As we reported yesterday, the star of LOGO’s Finding Prince Charming, essentially a gay version of The Bachelor, came clean about his escorting past in an interview with Huffington Post‘s Noah Michelson early this week.
Though not particularly pleased to be confronted with the question, Robert Sepúlveda Jr briskly acknowledged his previous dalliances with sex work, saying, “The past is the past. I was young and it helped through college.”
An op-ed piece by E. Alex Jung published yesterday by Vulture argues that the show shouldn’t sweep his hustling days under the rug, but should incorporate them into the narrative of the show.
“Finding Prince Charming wants to have it both ways,” he writes.
They wanted a bachelor who looked like a porn star to activate the trashy, libidinal desires of gay men, but they didn’t want him to talk about it once they realize he might actually have been one. It’s the Madonna/whore complex, but for gay men. Indeed, what may make Finding Prince Charming interesting isn’t Sepúlveda himself, but rather the era the show represents: when marriage is not just a possibility for queer people, but an obligation.”
Meanwhile, commentators on our original story went ballistic in regards to Sepúlveda, claiming he’s a disgrace to the community. And though we find such accusations ridiculous, close-minded, and borderline evil, Sepúlveda certainly didn’t do himself any favors during his interview with Vulture, saying, “What I want the show to do is unify the community. That’s what we should we doing.”
Riiiiight. Because anonymous comments such as these paint “the gay community” in a very favorable light.
Anyway. Our question is this: Should LOGO incorporate Sepúlveda’s escorting days into the show, or should they continue to sweep them under the rug?
Weigh in in the comments section below. Delicately.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Borderline evil? Fuck you for traducing your readership like that you utter c_nt. Stop the slut-shaming-shaming
stadacona
A show featuring a “competition” for a prostitute? How stupid can you get?
NateOcean
Well he *is* handsome, has a great body, and an amazing penis.
On the other hand, in one of his videos he injets a escort client’s semen (sent to him in a condom) into his own penis.
How does one say it? I find it “off-putting”.
ChrisK
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID: Bbbbut we are c*nts. Raise that c*nt flag proudly darling. No shame in shaming.
ChrisK
@NateOcean: “Well he *is* handsome, has a great body, and an amazing penis.”
You can just stop there. That’s the only reason I need to hate him. Douchebag.
Hank
I dont believe in the intention of this show, I think it all fake.
I also think the producers were aware of Robert’s past and intended to use it.
Otherwise they simply ignore it.
Theonewhoismany
I am not sure this says much about the LGBTQ community. I do think it is quite illuminating of the times we live in. True love can apparently be found in a simulacra situation, that is scripted, feigns controversy and exposes people’s enjoyment in the bitter bites of life. To address if the bachelor should reveal his past, while being judgmental is not much of a virtue, if the premise of the show is finding true love (even in the most staged of circumstances), not being honest about oneself, seems to be quite the obstacle to any kind of romantic pair bonding that could potentially occur.
spankt
The issues for the producers in casting is that they need to sustain a show for x weeks with a bachelor that is ‘hot’ enough that the contestants remain interested in him ahead of each other. Network The Bachelor doesn’t generally have the worry of the girls running off with each other.
They’ve decided to bet on a porn hot guy rather a deeper hot, playing to the physical attributes, which I’m guessing will wear thin really quick. Some will want to bed him, others won’t find the ‘everyone has been there’ aspirational in a mate. I predict disinterest when the bachelor is revealed or pretty quickly during the show.
I’ve got friends who have hooked. Amazing funny people, I don’t want to date them though. A LOT of baggage.
Stefan
It’s one thing to be an escort, it’s another to shoot semen in your dick hole. This guy is beyond gross. Plus that hacked up plastic surgery face and steroid body aren’t exactly role model attributes. I know a couple of the “candidates” and they are very sweet, genuine guys who are sincerely interested in a long-term relationship. Not sure why they would want, or have to compete for, this freak.
Kangol
@Theonewhoismany: Work that Baudrillardian theory into your response! +1000!
