My problem with Paul Reubens: his silence on sexuality
By greg scarnici · 76 comments· Updated on January 29, 2024
Editor’s note: This op-ed was originally published on March 18, 2016. Ruebens passed away July 31, 2023at the age of 70.
Paul Reubens and the question of sexuality
In 2016, The New York Times ran a profile on Paul Reubens in anticipation of his latest film, Pee Wee’s Big Holiday. As a huge fan ever since I saw his HBO special in 1981, I devoured the article, hoping to get more insight into this comic genius and to find out more about the journey he’s been on trying to get this film made. A lot of the article touched upon what a subversive artist he is from the diverse casting choices he makes to the countless sexual innuendoes laced throughout his work.
But one line instantly put a pit in my stomach. It was a reference to the one problem I have always had with Mr. Reubens: Apparently, he still refuses to talk about his romantic life. In the year 2016.
You might be wondering why this is such a problem for me.Well, as an openly gay comedic artist, I think it’s important that successful men like Paul Reubens talk about their sexuality.Am I insinuating he is gay?Sure, but he has been doing the exact same thing through his work ever since he came on the scene — and continues to in his latest film —which features a relationship with Joe Manganiello he himself describes as, “a bit of a bromance.”
With ‘Drag Me To Dinner’ and ‘Somebody Somewhere,’ New York City’s “best kept secret” is making the world a better, queerer place.
Manganiello’s casting and the star-studded, queer-friendly world of Paul Reubens
As soon as I found out Reubens cast Manganiello in the film, my gaydar went off.Although straight, Joe is a gay icon, both for his strikingly good looks and the fact that he is an LGBTQ+ ally.Featuring a dream sequence that has the two men “jousting their poles” continues Reubens’ tradition of incorporating homoerotic undertones into his work.
If you have any doubt about this, all you need to do is take a look at Pee Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special; easily the gayest holiday program ever to air on network television.Featuring appearances from Cher, Grace Jones, Zsa Zsa Gabor, KD Lang, Little Richard and two hunky, shirtless construction workers – the show is gayer than a GIF of a unicorn puking rainbows.And this was back in 1988!But yet, almost 20 years later, Reubens still refuses to talk about his romantic life.
This is problematic to me for a myriad of reasons.First off, Paul is a shrewd business man. He’s managed to make a successful career out of the same character for over 30 years.Reuben’s decision to not talk about his love life sends a message that you must avoid talking about your (non-heteronormative) sexuality if you want to get a major movie produced. Something, sadly, that just might be true.
Business over authenticity? Reubens’ silence and Hollywood’s norms
It took Reubens a long time to get this new film off the ground. Maybe he felt that talking about his sexuality might have further impaired his chances.But now that available on Netflix, I wish he would have used this opportunity to not flat-out refuse to talk about it.By doing so, he’s basically saying he’s uncomfortable with something.
Think about it.Do you ever see straight celebrities refusing to talk about their love life?The only people who do are the ones who think they have something to hide.Which, in turns, makes it seem as though they are ashamed or frightened of something.
And hey, if by chance, he is straight, now would be the perfect time to talk about how he’s always been a supporter of the LBTGQ+ community – before it was even in style.
Historically, Hollywood has never been kind to its gay members, necessitating even to this day the closeted lifestyles of many well-known stars and numerous not so well-known actors who would all benefit from someone like Paul Reubens’ breaking his self-imposed silence.Perhaps the time has come where subversion is no longer needed and someone like Paul can be open about his sexuality without the worry of never being employed again.
A plea to Paul Reubens: A call for LGBTQ+ advocacy and inclusivity
So if you read this, Mr. Reubens, I’d like to thank you for validating my existence when I was a gay teen by delivering a veiled message that it was OK to be different.And now that I’m an adult and our world has evolved, I wish you would lift the curtain to send a stronger message to teens who might be struggling with their identities.Besides being a role model, you would also help break down barriers and pave the way for Hollywood to take a chance on producing projects with more diverse artists.After all, Pee Wee has never advocated shame to his audience. Neither should you.
Hopefully soon, you’ll feel comfortable enough to take the lead from your alter ego and reveal just what your ‘secret word’ is.In the mean time, to paraphrase one of your biggest catchphrases, “I know you are, and so I am.”
Subscribe to the Queerty newsletter – where the ‘secret word’ of the day could double as your safe word!
