The BBC is very sorry for letting actor Hugh Grant say something mildly homophobic on air when, while watching the England v. Scotland rugby game at London’s Twickenham Stadium, announcers invited him into the box to weigh in. There, Grant said that when he played rugby as a boy in school, “I discovered it hurt less if you tackled hard than if you tackled like a queen.” The BBC (and not Grant) says in a statement, “We apologise for any offence his comments may have caused.” Which is fine and all, but I’ll tell you this much: When I played (American) football with my friends in grade school, it did hurt less when I tackled less queen-y.
Tommy Marx
When I read this, I laughed out loud. I doubt Hugh Grant had the slightest idea that some people might find this troubling. I too have to agree – tackling is much more effective when it’s done in a less queenly fashion.
alan brickman
he didn’t say gay..he said queenly…not all gays are queens..very proper english to a proper response…I don’t think Ian Roberts or Gareth Thomas act queenly….
MikeE
he didn’t say “queenly” either. he said “like a queen”.