https://www.instagram.com/p/BmYsaBvgfzo/
Jeremy Cormier, a New York-based Instagrammer whose feed consists mostly of shirtless pictures in various scenic locales, is pushing back against people criticizing him for being friends with Aaron Schock.
Related: How do you solve a problem like the toxic white gays who party with Aaron Schock?
Last week, Cormier posted the picture of himself and Schock strolling along the beach in Malibu along with the caption: “Beach bros.”
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.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B08zYWrl33S/
The photo drew widespread criticism from many within the LGBTQ community who are still upset over Schock’s long anti-gay record, which he has yet to apologize for, during his time as U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 18th congressional district.
Now, Cormier says he’s become the target of online abuse and it has inspired him to donate money to two prominent LGBTQ organizations.
In a lengthy Instagram post, he explains his side of the story.
“Aaron Schock and I became friends in 2019,” he writes. “I do not now, nor have I ever shared or supported the views he espoused concerning LGBTQ rights while in Congress.”
“Knowing him, is to know someone who’s viewpoint has grown and changed significantly in the last decade. To affect change open communication among those with differing views is essential. The support our community enjoys can only grow when we reach out to those who don’t share our viewpoint.”
Cormier goes on to say he’s donated $500 to The Victory Fund and “invites” others to do the same. Later, he says he’s donated $500 to the Trevor Project, and “invites” others to do so, as well.
“Since my post was made I have experienced bullying and personal hatred on a level that I would not wish on anyone,” he writes. “That behavior can never be justified even when it’s directed toward those who don’t support us.”
Earlier this year, Will Rossi and Rob Masi, the gay couple photographed alongside Schock at Coachella, put out a similar statement after they, too, received backlash for associating with the disgraced ex-lawmaker.
“Will and I wanted to take a photo with our friends at Coachella, to celebrate our last day there,” the guys said in a since-deleted Instagram post. “Being polite, we allowed Aaron–who was basically a stranger to us and someone we just met–to include himself in our photo.”
Related: After posing for pic with Aaron Schock at Coachella, Will & Rob put out statement denouncing bigotry
“For our own political ignorance, we are deeply sorry,” the guys said.
Unfortunately, not everyone accepted their apology because, shortly after that, someone leaked a bunch of their nudes online in a completely unnecessary act of vengeance.
Perhaps Cormier is hoping to avoid the same fate?
Read his full statement below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1MCrFTF7Tk/
Related: Aaron Schock addresses nude pics, Coachella video, and antigay past in alleged leaked private chat
DomitoJo
humans can be so cruel to one another.
PoetDaddy
You need only to read the comments in Qweerty to know just how routinely cruel people can be.
ShiningSex
If you hang out with vile people then whatever shit you get is all on you. end of discussion. don’t cry.
BryceWalker1322
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Larry
Reality check….. Anyone who posts anything online is targeted. Info gathered about you. Ads served to you. Conflict causes social media to LOVE you. More people click, just like you clicked this looking for something to quench your thirst. @Queerty come up with something real for us.
Hussain-TheCanadian
When is Aaron going to apologize? He wants forgiveness, acceptance and respect, then he needs to own his past, apologize for it, and make amends.
Otherwise the gay online army will keep on taring and feathering his @as.
rustyiam
You mean the hateful malcontent self anointed arbiters of what’s acceptable!
innocentgay
@rustytrombone, whoops, I mean @rustyiam
no, troll, it is not hateful to be intolerant of hate and of harmful behaviour. That’s not how it works. If he was sincere in his growth, he would say something concrete using one of the ample avenues for communication open to him – I recall back in his voting-to-hurt-LGBT+ days he had no problem stripping off and baring all even to Men’s Health. Instead he’s testing the waters by occasionally gaying it up in this or that insta. Gross and cowardly, at best. He needs to at least apologize and try to undo some of the damage he has done before he can expect forgiveness.
jsmu
POOR WIDDA rich white twinkboy. I’m sure our hearts all BLEED for him. Lie down with dogs, GET UP WITH FLEAS, B*TCH!
rustyiam
Take your racism elsewhere troll!
