One of the first rules of a red carpet: Do not ask controversial questions! But at Lifeworks’ fundraising event on Saturday (yes, the one with Dustin Lance Black) some notable folks were quizzed on whether Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno represents blackface for gays. (Wait, but we thought gay wasn’t the new black? Argh, sexuality v. race comparisons are so hard now!)
We’ve been down this road before, but now famous persons enter the fray!
Queer As Folk‘s Peter Paige, Project Runway‘s Nick Verreos, The Brady Bunch‘s Jennifer Elise Cox, and MTV/LOGO hotshot Brian Graden all voice their concerns about Bruno. Is this just bad timing on Cohen (“Right now, it’s in poor taste,” says Cox)? Just plain harmful (“I’m of the belief that it is dangerous,” says Verreos)?
Or just hysterical?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
galefan2004
While I have a lot of respect for Paige. I am still inclined to believe that the people that hate us hate us rather we are stereotyped or not. The people that love us love us rather we are stereotyped or not. I’ve seen plenty of material on LOGO and in QAF that has been down right offensive to the gay community (when viewed through the eyes of bigots especially), but I still fully support those shows. If you watched Peter Paige’s character on QAF, you would think that all gay guys are sized obsessed feminine characters that frequent drug filled clubs every night and bang straight guys every chance they get as long as it is in the closet. Gay entertainment (not just Bruno) has always been a heightened view of the gay lifestyle, that normally is inaccurate, that paints every gay with the same brush.
CHIP
Bruno is the same as Borat. Instead of putting light on American’s anti-semetism, homophobia, racism, and general stupidity that Borat did, this movie is putting homophobia up front. I don’t remember the media lambasting Borat for scenes such as throwing money at cockroaches or the “running of the Jew” because it’s satire and it was meant to poke fun at the stupidity of people. (And if you are a raging homophobe, you probably also think the US media is controlled by the Jews, so why weren’t they up in arms about Borat?). Bruno is just a character, this is a comedy mockumentary, and if Cohen was gay himself the gay media would be heralding him as the entertainer of the century. As for the homophobes that will watch this movie and laugh at us gays and come out validated in their homophobia, I am sure Borat had the same effect on our most stupidest and ignorant of Americans when it came to opinions on Jews.
Joey
“Famous”????? Queerty needs to look up the definition of “famous”. These people are not famous.
Dorian
I have to agree with the general opinion. If you look at it, Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno, a straight man playing the most stereotypical idea of a gay man, is a minstrel act. I’m amazed there isn’t a more reactionary attitude to this. I’m all for a laugh, but when it verges to a point where it can cause damage, then I have to balk. Call me PC if you want, but put yourselves in the place of a teenager, dealing with his sexual confusion, and faced with Bruno doing this. How would you react?
This clip has the interesting aspect of putting him with the bad guys, on yes on 8. What it does is confirm that what Bruno is doing is helping spread the stereotype promoted by the religious right.
REBELComx
@Joey: I’m pretty sure the headline was sarcasm…which is why the FAMOUS PEOPLE was in caps. Odd how these people who either are, or who have played stereotypical gays are upset that someone else playing a gay stereotype.
@Dorian: If he was a non-flaming gay man, would it still be a minstrel act? What if he was a flaming mo? The clip is edited like crap and taken out of context. And even if that’s not the case, sometimes you have to look like you’re on their side to bring out their true vileness.
I’m curious if there is an uproar in the fashion industry because he might be making fun of fashionistas… or in Austria because he’s making fun of Austrians. Gods forbid there is actually an airheaded gay austrian fashionista out there just itching to sue someone…
Jesse
@Dorian:
Hmmm. Is Carson Kressley a stereotype? All the QUEER EYE guys for that matter? Jack on WILL & GRACE? Paul Lynde? Charles Nelson Reilly? Ross the intern? Emmet on QAF? Sorry, but there are plenty of real gays and fictional ones that fit the stereotype.
How is Bruno any more offensive than Borat or Ali G.? They are all outlandish characters. Did the gays get up in arms about those characters when they were making fun of other minority groups? Nope.
Mike
For those who think comedy should be without a conscience, that it should never be critiqued, well then, the picture of the White House with watermelons in the front lawn is a laugh-riot.
You know where the watermelon thing came from? Blackface and minstrel shows. So it’s okay that President Obama still gets racist humor directed at him that was born out of ‘blackface’ stereotypes.
In fact, those GOPers who sent it should be saluted for being controversial and risk-taking.
Or how about the picture of the 44 presidents and Obama is just a pair of big, bug-eyes, because he’s a SPOOK!
Yup, gotta love that ‘blackface’ racist humor. So, now back to Bruno…