showing, keep unveiling this has been going on forever. Its the only way to finish off with the hypocrisy and the double morals.
[email protected]
Lee Daniels, Shondra Rhimes and Barack Obama have made America a better place for LGBT people. Thank God for them and their AGENDA!
Ronbo
@[email protected]: You forgot Joe Biden, the man who forced President Obama’s hand. How about ACT-UP, the group that got media attention when HRC quietly was collecting corporate money?
A big thumbs-up for Shondra Rhimes – she showed bravery before it was cool.
stanhope
@Captain Obvious: the oldest brother is the hottest one? Really? Alas you are wrong based on everyone I know. He’s better looking than that young one but that’s not saying much.
stanhope
@Ronbo: amen and AMEN!
Bob LaBlah
This is one of the most entertaining shows on television this season, though I must say last nights show (2-18-15) was a disappointment. I can’t wait for the physical fight (which seems inevitable) between the two bitches.
To be honest, I really do find the gay character, though very cute, almost irrelevant to the story itself. Ok, so what. Rich black kid grows up gay, has a white or latin lover but no close black friends in his “circle”. I wonder if his character is in reality little Romeo, who went on Oprah years ago and revealed his six thousand dollar a week allowance. I kid you not, that is the exact amount he said he was getting and daddy, who was sitting on stage next to him, did not deny it as he flaunted that very expensive Rolex on his wrist.
No, I would not be surprised if the gay character is based on at least ONE of those spoiled little brats that belong to P……………
iBLOW
@Bob LaBlah: You can’t even say what color the people are in his “circle” because they haven’t SHOWN them. He referenced his friends once but that was it. It also looks like his new possible love interest is black in the preview.
dave lopes
The oldest brother has a nice body and a nice ass.
The gay middle brother does not do it for me.
The youngest brother would be nice for sex.
My favorite cast member is Cookie.
NG22
I find it troublesome that a lot of people are “okay” with gay people, so long as our sexuality is shielded. We saw this come up with the Michael Sam kiss. It is an attempt to maintain the mores and folkways of American society — to enforce the belief that homosexuality is vulgar. If two men kiss, it’s considered unconscionably deviant — even if heterosexuals or lesbians have more intense kisses on the same broadcast.
I’m not even into PDA. But I have a big problem with this cultural disgust with gay intimacy. It seems to be an attempt to keep us closeted far after coming out.
And if I’m honest, this is all probably the reason I’m not into public displays of affection.
NG22
@dave lopes: I’d bang all the brothers — together or separately — and Cookie is the best b*tch doing it.
dave lopes
@NG22: Hell, i’ll eat Cookie….lol
NG22
@dave lopes: Haha. Omg. I just reread my comment and wanted to be clear that I did not mean I would bang Cookie. If there weren’t dashes in the sentence, there would be a comma there. Those were different thoughts.
I couldn’t eat Cookie, although I’m sure she’s sweet. I’d just want to drink Alize and shoot the sh!t with her.
jwtraveler
I watched about 5 minutes of this show and I was so disgusted that I couldn’t stand it and turned it off. Do black people really think this is a “positive” portrayal of black people on TV? It makes as much sense to me as Italians taking pride in “The Godfather” and “The Sopranos”.
Large Marge
All 3 sons are very good looking… hey, they are actors.
I’m not into blacks but I could see myself with jamal. I like his sensitive side till he because a douchebag not acknowledging his 2 year relationship. Jamal? Maybe a roll in the hay… in real life, I’d probably never consider either.. not just because they are black, but because they aren’t those people they are acting as.
Is it wrong to say I’m not into black guys? Clutch yer pearls girlfriends! Guess what? That’s just one among many traits that determine whether or not I’ll be with a guy.
@jwtraveler… and married with children was such an inspirational show for white trailer trash.
Saint Law
@Large Marge: No one gives a shit you deluded fug.
NG22
@Large Marge: So hilarious you think you are just entitled to your pick. Because you’re white and he’s black, you exclusively have the right of refusal??
I’m pretty certain neither Jamal nor Jussie Smollett (who is gay IRL) would want you even looking in his direction. He’d likely find you repulsive — if not for your appearance, than for your attitudes.
Black guys aren’t sitting at home, waiting for you to call.
Tackle
@Large Marge: I’m not about to clutch my pearls or my dick. Like Black guys are missing something great. Or even good because you’re not into them. No one gives a flying f@ck…
Cam
@jwtraveler:
I don’t think it’s meant to be an uplifting PC portrayal of black people, it’s a nighttime soap, just like all the others. But it’s got a basically all black cast, and has huge ratings. Two things that Hollywood keeps screaming don’t go together.
dave lopes
@NG22: I understood your post and I know you did not say you would bang Cookie.
I on the other hand would EAT her out. I am GAY but a few women…very few would get a licking….lol
dave lopes
Come on people, no need to attack Large Marge for an innocent comment.
The reaction only shows that you really care that she is not into blacks.
dave lopes
@jwtraveler: It is entertainment.