Kangol2
@rustyiam, you’re sounding very, very fragile again, though who’s shocked? Try not to defend Republican homophobes at every turn, show a bit more fiber and don’t be so politically correct!
Rex Huskey
what a wimp
AnthonyS23
I don’t think the guy deserved to be harassed, but he certainly deserves to be called out. While he’s entitled to use his instagram account as he sees fit (primarily as a platform to garner attention by posting images of muscular, handsome men, it seems), he also needs to realize that the world is entitled to comment on the actual substance of the men he’s using for superficial purposes, particularly when those men voted to enact laws that oppress and inflict legally-sanctioned discrimination against the very minority group he’s a member of. And now he’s getting a taste of that, which only seems fair. Maybe he’ll tread more carefully going forward, and be mindful of the fact that there’s a lot more going on with people than their abs and dimples may suggest.
Donston
That’s the real crux of the issue here. The dude just doesn’t care. Many folks pretend to care when they’re cornered (as he was here). But ultimately, six packs and someone’s pockets/crotch being swollen matters a lot more than basic human rights or your own integrity/self-respect. “Oh, he’s now a six-pack-queen just like us. So, the past is whatever”. Besides, you don’t get to vote for hate publicly then pull a private “come to Jesus” and expect everyone to accept that. That ain’t anyone’s realistic.
Bryguyf69
Donston – actually, Cormier does care because he apparently makes money off being an “influencer.” In other words, he depends on viewers and subscribers, and many have apparently unsubscribed. That’s why he’s so desperate to offer excuses, and show off his self-serving charitable donations. The kicker is Cormier portraying himself as an interventional activist out to convert homophobes by engaging them. Narcissist to the core!
Paco
As long as Aaron continues to be unapologetic for using his once held position of power to undermine the rights of the gay community, he and his stereotypical apologists deserve to be publicly called out.
If I was going to sell out my rights for a piece of self-hating a$$, you can be sure it would be for something a lot more attractive than a mediocre, rapidly aging queen.
LilMesican
Poke Karma and she’ll come back to bite you.
Jim A
lie down with dogs…….
enough said!
Cam
He became friends with Aaron in 2019…..so less than a year.
It’s adorable that he considers getting called out as bullying, for publicizing somebody who spent all of their time in Government trying to strip away LGBTQ rights….when he wasn’t committing fraud and stealing tax dollars.
He posed with a guy who spent all of his time attacking us, has never apologized, and is trying to live under the very protections he fought to have removed.
Hussain-TheCanadian
You’re right Cam, some of these people are beyond privileged; they want forgiveness, kindness and love from the gay community, even if they wronged our community and actively worked against it.
There has to be an apology, and making amends, serving the community in a positive way. Sincerity is key, Aaron wants us to forgive and forget without any effort from his end.
rustyiam
Well said Cormier, you’re an honorable, smart man! Bullying and hatred is wrong regardless if it’s coming from the left or the right!
dwes09
There is nothing at all honorable at all about lying. and in fact this vapid shirtless fellow is lying about being bullied. Check his instagram and you will see that pretty much all of the reactions to the picture are reasonable and correct with more pity and sadness for an immature superficial man than hatred of bullying.
youarederanged
Is this surprising to anyone? Just read through the comment sections on Queerty posts and you’ll see plenty of examples of hate, discrimination, violence-promoting, and more. Being nasty is such a common trait in our community.
tjack47
I don’t understand, because I know how it feels to be self-loathing. In fact, I got married, briefly. I was raised in a hellfire damnation situation. Man, I was indoctrinated. Even though I knew I was gay, I just thought if only I was good. It reads as ridiculous to me now. I came out in 1984.
I do understand how upsetting it is that someone would support anti-lgbt policy, etc. It feels like betrayal. When someone who has had that bad a head trip of self loathing, celebrating the fact that they came out, found someone or someones seems in order to me. Embracing them is so much more humane. Why the social media, media crucifixion? It’s petty.
Paco
Unfortunately he is not some nobody closet case. He is a public figure that used his position to cause harm to the gay community. He can use his same position as a known public figure to apologize. And if that leaked chat that was the subject of a previous article was real, he doesn’t seem to be apologetic at all. Even in a “private” chat.