Queerty girl, you know you are over the top calling anyone “borderline evil.” Get a grip. There are commenters who were upset that Sepúlveda set himself up and was being presented as some upstanding gay socialite. I disagree with slut-shaming and have no problem with his past sex work but there are all kinds of questions about his background. He should address them and be up front about them, whether it involves the shuttered charity that he allegedly claims is still open, his sex work and the allegation of [email protected], or anything else. (He apparently has a visibly Afro-Puerto Rican sister, so perhaps it’s only sexual desire where he draws the line at race.) At least be truthful; clearly the sex work didn’t end when he was “young.” Above all, call this what it is, yet another uninventive reality show, and stop making it about representing the “gay community.”
jheryn
“Meanwhile, commentators on our original story went ballistic in regards to Sepúlveda, claiming he’s a disgrace to the community. And though we find such accusations ridiculous, close-minded, and borderline evil…”
Are you trying to piss off your readership? Do you think that saying such things about your readership makes you any better than the ones you are criticizing? And that “we” does that actually include all people at Queerty, or just the person writing the article? Because if it is everyone at Queerty, it says a lot (all bad) about a group of people publishing a website with paid advertisers.
Insulting readers isn’t good for your audience attraction or retention.
Uppity
The gay men who cast this guy would have known about his escort past and not thought twice about it, because they would have friends who are prostitutes and would have hired hookers themselves. They would have failed to take into account how this would play with the wider gay audience. The program makers would be the archetypal gay ghetto dwellers and such people can develop a myopia about this sort of thing. Anyway the problem could have been easily solved by simply calling the show Find Me A Porn Star. Then everybody would have known where they stood. The fact is, reality shows don’t attract high-calibre applicants. But they are scraping close to the bottom of the barrel with this guy.
Hussain-TheCanadian
I have no idea what you’re going on about Derek; yesterday’s piece was an opinion piece, and you got opinions as feedback – so I don’t know what are you queening over.
I was going to give this show a chance, but now, due to your insulting attitude, i’m going to boycott it just to spite you.
Jack Meoff
Once again a writer at Queerty is taking the opportunity to shame readers who are not happy about behaviours such as prostitution or porn being considered a normal way of life for gay men. While some of us may not condemn those who do choose to make money as hookers or porn actors we also don’t want it to be glorified or considered a normal part of gay existence.
It has come to the point that if you speak out about self destructive behaviours you in turn are shamed for being uptight or intolerant. Time to get you heads out of the gay qhetto Queerty, there is a big wide world out there full of gay men who do not exist in this bubble or gay narcissistic self indulgence. How about reporting on some of that.
desertboy
Everyone has a past. I swear, queens can be so fucking judgmental.
rwsandiego
I don’t care that he escorted. However, he stated it was in the past as a way to earn money while in college. Never mind that he was advertising as recently as six months ago. As far as the question is concerned, his escorting should be addressed in the show and should be done so honestly, i.e., acknowledge that he advertised as recently as six months ago.
DCguy
This isn’t about somebody having a past, it is about a show lying about somebody’s present. He isn’t successful at interior design if he was still hooking when he tried out for the show, he isn’t an activist, the whole thing is fake. As it was bound to be with Bass heading it up. And Queerty, please point out specifics to back up your commentary.
Times2
You ask: “Should LOGO incorporate Sepúlveda’s escorting days into the show, or should they continue to sweep them under the rug?”
How do you incorporate something new in a series that’s already been filmed?
And do we even know for sure that the subject is not addressed in the series?
Clearly, we do know that the week’s drama has brought the new show a huge amount of publicity.
darkanser
If in weren’t for all this publicity and the internet, I’d suggest he pursue being a telenovela actor. He has the look.
stranded
@Jack Meoff: I think you’re making the assumption that Queerty and those who don’t care or negatively judge Sepulveda’s hooking past only have that view on the gay community. I honestly don’t ever think i’ll pay for sex, but whether straight/gay or whatever, i don’t judge anyone who buys or sells sex. I’m more concerned about his non-profit, i’m not sure of the facts but i’d hate to think he was cheating a charity.