We’re not quite sure this is an example of Meredith Vieira having “gay panic” about two The Hurt Locker actors embracing after their film won the Best Picture Oscar. But just like morning show colleague George Stephanopoulos at Good Morning America, it reeks of heterosexism. And ADORABLENESS.
UPDATE 3/10: Vieira is sorry. She says in a statement: “During an interview with the cast of the hurt locker on Monday, I turned to actor Anthony Mackie and made a joke about “man hugging” in reference to a hug he and fellow actor Jeremy Renner had shared a few weeks earlier on our air. It was meant to be lighthearted, but some were offended by what they believed to be a homophobic comment. That was never my intent, but that doesn’t matter. Words are extremely powerful and should never be chosen lightly, even in a lighthearted moment. I apologize to any and all that I offended. My support of the gay and lesbian community is longstanding and well documented. It has not and will never waver.” [via]
Chris
Points to Al Roker for his response.
“WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT??”
CHEEKIEY
Ok Meredith. Yes that is a homophobic remark and joke. This is bullshit NBC.
At least Al spoke up, he knew that was wrong as soon as it came out of her nasty mouth.
Go AL
Down with Meredith…….
Kieran
Two grown men hugging each other? WTF!! Ewwwwwwwwwwwww. Should we be worried that they might be faggots? With “liberals” like Meredith Viera, who needs conservatives?
ganymeade
She proved to me that she is a total homophobic twit. I cringed when I heard that spill out of her ditzy mouth. Roker gets an A! I hope there is an outcry. She needs to get a grip and apologize.
Tami
Why would she be worried? Is being gay is some kind of disease? At least, Al Roke tried to make up for it. I’m very disappointed with Miss Vieira’s comment.
terrwill
Meridith Viera has always been a hawty crunt………….
sal(the original)
drunk much?well i didnt like the point made that its only when somethin artistic is done u can justify a hug with a guy.eff em all
Chris
I recently had the displeasure of seeing Meredith’s intensely wrinkled face in the street in Rockefeller Center.
So when she asks, “Do I have reason to be worried?” she is probably talking about her fugly face.
Bitch.
blackball
Yeah men can be a-holes a lot of the times, but women, ugh such cloying harpies. I dunno which is worst 😛
Dirty Ole Man
What a DUMB Bitch she is! We should flood NBC
with letters and phone calls demanding an apology!
That Stupid non relevant wrinkled funky cunt!
Ugh!
Bunny Snuggles
Meredith Vieira says “I hope I don’t have anything to worry about”, in a snickery, homophobic reaction to two male stars from the movie “The Hurt Locker” after they embrace one another to celebrate the film’s win at the Oscars for Best Picture.
Hmmmm…well, Ms Vieira should not concern herself if somebody may or may not possess the distinct gift of having been born Gay or Lesbian, but she should “worry” about the following:
1) Forgetting to put botox in her douche bag lest her brain fall out of her prolapsed vagina.
2) Holding the position of one of the Top Ten reasons for making abortions retroactive.
3) Being the most effect antidote to priapism (prolonged Viagra induced erections) — or even natural ones for that matter.
…So, no, Meredith, two men hugging should be the least of your worries.
ossurworld
Viera has a history of saying crude and embarrassing remarks, often at the expense of Matt Lauer. He needs to tell NBC to dump the aging baggage.
Bubba in TX
It actually sounded like Al cried out, “Why would you SAY that?” less because he was calling Meredith on her homophobia and more because he simply didn’t see the hug as sexual.
(Not sure if I explained that clearly, but that was my initial thought.)
Vincent
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one shocked by MV! I set my dvr that morning just to see this interview. I love Anthony Mackie. I was enjoying the interview until that spilled out of her mouth. WTF?!?!? “Should I be worried about you” I’m sending her a free pass to Sea World.
jason
And yet straight women who greet each other with kisses are considered to be normal and no-one bats an eyelid. Their boyfrirends, meanwhile, exchange a stiff handshake. Sheesh, talk about double standards.
Women are to blame. They are extremely jealous of male-male affections. Liberals, in general, are also paranoid of male-male affection, especially between straight guys.
alan brickman
MORE MAN HATE FROM MERIDITH……
Lukas P.
This “no hugging between men” obsession is HUGE in the US media, but really hits a nerve with me. Most of my relatives and many of my friends are foreign or foreign born: when we meet, we hug, man or women, gay or straight.
If you go walking with an Italian or Spanish or Portuguese str8 man, he may grab your arm.
There’s nothing sexual about it. He isn’t automatically trying to get into your knickers.
I’ve noticed that here in the US [yes I have the US passport] that straight guys under the age of about 32 or so, hug their male friends, and I’ve always been the eurotrash dude who immediately prepares for a handshake with my hetero buds and often they laugh at me and hug me anyway.
Things are changing here.
This may be just because I live in an urban area, so I cannot generalize.