Greg Scarnici is a comedic artist (some confuse him with Fire Islandpersonality Levonia Jenkins) and musician who currently works as an associate producer at Saturday Night Live. His first collection of humorous essays titled I Hope My Mother Doesn’t Read Thisis available as an ebook. Find out more about his work and connect with him via his social networks on www.gregscarnici.com.
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This is dead simple. Reubens’ career is based on his character “Peewee”, who is a childlike 40+-year-old virgin. If the public becomes acquainted with Reubens’ real-life sex life, it dispels the sense of genuineness that Peewee radiates. Is Reubens gay? Who knows? Who cares? He chose to rub one out in a theater showing straight porn, though.
I have never like Reubens. He is creepy as hell. As to whether he is gay or not, I could care less. He is NOT a role model in any sense of the word, nor would his being gay alter the way I feel about him one iota. His private life is just that: private! Why is it that we feel the need for actors to come out if they are gay? That is a personal choice and we do ourselves a disservice by demanding that they if they are gay, they sacrifice choice on the altar to inflate our own sense of self-worth.
If a person is an ally, whether gay or straight, we should honor that and give them their privacy.
I’m more worried about the storylines… several different homes and neighbors and he seems to have amnesia in every movie… doesn’t remember his bike or his big adventure in the new movie…. where is his farm and his pig Vance?? IDC if he declares his personal business. I just want some consistency in story lines.
Seems to me it is part of his shrewdness that he doesn’t bring his personal life into it. It allows more freedom for the innuendos and its comedic value to remain focused on his work.
Having gone through the fallout once already without much homosexuality attached to it, admissions and open discussions are most likely problematic in his particular brand of comedy. The far right and no so far are already convinced that recruiting is a thing (gay agenda).
He has climbed his way out of a predicament few of his peers have been known to do.
I thinks he’s proceeding the best way with the set of priorities and scenarios at hand.
For a lot of people, they don’t want to talk about it, bring it up, or discuss it. And this is especially true of older men and women. I give him a pass and say, let him bring about a revival of his career in peace. He is not hurting anyone, and him coming out may not help anything.
Also, if you check his IMDB, he has done INFINITELY more stuff as Paul Ruebens than he has as Pee Wee Herman, so to say “for a man who has built a career as one character” is a bit unfair.
I’m sure you’re a fine fellow Greg Scarnici, but your own coming out publicly is fine (though I’ve never heard of you before ). Being pissy because Pee Wee chosen not to proclaim his sexuality, whatever it may be, is unreasonable.
Yeah, that’s what unity and diversity are all about, “Do what I say right now, dammit! If you don’t follow this script I’ll persecute you!” Well, guess what? Paul Rubens isn’t hurting anyone so mind your own f’ing business.
a person’s sexuality is their own business, if that person is uncomfortable talking about his sexuality, it is still his own business. no one has a right to know anyone’s sexuality. i have worked at the same place for over 25 yrs, never have i shared my sexuality with anyone, never have i bluntly asked anyone about theirs. do people suspect about me or others at work? probably but its still no ones business. EVERYONE has the right to privacy, privacy that they alone see fit to keep. it makes NO difference is a person is in the public eye or not if they dont want to talk or share about it then it is rude and inappropriate to ask. the ONLY exception would be a person who is gay that has actively worked against the gay community. not coming out is NOT working against the gay community. i get so tired of some gays thinking everyone has to come out – its a personal choice
Stupid article. First of all, why does being gay (if he is) mean that he has more of a responsibility to talk about his personal life? Paul Reubens does not really exist as far as the public is concerned. We almost only ever see him as Pee Wee, so he is not like a normal celebrity. Paul discussing his sexuality, gay or straight or bi, will bleed into Pee Wee’s existent, no matter how it is handled. In addition, this is a guy whose career was derailed for years because he was caught jerking off in a (straight) adult movie theater. Sex and Pee Wee do not mix. I don’t blame him for not talking about it. Innuendo is one thing — but Paul talking about sex can only hurt his famous persona.
The Author of this piece repeats several times, how awful Hollywood is, to Stars who come out. Yet, he wants Reubens to come out…. He says just once, near the conclusion, a contradictory, “the world has changed.” But, gives no supporting evidence of that, at any time in this piece.
Reubens has built a career on just one character, that of PeeWee Herman. Besides the adult theatre scandal, there has never been any kind of focus on Reubens. The focus is on the character.