Josh447
I think everyone’s calling but he’s not listening, at least listening fully.
Which tells me he is still in or coming out of his self loathing phase. Which also means he loathes gay people as a reflection of something he doesn’t want to be. Hence no apology.
But I do have faith he’s sloooowly coming out of it from irrational to rational, from insane to sane, then he will probably cry at how terrible he’s been to himself and others. But noone can be pushed, they have to bake on their own time line and when the cakes done they can open the door.
Just get out the popcorn folks and hope for the best.
vonlmo
Unable to get corporate donations to support himself now that he’s long been out of Congress , how is Aaron paying for his travels & circuit-party lifestyle?
Kangol2
Well, in addition to his homophobic votes, he did run through taxpayers’ money for lavish trips and expenses, including allegedly to redo his office in the style of Downton Abbey, and was indicted for it, so who knows? He’s not to be trusted. BTW, did he pay that taxpayer money back?
spacecadet
He has a job in real estate and also has his own properties.
Donston
Ultimately, I don’t see any point in hate comments. But please. If we’re to believe those leaked texts the dude still takes zero responsibility for his actions and blames everything on his upbringing and those “closed-minded Liberals”. The thing is I doubt he’s ever been for or against “queer issues”. He just voted the way he needed to in order to game the system and keep his position of power. Now that that position has been stripped from him because of alleged misuse of funds, he’s now moved on to gaming a different form of politics and sociology. I see no real “growth”. Just a man who feels he can more easily “be himself” simply because there isn’t any advantage not being himself. Miss me with false pathos, self-victimization and using other people to speak for him.
Mangrove
Amen
Jimmy T
They both look pretty hot to me. I’d jump into a three-way in a New York minute (If I were 50 years younger).
jimontp
Even though Schock voted against EVERY gay equality bill when he was a Congressman? ReallY? I suppose 50 years ago you would have jumped at the chance to bend over for Roy Cohn?
Jimmy T
OK…if I didn’t know who they were.
joelk57
When you lay down with street dogs you get up with fleas. This guy plead his way out of warranted prison time. Then let his campaign take the fall… Pathetic, if this is who you run with so be it…Buck up and take the heat like a man…..
Wicked Dickie
If his IG is any indicator, he doesn’t seem to have much to offer except being a Twink.
dhmonarch89
Has Schock donated ANY money to this fund?!!! He certainly took your sweet ass time in addressing this. The so called hate would have disappeared a week ago had he come forward. This seems completely disingenuous!! Instead of explaining Schock’s motives to us- it’s time Schock did that!!!
jimontp
I think Schock spent all of the lobbyists’ money decorating his Congressional office to look like Downtown Abbey. Wonder who got all stuff at a garage sale?
Esscourt
Fags can be bitchy!
WashDrySpin
says the bitchy fag named Esscourt
balttymore
If he is gonna be one of those “public” instagramers he may want to pick better friends…Ones that don’t have a homophobic past….But glancing at his instagram, Cleary he only hangs out with hot In shape white guys….so I doubt being problematic is on his list of worries…Rather than crying over being “bullied” he should just apologize for hanging out with schock…Gay are still being killed because of rhetoric being spewed by people with a platform just like schock had
ShiningSex
Well don’t hang out with vile people
Max
bingo
Mangrove
I genuinely could not care less. If you hang out with evil people then expect for their victims to call you out. The amount of privilege contained in all this placed whining is just gross.
Brian
So is it just coincidence that this is the second time within a few days that somebody who is not Aaron Schock put out something that explains how much he’s changed and that people need to be understanding?
I think he’s clearly testing the waters to see if it’s time for his comeback and whether people will be receptive to him.
Toofie
Yeah, it looks that way. Why he doesn’t just do an apology/regret or whatever already? As for jumping back in the political scene, probably not. He still has the stink of scandal, wasn’t that popular and those nude video/pics would work against him.
Donston
In both the “leaked” text messages and in Jeremy’s statement we’re seeing similar phrases, similar excuses and similar “I wish Liberals/gays were less judgmental” suppositions. So, yes, this very much looks like contrivance. His political career is done. The scandal, the nudes, trying to be out while likely still being “mostly Conservative”. It’s not happening.