For Ms Viera –herself of Portuguese descent– to be somehow put off by two men hugging is perhaps a generational issue, but for pete’s sake, she works in NYC and may or may not have a gay son.
On her stint on the Millionaire show, she had several OUT gay contestants, and was careful to point out their partner in the audience, but mebbe that way a producer’s decision, not hers.
@jason: For someone whose sole role on Queerty is to be pro-BISEXUALITY, you sure exhibit a lot of hateful/negative feelings toward women. Methinks thou doest protest too much….
Meredith Whoreface
She is such a dumb witch. ALL men hug nowadays! Good Lord! Bill Clinton & Al Gore used to hug each other like that. Would she ask them the same stupid question? Probably. Because she is sinking to the level of Connie Chung and below with her stupid questions.
Meredith — boo you whore! Even on that Millionaire show you embarass yourself. Bleh. Let someone smarter and younger take your place and put yourself out to pasture, dear.
Lukas P.
@Meredish whoreface: Based on recent events, however, I would NOT recommend you hug any member of your state or national legislature! They got all kinds of pervs running around there!
Gus
“Should I be worried?!” — what does that even *mean* in this context? OK, maybe she just meant to raise some kind of playful banter, and couldn’t think of anything else to focus on … but doesn’t it make you wonder about the thoughts behind the comment? What a dumb, and slightly disgusting, thing for her to say.
Ruddigore
Meredith Viera was always having faux lesbian kisses with other women on the View “as a joke”. I don’t think it would surprise anyone if she divorced her husband after the kids are grown and entered into a relationship with a woman. It worked for Meredith Baxter.
Herbo
Glad I ratted the bitch out via email and phone call to her NBC execs
The Artist
What a stupid comment from Meredith. Ugh! PEACELUVNBWILD!
Nick
MS Vieira has reached her level of incompetence. Dear Meredith, please GO AWAY!
soul_erosion
I’m too lazy to do a search right now, do we have any proof of her unwavering support for our community? I’ll accept her apology for making an ass out of herself, but they could have ended the segment with a toast to the real life weapons disposal teams & to the end of the war & our troops coming home. I would suspect she only apologized after someone told her Jeremy Renner might be gay.
Bunny Snuggles
@Nick: Amen to that, Nick!
Bunny Snuggles
Meredith Vieira says “I hope I don’t have anything to worry about”, in a snickery, homophobic reaction to two male stars from the movie “The Hurt Locker” after they embrace one another to celebrate the film’s win at the Oscars for Best Picture.
Hmmmm…well, Ms Vieira should not concern herself if somebody may or may not possess the distinct gift of having been born Gay or Lesbian, but she should “worry” about the following:
1) Forgetting to put botox in her douche bag lest her brain fall out of her prolapsed vagina.
2) Holding the position of one of the Top Ten reasons for making abortions retroactive.
3) Being the most effect antidote to priapism (prolonged Viagra induced erections) — or even natural ones for that matter.
…So, no, Meredith, two men hugging should be the least of your worries.
Ricky
this makes me realise that our community’s skin is waaaaaay to thin!
CHEEKIEY
Start The Back Paddling NBC & Meredith The Homophobe…
just Go Away Now..
Your Done
ewe
My support of the straight community will not be that much effected by this incident.
jason
P Lukas,
I am not hateful to women per se. I am opposed to women who exploit double standards in order to get preferential treatment.
I am not necessarily pro-bisexuality nor am I anti-bisexuality. I simply call a fact a fact. It’s important to look at life through the fact lens, not just the political one.
Lukas P.
@ewe: Just found out that my parents had sent a complaint letter to NBC right after that “episode” occurred! How cute is that?! I feel like a slacker in comparison..
@jason: I’d like to hope that you’ll examine how your single-minded focus on how women “manipulate” their sexuality might blind you to the importance of other issues. I do appreciate your response.
Alexfangirl
I’m glad you guys are destroying that stereotype that all gay men a sense of humor.
sheep
Ok, I don’t seem to be able to see or find the video anywhere, but from the description of it, it seems like the typical, “Aw, no! Don’t tell me he’s gay, too” as in: ‘All good men are either taken or gay’. No?
I cannot say what went on in her head (and I probably ought to be glad), but that’s how I would read the comment. Just some innocuous banter about how hot these guys are… gone ever so slightly wrong.
OompaLoompa
Ah, but the star of the movie IS a homo, so she was not so wrong after all. Let the spin machine begin!
Gus
OompaLoompa said:
> “Ah, but the star of the movie IS a homo …”
Well, he’s certainly been on *my* radar since he played another vampire in love with David Boreanaz on the TV show “Angel”. So I guess life’s just catching up with my fantasies …
Ted
More overly sensitive Mos. Sad.
Mimi
Jealous much?! You Queens really need to get this vagina envy under control. Classic Queer overreaction