I saw the release on Netflix last night. It was excellent! And yes, it’s pretty Gay. And, that’s pretty obvious. Why not just enjoy it? Let people make of it what they will. Most, are going to see, that there’s a spark between Joe & PeeWee. That should be enough. People will get it.
I get it. And it makes sense. I love PR too and I suspect that the “need” to do things in code has made the Pee Wee phenomenon what it is. Right or wrong he IS a shrewd business man and frankly if he came out it might take away that mystique? I’d love for him to come out but the fact that NO ONE would blink makes it a moot point now. He’d be a hero for me in a new way if he came out but I won’t lose sleep if he doesn’t. There are much more influential leaders and politicians out there who really need to.
Greg Scarnici makes an obvious mistake here, referring not once but several times to Reubens’ “romantic life” and “love life,” while conflating that with his “sexuality.” Why assume he even HAS a “romantic life”? Reubens may just have a sleazy gay sex life, or possibly even a sleazy hetero sex life. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, lol.
Or he might be quite asexual at this point. Coming out as asexual would be real news, since no celebrity has ever done that, and much of the public has never heard of asexuality or doesn’t believe asexuality exists.
@uktnla: “In addition, this is a guy whose career was derailed for years because he was caught jerking off in a (straight) adult movie theater.”
Yeah, seems like a million years ago. Porn theaters don’t even exist anymore!
None of our business. If Reubens doesn’t want to come out, no one should be forcing him out. It’s a personal decision, and again, it’s none of our business.
@Jaden Perry: I concur! This is his persona; it’s supposed to be innocence in a whirlwind of perceptive life. Though SEX is often thinly veiled in the context show (I still laugh when Genie finally got his hands; his comment was “There is something I’ve always wanted to do with these!” – a wink and nod to masturbation), sexuality beyond the superficial would be anachronistic to the character.
Hey I am way confused after his ‘porn bust’ we can’t question P.R.s orientation.
Funny though if he was anything other than an ‘actor’ would the guy back at work?
Roll Model??????? Just for remaining an insipid for ichy squishy smarmy worm of a creature-man child???? I’d Peter Pan. Do we really need to adopt Pee Wee as a gay icon? PPPPPllllleeeeaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzze WTF?
I honestly don’t understand todays journalists. Has the entire media world morphed into mediocre, self serving online blogs whose with news reporting amounting to sound bites? Does anyone do thorough research on a subject any more or is it left up to the reader?
I love Pee Wee Herman but I am shocked that no mention of his arrest that involved a fifteen year old boy around ten years or so ago was included. Or should I say I am not shocked because with todays emphasis on buns, abs and biceps who has time to remember details as trivial as something like that. I would like to know more about what happened with that case.
To hell with the arrest in that damn theatre. Hell, when I was younger I used to do much worse in those peep show stores that used to dot nearly all of Hollywood. What he (Pee Wee) and I used to do in public because thats what the majority of us did back in those days you now do in front of your computer in the privacy of your home.
@justgeo: if he’s a ‘roll model’ i want to know what kind….cinnamon? onion? potato? bed?
as for scarnici, if you really consider this to be a problem i’m thinking you really need to get a life because it’s all none of your business, none of anybody’s business. at least he’s not claiming to be one thing in public while living some secret sordid existence. find something else to worry about, something of real importance….like what you’re going to have for lunch or whether or not you’re going to match your socks to your undies
Wow! Most of these comments remind me of any comment section anywhere on the Internet. And, from a gay site? Shameful. “None of my business!” “Don’t care what he does in the bedroom!” As if homosexuality is just an “act”. It’s not.
@Jaden Perry: And, yes. I suppose knowing the sexuality if Pee Wee would anger a lot of straight people and many gay people because if he were gay, he would be esstentially “indoctrinating young males into homosexuality”. And, straight and gay people grt hysterical over this sort of thing.
@Bob LaBlah: There was no arrest concerning a 15 year old boy. There was the masturbation arrest, and an arrest for pornography, but the charges were dropped on that case.
@scotshot: A fifteen year old claimed that he was assaulted by Pee Wee Herman and another man. I know so because it hit the news. The last I heard about it they (the adults) were saying he was a willing participant. It did happen. By now it was either dismissed or the kid got paid off….I don’t know how it ended and that is what I would like to know.
@Baba Booey Fafa Fooey: “…remind me of any comment section anywhere…” How are gays supposed to act? Are you speaking from ignorance or blatant homophobia.