Aaron can’t go the give an interview route. He can’t even express his experiences and perspective on social media. That opens him up to too much questioning. He’ll be asked about the political scandal and his supposed misuse of funds. He’ll be asked exactly what drove him to consistently vote anti-queer while in office. He’ll be asked how his perspective has supposedly changed over time and what triggered those changes. He’ll be asked if he regrets what he did. He’ll be asked to apologize. He’ll be asked where his politics stand today. The man is not here for any of that. He just wants people to embrace him as a hunky “queer”. He’s not at all ready to publicly get real and deal with the fire. He’ll perhaps never be ready.
Critifur
I am so dreading the book deal that must be coming. Shock has to be waiting to come out as part of a publicity / book deal right? No way he would do that, or apologize for his past, unless there was money to be made while doing it.
Black Pegasus
I BLOCKED Cormier on Instagram because just looking at his face repulses me.
Ellie533
Poor Mr. Cormier, with all of the fabulousness one must accept there’s a price to be paid for putting pecs before principles. That’s really what it’s all about isn’t it? If the former congressman was on the chubby side, would any of this silliness be going on?
TimothyBeauchamp
I’m ready to forgive Schrock and friends, after he apologizes and MAKES AMENDS (Volunteers for gay center etc.). Until then, he should be appropriately exiled and all the lovelies who socialize with unrepentant ass.
enlightenone
Wise beyond your YEARS. NOT!!! Just another of many low-grade homosexuals.
Godabed
grow a thicker skin sweetheart, you’re an attention whore clearly. that doesn’t speak to your personality or your intentions with that photo. You should have been more informed about who were you hanging with from the Jump.
My dad was guilty by association and got 10 years in prison, you are guilty by association, and got scolded by some internet trolls. Grow up princess.
Bryguyf69
Er, apparently narcissistic Jeremy thinks that social media is only for adoration. When you CHOOSE to post a photo, it’s open to all opinions. No one forced you to post that photo of Schock. You can be friends without flaunting it. When you flaunt your friendship with a proven enemy, don’t claim surprise at all the disapproval and yes, hate. Don’t want negative feedback? Stop being a narcissist and get off social media. Or make your account private. But you won’t do that because you feed off the views, Likes and upvotes. Bye, Felicia…
Bryguyf69
This is illogical BS. Narcissistic Jeremy writes, “Aaron Schock and I became friends in 2019… Knowing him, is to know someone who’s viewpoint has grown and changed significantly in the last decade. …The support our community enjoys can only grow when we reach out to those who don’t share our viewpoint.”
That doesn’t even make sense. First, he claims to have only been friends with Schock for a few months. Then somehow, he knows that Schock’s “viewpoint has grown and changed significantly in the last decade.” Oh really? His last homophobic vote wasn’t that long ago. How exactly did Jeremy witness this decade long conversion since he’s only known Schock for a few months? If the leaked chat session is real, Schock himself says that his homophobic views had not changed while he was in Congress. In other words, Jeremy’s post is illogical BS.
The kicker is that he’s portraying himself as some kind of activist out to convert homophobes. And apparently, Schock is one of his converts. Yeah, right. Narcissist to the core!
d3clark
I was going to write a similar comment. He’s only known Schock for less than a year but he sees how much he’s grown over a decade. How? Did Schock tell him? Aaron Schock, known liar and fraud.
I wonder if Jeremy is going to run interference for, and support, Aaron when Schock decides to exit the closet and finally go public?
Bryguyf69
I just read through many of the Instagram comments and I saw no widespread “bullying.” What I saw were well-thought out comments explaining why Cormier’s defense of Schock is wrong. Looks like narcissistic Cormier is simply not used to critical comments and uses social media merely as a source of adoration.
dwes09
I read through the profile as well. And you are correct. Cormier obviously believes any disagreement or disappointment (as opposed to adoration of his abs and creepily frozen smile) is “bullying”.
