“[It only happened] once… He recognized my Louboutins. When you’re dating a man and he knows the brand of your shoes, immediately break up with him and become best friends.
You know, I love my gays. I just don’t want to marry one. That’s all.”— Actress Kristen Chenoweth responding to a question from Los Angeles Magazine about whether she’s ever dated a gay man. Chenoweth’s character in the musical satire series Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+), Mildred Layton, is married to the closeted Reverend Layton (Fred Armisen).
fpcinnyc
I LOVE her for this. I used to give similar advice to my two younger sisters.
jcool
we learned the same lesson in “Legally Blond” with “last season’s prada” lol
missvamp
truth. when they know make up & fashion brands as well as or better than you- they are queer. they are not datable, they are your new bestie.
greekboy
Oh! She loves her gays. Must be related to Donald Trump and Kathie what’s her name as they both said the same thing. Go suck a tail pipe
jonasalden
I don’t think she said it in that spirit, ditto for Kathie Griffin. Intentions are (almost) everything, and word choice follows in importance. I agree, that “lap dog” expression is unfortunate and she might consider the company she’s in when she uses it. She’s a Broadway chick (see now I’m doing it. Somebody somewhere hates that word and rightfully so) and therefore immersed in gay energy and no doubt loving of it, but “my gays” clearly fell wrong with someone, in this case with you. My thought was “THE gays” sounds bad, whereas “MY” gays tells me about her social world. But I understand your point, but am not sure she’s deserving of the tail pipe.
Liquid Silver
Agreed. I am not a handbag. I am not “her” gay.
She gets a minor pass for being on the right side of things…but it still annoys me.
LumpyPillows
What would you have preferred she say?
Hdtex
Look at greekboy all triggered and sh@t.
Cry harder.
JackBristow
I love Kristen Chenoweth, but it is disappointing that she would say “I love my gays”. I’m sure she means it genuinely, and wholeheartedly, but I still feel somewhat uneasy when a group of people is objectified in that manner. Kathy Griffin does it as well. Am I the only one?
LumpyPillows
No, you unfortunately are not the only one. Most people just take it as it is intended.
Donston
She wants to be with a “masculine” and thoroughly hetero and “straight” guy. And that’s her prerogative. But the comment is reminiscent of where a lot of women fall short when they try to be “allies”.
Her statement is very dependent on stereotypes, and it promotes toxic masculinity and male insecurities. Yes, being into fashion, clothes, makeup does make a guy a bit more likely to be “queer” and in the gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotional investment, commitment spectrum. But there are many guys who are homosexual and very “gay” when it comes to the overall spectrum and are not into those things. Just like there are guys who are heterosexual and “straight” that are into those things. Comments like that just generalizes folks and swaths very individual people together. While the “I love my gays” comes off condescending, like she’s talking about pets or lackeys. The statement is right out of 2003.
I’ll give her the benefit because she is a bit “older” and because there’s a chance she was asked some personal questions on the spot and didn’t have time to really think.
LumpyPillows
All of this is tripe, Donston. Is there anything that does not offend you fragile sensibilities?
Donston
I’m not at all offended. I don’t offend easily. Explaining why someone’s statement is a bit misguided, dated and condescending doesn’t equate to being offended. Explaining that stuff is the only way people learn and do better. But of course, a troll and basic bytch like yourself wouldn’t get it.
Hdtex
Donston, grow up.
Donston
The sad thing is that I’m sure this site’s persistent basic bytches and trolls are old ass adults. It’s not funny, and it’s not even proper trolling. It’s just sad. And you know that they must be old-heads because they don’t even know how to troll right. It’s pathetic.
Liquid Silver
Just ignore Hdtex, that’s a nasty ol’ low-intellect troll I ran into at JMG s well. It’s incapable of giving anything but the insult retort and can’t formulate a coherent reply if you paid it.
cassiew
I think you have some good points, Donston. While she’s clearly well-meaning, she’s reinforcing some unhelpful gender stereotypes here. Liking shoes shouldn’t mean anything about whom one is attracted to sexually, and forcing a connection means people have to pretend to be who they are not in one area to be seen in another.
What’s wrong with a gay man not caring about designer brand shoes? Or a straight man caring about them? Nothing at all. We need to get over these stereotypes and let people just be.
BoomerMyles
Kristen is a consummate ally who also admonishes the Christian right community she was brought up in.
Definitely give her a pass.
She’s besties with all the Broadway gays.
Donston
Yeah, I don’t feel any different towards Kristen after this statement. It just highlights that “ally culture” has limitations, and that everyone could learn a thing or two.
JB
Oh, puhleez all you snowflakes. Would you just listen to yourselves??? What she said was meant in good fun and solidarity, and it does present a humorous truth about our gay culture. Stop being so serious and LAUGH.
Donston
The shit ain’t funny though. It’s some mediocre episode of Will & Grace and Sex and The City type humor. Even if you look at it from a sarcastic POV, it’s still dated and witless.
It’s not about being a “snowflake” (that’s one of many terminologies that needs to die). The days of promoting being a woman’s pet and sidekick are over. The days of “cishet” people casually promoting toxic masculinity and stereotypes and generalizing people are just over. I know that change upsets some, particularly of the older generation. But it is what it is. While some of y’all need to garner some self-respect and stop kissing the ass of every “gay friendly” chick or every dude you think is hot. I like Kristen and will continue to fvck with her, but it was a corny, poorly thought out quote.
Vera Delmar
It’s unfortunate she put it that way….sounding too tRumpian. But I know she didn’t mean it that way or at least I hope not. She would have been better off just saying “I love gay men. I just don’t want to marry one.”
sth
Jesus does the author of this article even watch the show? It’s Alan Cumming’s Mayor character that was closeted, not Fred Armisen’s Reverend character (unless you’ve decided to spoil a twist in the finale for everyone).
powersthatbe
Not sure who put 50p in her, but no.
nunya
The exception proves the rule…