As for you comment about gay people “indoctrinating young males into homosexuality” – F*CK OFF
But this is exactly what Paul Reubens does. He defined much of the 80’s aesthetic. In fact being closeted is part of the character. Being that Paul Reubens is not really separated from Pee Wee Herman, it makes sense for him to still be hush hush about it. Pee Wee always struck me as naughty, but presexual. To talk about his love life might actually bring down the facade of Pee Wee Herman, who is especially fragile being a postmodern creation.
No one owes us their coming out, famous or not. If he’s gay, he should come out when he’s ready. No one should be outed or forced out (unless they’re a hypocrite, working against us politically).
If you had bothered to read the article you would have learned that the person who was arrested – Jeffrey Jones from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” – was the one arrested for employing a minor to pose for pornographic pictures.
Peewee Herman was not involved on any way in that criminal action, the situation he was involved in was resolved and the charges were dropped.
Let this be a lesson: If you watch or read anything from FoxNews you will walk away knowing less than before.
I mean, once you get caught wacking off in a gay porn theater, it’s a wrap right? I just thought hey, we all know but Pee Wee is a sort of asexual character. But really, everyone knows.
@scotshot: But he was charged, correct? I think you got lost in translation as my saying he was convicted. Either way, we both read and translated what we read and stick by out interpretations of what was read.
You’ve stated twice that Peewee molested a 14-15 year buy. That is utterly false, he was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, which was later proved false and the charges were dropped. He was, of course, arrested in a XXXtheater masturbating.
Jeffrey jones WAS arrested for taking pornographic photos of a 14-15 year old boy, He’s registered as a sex offender and has to check in with the authorities once a year (I may be off on the frequency).
@n900mixalot: Hi n900mixalot. I’m with you. The above article says, “And this was back in 1988! But yet, nearly 20 years later, Reubens still refuses to talk about his romantic life.” Let’s see, 1988 plus 20 is 2008. When was this article written?
Personally, I don’t care if filmmakers or actors talk about their personal life, any more than I care if the film editor or publicist does so. A film is a product, and if I like it, I watch it. That’s all.
Articles like “My Problem With Paul Reubens” are less interesting than, say, “I don’t have a problem with Paul Reubens” (which would not be very interesting to begin with).
@scotshot: Wait, what? I was responding to the homophobic comments of “it’s none of my business” as if being gay is solely sex. It’s not.
And, the “indonctrination” is a slam at people who believe Pee Wee shouldn’t have sexuality, especially be gay because gay and straight people get hysterical as shown on this board. You have reading comprehension problems, you asshole.
@Bauhaus:
That commentor looks kinda like Mr. Glücklich for whom I have a definite thirst. Haven’t seen him since January and he comes home Wednesday so we’ll be making the wallpaper peel.
@scotshot: Things happy. It was always my understanding that if a person was expected to turn himself in that meant that he was going to lose his freedom until he posted bail. Translation…arrested. As in the case of Pee Wee.
I didn’t think it had been that many years since that happened and I did get blurry about it but I do remember that it did happen. I never knew the outcome but every time I saw Pee Wee on television since then I always thought back to that incident.
I think Pee Wee got robbed when he was not nominated for a Best Supporting Actor role in Blow, which showed his diversity as a actor. His character was gay but that was NOT the Pee Wee that we all knew. If you haven’t seen it check it out. It starred Johnny Depp but to me, the star was Pee Wee (and yes, I know his name is Paul but he will always be Pee Wee to me).
My problem with you, Greg Scarnici, is that you stick your nose in Pee Wee Herman’s business, or any other celebrity, for that matter. If ANYONE, gay or straight, celebrity or not, chooses not to discuss their sexuality, it should not be judged by you. You are a typical gay busybody! Leave people alone. You don’t have to know EVERYTHING about EVERYBODY!
Here he is being interviewed by Stone Phillips on Dateline about the child
pornography charge.
Is Reubens gay or str8? Well, notice the magazine the interviewer is holding while talking to him. https://youtu.be/0_0Kap5SbzU
You also fail to mention his 2 hetero marriages, one which was to a famous pornstar,his long term relationship with Debi Mazar and him bashing one out to a hetero porn film.
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Jaden Perry
His shtick is being an adult child, bringing sexuality into his character is like putting sexuality on a child.