Someone like Shock needs to publicly repudiate his past actions,or they still stand as representing him regardless of how many times he takes his shirt off to garner attention. And those who currently support him enable his ongoing hypocrisy.
jcoberkrom
If you are going to live your life on the net expecting and wanting praise and compliments you’re going to get negativity and criticism. It’s the other side of the coin.
Get over it!!!!
yah_sure_youbetcha
If these incidents highlight the fact that too many of us allow ourselves to sacrifice our self respect, our principles, and our commitment to our community’s well being simply for pecs and abs on some dude we met literally a few weeks ago, then perhaps the resulting shame, introspection, and behavior change will be Schock’s unintended gift to us. After all, if one can’t be an example to others, perhaps one can at least be a horrible warning.
Aidanf
Odd that Queerty persists in lumping white gays under “Toxic White Gays.”
I can guarantee you there are no African-American pop culture sites using the term “Toxic Black Guys” to address homophobia in the African-American community.
Having said that, this kid whining about people not happy about getting what he deserves is laughable.
Question 1: Has Schock ever officially apologized for his vile actions against the LGBTQ community as politician ?
Question 2; What does Schock do now for financial support if he’s no longer working in the political arena?
Question 3: is he a has-been? Is there no way he can hurt our community any longer? If so, can we focus our energy on addressing our current enemies in power ?
I’m really sick of reading about and seeing this guy and his loathsome friends.
Wicked Dickie
I scrolled through the Jeremy guy’s IG page, I did not see one other guy on his page that was not white, with their abs showing. That being said, he has a perfect right to only hang out with other white gays who have abs showing. Not fats allowed on his page.
PinkoOfTheGange
1: not yet
2: last thing reported he is doing something administrative at a hotel renovation down by LAX
3: from your keyboard to the Makers sensors.
Celtic
My one HUGE issue about Schock is how he dodged accepting his homosexuality by his efforts to “punish” gays while he was in office. These pols have no concept about how much damage they do, often damage that is not reversible or redeemable.
Xzamilloh
Nope, don’t miss this garbage site at all
BGinBigD
Cormier is very shallow as evidenced by his Instagram pics. Having a “friend” like Schock only proves it. They deserve each other.
pavel20
I think what’s lacking with Jeremy is any sense of the fact that to have gotten to where we have as lgbtq people has been a battle that is not yet over. There are many who are continually pushing to take away whatever ground we have gained in our work to be equal citizens before the law. It’s great to want to extend an olive branch. He just doesn’t seem to realize that those he would seek to reach out to would rather we didn’t exist in the first place.
CenterRight
It must be so depressing to find yourself living in a world like yours that’s so black and white. I find many straight people more tolerant than gays like you. You seem to see everyone who doesn’t like you or doesn’t agree with you as an enemy. Very sad indeed.
Donston
CenterRight, miss me with the “intolerant” bullshit. You expect people to say f their self-respect and their rights and embrace a man who actively looked to keep their advancement at bay. And why should folks be embracing him? Because he has a six pack? Because he now goes to gay clubs and hangs out with muscle queens? I’m so tired of you tired “queers” using the “gays are too closed-minded” trope in order to keep at bay or justify your self-resentments, internal conflicts, internalized homophobia, effemiphobia, self-misandry, shame. It’s lame. And no one is falling for that shit. Every faag has every right to resent Mr. Schock forever if they so choose. I don’t even resent him. But you have absolutely no argument except “you guys are closed-minded”. Come up with different lines.
inbama
Schock is a fraud.
He worked against the interests of gays and lesbians in order to hide his own homosexuality.
He hasn’t “evolved” – he, like Kevin Spacey, was caught.
At least Spacey had talent.
armandov
This dude seems just as narcissistic and mindless as Schock. It’s funny that his post talks about how “we” as a community should all aim to support various causes and yet doesn’t suggest that Schock do that.
He doesn’t even suggest that Schock make even a tiny effort to repair the damage he did – repeatedly – to the gay community.
SportGuy
Bye Felicia. No pity for anyone like him who chooses to hang out with gay nazis.
IWantAFullBeard
Well, there it is – a prime example about how you can workout and starve yourself to get the perfect body but still have the same ugly face. Dude should have taken that $1k and got some facial work done. He is ugly.