Are all actions by blacks positive? Why should every show be a positive portrayal of any group.
The show shows all sides of human nature, good, bad, positive, negative.
dave lopes
Jussie Smollett is mostly non-black and an american of mixed heritage.
“His father was Jewish (his family immigrated from Russia and Poland), and his mother is of African-American, Native American, Creole, and Irish descent.”
Blackceo
@dave lopes:
No. Based by the follow up it showed that Large Marge was trying to start some BS. So basically, I go by the motto in that situation “Don’t start none…won’t be none”. I don’t need to add to it cuz what was said in response I co-sign on. The whole thing was just unnecessary.
Anyway…in terms of those turned off by Jamal and his papi chulo kissing, you have the I hate it and don’t want to see it crowd and the I’ll “tolerate” your gayness but don’t need to see it crowd. Still not comfortable for a lot of people to see. But, whatever. I see the negative comments during live twitter of the show when Jamal and his boo thing get intimate, which honestly hasn’t been much at all. But that’s not stopping people from watching.
For me, the show is must see TV. It increased in the ratings yet again this past week, something unprecedented for any show. It has added viewers every single week and I just love how authentic it is. There are definitely writers for the show who understand various aspects of Black culture and the Black experience. Cookie is my girl. She is from the hood, makes no bones about it, and will put you in your place quick. I have a good friend who is very similar to Cookie and I adore her. I love Taraji P. Henson and she is killin this role. I love that she insisted Terrance Howard play Lucious. His struggle with ALS is quite frankly bringing a more “real” aspect to it than the ice bucket challenge ever did. I also love the type of gay character Jamal is playing and that it’s not some stereotypical type character.
Anika reminds me of the girls I grew up with being involved in Jack and Jill and women in my family so even tho Cookie is my girl I low key try and root for Anika when I can, which isn’t often. Hakeem gets on my damn nerves. He’s such an entitled brat. Andre and his wife are quite the interesting couple. The whole interracial thing has also been a topic on Twitter and even Cookie said “why you marry that white girl”. Then some others were cool with Jamal being gay but mad he didn’t have a Black boyfriend. although, according to the previews, hes about to get himself a Black Brit boo thing. I also like how the show is tackling Jamal’s mental illness with his bipolar. I definitely wouldn’t mind being between a Jamal and Andre sandwich. I’m just mad there’s only 4 more episodes left.
Tackle
@dave lopes: I’m not sure what you are trying to say, but I’ll say this: It doesn’t matter if Jussie is , as you say mostly non-Black. And those mixtures that you claim his mother is, is not too far from what most Black Americans are mixed with. Yes but with different degrees. There is no universal standard, ( especially in America) as what is/means/constitute what being a Black person is. SO if Jussie self identifies himself as be Black, Like President Obama, Then I will say he’s Black. And really, he looks no less non Black, or any more of having a White ad-mixture than Rappers, T.I. Common and Ludacris, all of which have two Black parents. Surly Jussie experience and treatment in America will be that of a Black man…
Blackceo
@Tackle:
Yes..yes to ALL Of that!!!!!!
xzall
I think there’s a difference between being racially black and being culturally black. I think racially you share the experience of being profiled or all the prejudices etc. But culturally for instance, Jussie is a part Jewish which probably does mean a different experience and he was born in Brazil which also gives a different experience. The food, the language and family experience will be different. Even the racism can be different.
In certain areas, I’ve seen Jamaican blacks for instance, having an easier timer getting hired than American blacks. This didn’t have anything to do with them being darker or lighter but because some employers believed in that hard working rep (remember the 10 job skit) of Jamaicans. Then there’s how color variations make a difference. Just look at hollywood which has an easier time hiring biracial actors like a Halle Berry although that’s beginning to change.
The point is it may be easier to lump everyone together as one race. But race is just a whole lot more complex than that.
Captain Obvious
@dave lopes: One, no one is going to look at him, and say he isn’t black. You’re nuts if you think so.
Secondly, there’s no such thing as “non-black” because ALL OF HUMANITY started in Africa.
This stupid idea what everyone is somehow a different form of human is beyond ignorant. White can’t make Jussie’s skin tone, he’s not white, he’s not native American, or anything else. He’s a black male, that’s how he’s playing one on tv.
While everyone is technically from Africa no matter how far removed, only those with direct African descent can create the range of colors which you see in Jussie.
Every other group considered “non-African” is the result of hundreds of years of inbreeding, it’s well known, and documented. The reason for the inbreeding is you can’t keep making white and extremely light yellow people without inbreeding. The second you have a child with someone of a darker hue the chances of extremely light hues popping back up are extremely slim at best.
My point: Jussie is more African than anything else, hence his darker hue. Try to deny it if you like but it’s the truth.
One day all of humanity will go BACK to being brown as we all once were.
Captain Obvious
@xzall: Judaism started in Africa so it’s a pretty sick joke how everyone acts like it’s a European thing and Caucasian people are the owners of the Jewish faith.