Ray Ivey
Celebrities are not obligated to share their romantic lives with the public.
S.anderson
This is dead simple. Reubens’ career is based on his character “Peewee”, who is a childlike 40+-year-old virgin. If the public becomes acquainted with Reubens’ real-life sex life, it dispels the sense of genuineness that Peewee radiates. Is Reubens gay? Who knows? Who cares? He chose to rub one out in a theater showing straight porn, though.
Kaaper
I have never like Reubens. He is creepy as hell. As to whether he is gay or not, I could care less. He is NOT a role model in any sense of the word, nor would his being gay alter the way I feel about him one iota. His private life is just that: private! Why is it that we feel the need for actors to come out if they are gay? That is a personal choice and we do ourselves a disservice by demanding that they if they are gay, they sacrifice choice on the altar to inflate our own sense of self-worth.
If a person is an ally, whether gay or straight, we should honor that and give them their privacy.
Jason Updegraff
I’m more worried about the storylines… several different homes and neighbors and he seems to have amnesia in every movie… doesn’t remember his bike or his big adventure in the new movie…. where is his farm and his pig Vance?? IDC if he declares his personal business. I just want some consistency in story lines.
Randy Judd
Seems to me it is part of his shrewdness that he doesn’t bring his personal life into it. It allows more freedom for the innuendos and its comedic value to remain focused on his work.
Having gone through the fallout once already without much homosexuality attached to it, admissions and open discussions are most likely problematic in his particular brand of comedy. The far right and no so far are already convinced that recruiting is a thing (gay agenda).
He has climbed his way out of a predicament few of his peers have been known to do.
I thinks he’s proceeding the best way with the set of priorities and scenarios at hand.
David Friend Horn
and if I may add…..Does anyone really care if he is gay or not? I don’t…
Mykaels
For a lot of people, they don’t want to talk about it, bring it up, or discuss it. And this is especially true of older men and women. I give him a pass and say, let him bring about a revival of his career in peace. He is not hurting anyone, and him coming out may not help anything.
Mykaels
Also, if you check his IMDB, he has done INFINITELY more stuff as Paul Ruebens than he has as Pee Wee Herman, so to say “for a man who has built a career as one character” is a bit unfair.
Jaden Perry
Also after the fbi put all his porn out in the public eye, does he need to?
Paul Ditz
I don’t care about his sex life. God forbid he have some privacy.
Michael Golden
Love him
Louis Goodrich
I’m sure you’re a fine fellow Greg Scarnici, but your own coming out publicly is fine (though I’ve never heard of you before ). Being pissy because Pee Wee chosen not to proclaim his sexuality, whatever it may be, is unreasonable.
dean089
Yeah, that’s what unity and diversity are all about, “Do what I say right now, dammit! If you don’t follow this script I’ll persecute you!” Well, guess what? Paul Rubens isn’t hurting anyone so mind your own f’ing business.
Ismael Smiley Flores
who he’s FKN in his own home is none of your fkn buisness.
Douglas Schlitz
The header of the article is correct , It is YOUR problem, get over it, he owes you nothing !
Skot Skotnicki
His private life is his business.
Can’t believe you think he should tell you what he does in the privacy of his home. Geeeesh!!!
joe
a person’s sexuality is their own business, if that person is uncomfortable talking about his sexuality, it is still his own business. no one has a right to know anyone’s sexuality. i have worked at the same place for over 25 yrs, never have i shared my sexuality with anyone, never have i bluntly asked anyone about theirs. do people suspect about me or others at work? probably but its still no ones business. EVERYONE has the right to privacy, privacy that they alone see fit to keep. it makes NO difference is a person is in the public eye or not if they dont want to talk or share about it then it is rude and inappropriate to ask. the ONLY exception would be a person who is gay that has actively worked against the gay community. not coming out is NOT working against the gay community. i get so tired of some gays thinking everyone has to come out – its a personal choice
Mark Ilvonen
“Romantic life”, what is that? Maybe he just masturbates in porn theaters.
Jesus Malverde
It is his private life! Get a life yourself.
Gregory Holmes
Maybe it’s non of your business.
rickhfx
I think str8 guys rubbed one out at porn theaters all the time. Gay guys helped a brother out, gays are more social that way 🙂
Will L
Jaden Perry is right on. Pee Wee (as a character) should remain asexual.
And who the hell cares? It’s no one’s business. Enjoy his work and leave his personal life alone.
Will Glitzern
Some people are gay but don’t have a romantic life. Maybe he’s okay with that.
Glücklich
Didn’t realize Mr. Reubens owed this Scarcini person, whom I doubt he’d know from Adam, an explanation of any kind let about alone his dating life.
@Gregory Holmes:
Wow you are super hot!
Caine
Well Greg Scarnici – you hit the nail right on the head. It’s YOUR problem.
Dennis Richards
Yeah …. my problem with Reubens is all those generously proportioned ladies he painted !
uktnla
Stupid article. First of all, why does being gay (if he is) mean that he has more of a responsibility to talk about his personal life? Paul Reubens does not really exist as far as the public is concerned. We almost only ever see him as Pee Wee, so he is not like a normal celebrity. Paul discussing his sexuality, gay or straight or bi, will bleed into Pee Wee’s existent, no matter how it is handled. In addition, this is a guy whose career was derailed for years because he was caught jerking off in a (straight) adult movie theater. Sex and Pee Wee do not mix. I don’t blame him for not talking about it. Innuendo is one thing — but Paul talking about sex can only hurt his famous persona.
Michael Washington
None of my business.
inbama
Enough sanctimony, already.
We don’t care about Paul Reubens sex life because he’s not hot, hung or attractive.
Trevor McGee
The Author of this piece repeats several times, how awful Hollywood is, to Stars who come out. Yet, he wants Reubens to come out…. He says just once, near the conclusion, a contradictory, “the world has changed.” But, gives no supporting evidence of that, at any time in this piece.
Reubens has built a career on just one character, that of PeeWee Herman. Besides the adult theatre scandal, there has never been any kind of focus on Reubens. The focus is on the character.
I saw the release on Netflix last night. It was excellent! And yes, it’s pretty Gay. And, that’s pretty obvious. Why not just enjoy it? Let people make of it what they will. Most, are going to see, that there’s a spark between Joe & PeeWee. That should be enough. People will get it.
Gary W. Jackson
I get it. And it makes sense. I love PR too and I suspect that the “need” to do things in code has made the Pee Wee phenomenon what it is. Right or wrong he IS a shrewd business man and frankly if he came out it might take away that mystique? I’d love for him to come out but the fact that NO ONE would blink makes it a moot point now. He’d be a hero for me in a new way if he came out but I won’t lose sleep if he doesn’t. There are much more influential leaders and politicians out there who really need to.
martinbakman
Yes PeeWee needs to be more forthcoming. Now we’ll never know whether he eats snatch.
Meka Leka Hi Meka Hiney Ho
Dave Downunder
I just always found him and his pee wee character creepy and off putting. The term stranger danger comes to mind when I look at him.
Terrycloth
The persona pee wee is probably gay the actor proabably not .do they have to he one and the same ?
onthemark
Greg Scarnici makes an obvious mistake here, referring not once but several times to Reubens’ “romantic life” and “love life,” while conflating that with his “sexuality.” Why assume he even HAS a “romantic life”? Reubens may just have a sleazy gay sex life, or possibly even a sleazy hetero sex life. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, lol.
Or he might be quite asexual at this point. Coming out as asexual would be real news, since no celebrity has ever done that, and much of the public has never heard of asexuality or doesn’t believe asexuality exists.
@uktnla: “In addition, this is a guy whose career was derailed for years because he was caught jerking off in a (straight) adult movie theater.”
Yeah, seems like a million years ago. Porn theaters don’t even exist anymore!
Loyd Hawkins
None of our business. If Reubens doesn’t want to come out, no one should be forcing him out. It’s a personal decision, and again, it’s none of our business.
J.r. Graff
Horrible “actor”.
RIGay
@Jaden Perry: I concur! This is his persona; it’s supposed to be innocence in a whirlwind of perceptive life. Though SEX is often thinly veiled in the context show (I still laugh when Genie finally got his hands; his comment was “There is something I’ve always wanted to do with these!” – a wink and nod to masturbation), sexuality beyond the superficial would be anachronistic to the character.
Chris Duffy
Yes. It is just your problem.
justgeo
Hey I am way confused after his ‘porn bust’ we can’t question P.R.s orientation.
Funny though if he was anything other than an ‘actor’ would the guy back at work?
Roll Model??????? Just for remaining an insipid for ichy squishy smarmy worm of a creature-man child???? I’d Peter Pan. Do we really need to adopt Pee Wee as a gay icon? PPPPPllllleeeeaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzze WTF?
LubbockGayMale
Who cares? I’m not interested in taking PeeWee to bed EVER, and I really don’t know Mr Reubens (and don’t care to).
Maude
When Nathan Lane, the star of the stage production of “The Producers” was asked:
“Are you gay?”…He replied: “Honey, do the math!” (paraphrased)
Bauhaus
@Glücklich:
You’ve got a damn good eye!
Bob LaBlah
I honestly don’t understand todays journalists. Has the entire media world morphed into mediocre, self serving online blogs whose with news reporting amounting to sound bites? Does anyone do thorough research on a subject any more or is it left up to the reader?
I love Pee Wee Herman but I am shocked that no mention of his arrest that involved a fifteen year old boy around ten years or so ago was included. Or should I say I am not shocked because with todays emphasis on buns, abs and biceps who has time to remember details as trivial as something like that. I would like to know more about what happened with that case.
To hell with the arrest in that damn theatre. Hell, when I was younger I used to do much worse in those peep show stores that used to dot nearly all of Hollywood. What he (Pee Wee) and I used to do in public because thats what the majority of us did back in those days you now do in front of your computer in the privacy of your home.
paul dorian lord fredine
@justgeo: if he’s a ‘roll model’ i want to know what kind….cinnamon? onion? potato? bed?
as for scarnici, if you really consider this to be a problem i’m thinking you really need to get a life because it’s all none of your business, none of anybody’s business. at least he’s not claiming to be one thing in public while living some secret sordid existence. find something else to worry about, something of real importance….like what you’re going to have for lunch or whether or not you’re going to match your socks to your undies
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
Wow! Most of these comments remind me of any comment section anywhere on the Internet. And, from a gay site? Shameful. “None of my business!” “Don’t care what he does in the bedroom!” As if homosexuality is just an “act”. It’s not.
@Jaden Perry: And, yes. I suppose knowing the sexuality if Pee Wee would anger a lot of straight people and many gay people because if he were gay, he would be esstentially “indoctrinating young males into homosexuality”. And, straight and gay people grt hysterical over this sort of thing.
scotshot
@Bob LaBlah: There was no arrest concerning a 15 year old boy. There was the masturbation arrest, and an arrest for pornography, but the charges were dropped on that case.
Bob LaBlah
@scotshot: A fifteen year old claimed that he was assaulted by Pee Wee Herman and another man. I know so because it hit the news. The last I heard about it they (the adults) were saying he was a willing participant. It did happen. By now it was either dismissed or the kid got paid off….I don’t know how it ended and that is what I would like to know.
Bob LaBlah
@scotshot: This is what happens when you (me, in this case) get old. You remember things but the dates are what throw you off. It was in 2002.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2002/11/15/jeffrey-jones-paul-reubens-charged-in-sex-probe.html
SteveDenver
M I N D
Y O U R
O W N
F U K K I N G
B U S I N E S S
scotshot
@Baba Booey Fafa Fooey: “…remind me of any comment section anywhere…” How are gays supposed to act? Are you speaking from ignorance or blatant homophobia.
As for you comment about gay people “indoctrinating young males into homosexuality” – F*CK OFF
flagged
Ronald Wei
But this is exactly what Paul Reubens does. He defined much of the 80’s aesthetic. In fact being closeted is part of the character. Being that Paul Reubens is not really separated from Pee Wee Herman, it makes sense for him to still be hush hush about it. Pee Wee always struck me as naughty, but presexual. To talk about his love life might actually bring down the facade of Pee Wee Herman, who is especially fragile being a postmodern creation.
Bob LaBlah
@SteveDenver: That doesn’t apply to celebrities and the public thirst for trash about them. I only repeated what I read in the paper.
bobolover
MYOFB – To each his own, who appointed you as the Mistress of Ceremonies of the Senior Shenanigans anyway?!
GayMafiaKingpin
No one owes us their coming out, famous or not. If he’s gay, he should come out when he’s ready. No one should be outed or forced out (unless they’re a hypocrite, working against us politically).
Bauhaus
@GayMafiaKingpin:
Agree.
My problem isn’t with Reubens, it’s with a system that keeps many LGBT people trapped in shame.
scotshot
@Bob LaBlah:
If you had bothered to read the article you would have learned that the person who was arrested – Jeffrey Jones from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ” – was the one arrested for employing a minor to pose for pornographic pictures.
Peewee Herman was not involved on any way in that criminal action, the situation he was involved in was resolved and the charges were dropped.
Let this be a lesson: If you watch or read anything from FoxNews you will walk away knowing less than before.
dean3000
This is why so many people stay in the closet. Who wants to be associated with a bunch of bitchy curtain twitchers
scotshot
@dean3000:
Yes, look at you dean300 acting like a bitchy curtain twitcher. Your closet is calling you.
Tommy O'Brien
Didn’t he day eg Daley for a long time?
Kal Astoga
Get over it
Joe Heisenberg
I mean, once you get caught wacking off in a gay porn theater, it’s a wrap right? I just thought hey, we all know but Pee Wee is a sort of asexual character. But really, everyone knows.
Bob LaBlah
@scotshot: But he was charged, correct? I think you got lost in translation as my saying he was convicted. Either way, we both read and translated what we read and stick by out interpretations of what was read.
scotshot
@Bob LaBlah:
You’ve stated twice that Peewee molested a 14-15 year buy. That is utterly false, he was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, which was later proved false and the charges were dropped. He was, of course, arrested in a XXXtheater masturbating.
Jeffrey jones WAS arrested for taking pornographic photos of a 14-15 year old boy, He’s registered as a sex offender and has to check in with the authorities once a year (I may be off on the frequency).
Poor communication. Sorry.
n900mixalot
Maybe focus on copy editing for typos instead of about who Paul goes for. Who CARES?!
Wanker
@n900mixalot: Hi n900mixalot. I’m with you. The above article says, “And this was back in 1988! But yet, nearly 20 years later, Reubens still refuses to talk about his romantic life.” Let’s see, 1988 plus 20 is 2008. When was this article written?
Personally, I don’t care if filmmakers or actors talk about their personal life, any more than I care if the film editor or publicist does so. A film is a product, and if I like it, I watch it. That’s all.
Articles like “My Problem With Paul Reubens” are less interesting than, say, “I don’t have a problem with Paul Reubens” (which would not be very interesting to begin with).
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
@scotshot: Wait, what? I was responding to the homophobic comments of “it’s none of my business” as if being gay is solely sex. It’s not.
And, the “indonctrination” is a slam at people who believe Pee Wee shouldn’t have sexuality, especially be gay because gay and straight people get hysterical as shown on this board. You have reading comprehension problems, you asshole.
scotshot
@Baba Booey Fafa Fooey:
It appears I am victim of my poor comprehension. Sorry.
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
@scotshot: I’m on your side. :). No prob. <3
Glücklich
@Bauhaus:
That commentor looks kinda like Mr. Glücklich for whom I have a definite thirst. Haven’t seen him since January and he comes home Wednesday so we’ll be making the wallpaper peel.
Bob LaBlah
@scotshot: Things happy. It was always my understanding that if a person was expected to turn himself in that meant that he was going to lose his freedom until he posted bail. Translation…arrested. As in the case of Pee Wee.
I didn’t think it had been that many years since that happened and I did get blurry about it but I do remember that it did happen. I never knew the outcome but every time I saw Pee Wee on television since then I always thought back to that incident.
I think Pee Wee got robbed when he was not nominated for a Best Supporting Actor role in Blow, which showed his diversity as a actor. His character was gay but that was NOT the Pee Wee that we all knew. If you haven’t seen it check it out. It starred Johnny Depp but to me, the star was Pee Wee (and yes, I know his name is Paul but he will always be Pee Wee to me).
Bob LaBlah
@Bob LaBlah: I meant to say “things happen”.
BGinBigD
FIRST PERSON
My problem with you, Greg Scarnici, is that you stick your nose in Pee Wee Herman’s business, or any other celebrity, for that matter. If ANYONE, gay or straight, celebrity or not, chooses not to discuss their sexuality, it should not be judged by you. You are a typical gay busybody! Leave people alone. You don’t have to know EVERYTHING about EVERYBODY!
Keebler ILF
Here he is being interviewed by Stone Phillips on Dateline about the child
pornography charge.
Is Reubens gay or str8? Well, notice the magazine the interviewer is holding while talking to him.
https://youtu.be/0_0Kap5SbzU
Clarina25
You also fail to mention his 2 hetero marriages, one which was to a famous pornstar,his long term relationship with Debi Mazar and him bashing one out to a hetero porn film.