It was the kiss heard (or rather, seen) ‘round the world.
In March, Jodie Foster picked up a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role as real-life attorney Nancy Hollander in The Mauritanian. But what was more buzzworthy than the award was the thing that came before she accepted it: the kiss to her wife.
“Are you kidding me? I think you made a mistake. I’m a little speechless. I just never expected to ever be here again and wow, I have to thank all of my amazing filmmakers,” Foster said when she was announced as the winner, after kissing her wife, Alexandra Hedison, for all the world to see.
Jodie Foster wins the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the #GoldenGlobes. pic.twitter.com/UZlX7q7lu3
— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) March 1, 2021
For the most part, Foster has remained tight-lipped about her private life. In 2007, she thanked “my beautiful Cydney,” at a Hollywood Reporter breakfast. And in 2013, she alluded to her sexuality during the Golden Globes ceremony.
“I guess I have a sudden urge to say something that I’ve never been able to air in public that I’m a little nervous about,” she began the now-infamous speech. “But maybe not as nervous as my publicist, so I’m just going to put it out there… I am… single,” she mused, before acknowledging her former partner.
“There’s no way I could ever stand here without acknowledging one of the deepest loves of my life: my heroic co-parent, my ex-partner in love but righteous soul sister in life, my confessor, ski buddy, consigliere, most beloved BFF of 20 years, Cydney Bernard.” (Foster would go on to meet Hedison, her current wife, that same year.)
At the time, Foster’s speech perplexed the world. Did she just come out as gay?, many wondered. Think pieces were written, questioning whether Foster’s speech sent LGBTQ+ rights back 500 years into the past, or propelled them forward.
Some LGBTQ+ activists called the actress’ speech “cryptic and defensive” and remarked how “a straightforward coming out would have been preferable to the route she took,” while others praised how Foster’s speech showed “just how much the tide has turned.”
Fast forward several years, and it now seems silly to have demanded Foster come out in any other way. In the age of over-sharing, Foster’s knack for privacy is–dare we say–completely human. And who are we to tell Foster how to share her life with the public? Coming out is different for everyone, it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. There never will be a right or wrong way to do it.
The thing we love about Foster is that she has always done things on her terms, and that includes sharing pieces of herself in a way that works and feels comfortable for her. So, while she may have never uttered the words “Yep, I’m gay!” the way many people wanted her to, her actions–the loving nod to her ex-partner in 2013, and the kiss with her wife in 2021–tell us everything we need to know. And for that, we have no reason but to champion her…. and include her on the Pride50, duh.
Welcome to Queerty’s Pride50. We’re celebrating the members from our community who are responsible for some of the most inspiring and extraordinary moments for LGBTQ people over the last year. See all the honorees
Donston
She didn’t need to do a “straightforward ‘coming out”. And no one has to talk about their personal life if they don’t want to. And you definitely don’t need to adhere to any identity. But let’s not rewrite history because she made out with her wife on TV. What she did at the Globes in 2013 was just tacky and was almost like she was mocking “coming out”. It wasn’t cute and she didn’t need to make that moment about that. I’m guessing she was a bit drunk. It also wasn’t a good look that she spent that ceremony next to Mel Gibson, pretty much using that moment as an opportunity to tell people to forgive and embrace Gibson again.
Some of the reaction was unnecessarily bitter and melodramatic, and it highlighted part of the reason some public figures don’t keep it real and live freely. But she did deserve some shade.
Hdtex
Lived deeply in the closet for decades. Not redeemed. Not impressed.
Beachman
What are you talking about? Jodie Foster has NEVER BEEN IN A CLOSET. Just because she doesn’t publicize her personal life for all to see doesn’t put her in a closet. Jodie has never shared ANYTHING about her personal life to the public. There are lots of other famous people who also prefer their personal life remain private, and they are not accused of living in a closet.
Jodie Foster has nothing to ‘redeem’, and I am confident she could care less that you are ‘not impressed’.
Cam
@Beachman
Stop re-writing history. This is the same B.S. Anderson Cooper pulled when he didn’t want to come out. He would say things like “I don’t talk about my personal life, I don’t want the story to be about me.” You know, except for the book he wrote about his father’s death, his brother’s death, and the countless interviews he gave about growing up as the son of Gloria Vanderbuilt. The ONLY part of his life he apparently was talking about when he said he was a private person, was the part where he is gay.
As for Foster never talking about herself forever, as you claim. Hmmm, this took 5 seconds to Google, first interview from 1988 I looked at.
“She became preoccupied with death, suspicious of everyone around her, self-loathing, she writes. “I died when I looked at myself in the mirror, the body that no longer slept, the clothes I no longer cared for, the mismatched socks, the tired expression, the reddened eyes, the languid stare. My prior identity — the actress, the enthusiastic collegiate — no longer existed.””
Yeah, she certainly wasn’t talking about things outside of the movie she was promoting. (Eye Roll).
Cam
“Fast forward several years, and it now seems silly to have demanded Foster come out in any other way. ”
She hired and defended people like Mel Gibson, then had been outted multiple times by insinuation, and was finally dragged out because LGBTQ people were publicly fed up with her defending Gibson and being in the closet so did a cryptic speech that said nothing.
I don’t have a problem with foster coming out when she wants to, or in her own way, she’s a great actress and is probably a very good director, but let’s not paint what she did as any kind of individualistic bravery when compared to people who fully came out clear as a bell. She was in the glass closet, wanted to stay there and stayed as long as she could.
Her story is more of a teaching opportunity about bigotry and how the closet can paralyze even otherwise strong people into hiding who they are. I think people are learning from it and future famous people won’t have to live with the fear Foster did.
Mehki
I knew she was gay from her first picture when she was a kid.
Who on earth didn’t know?
amanwithanedge
you’re an idiot.
Cam
@amanwithanedge
Care to explain why? Or are you trying to claim that LGBTQ people don’t sometimes have insight into other people?
If you’re right, then why was everybody right who said that Ricky Martin, Rosie, Clay Aiken, Ellen, Demi Lovato, Chaz Bono, Little Richard, Andre Leon Talley etc. were LGBTQ? Just lucky guesses by them?
Kangol2
Most people didn’t know.
Kangol2
I think Jody Foster is a superb actor, one of the best of her generation. She has given iconic performances over and over again (Taxi Driver, Silence of the Lambs, The Accused, Bugsy Malone, Foxes, The Mauretanian, etc.), and deserves every award she’s received. But she did not come out for years, even when she was outed in the 1990s (remember that?), and only belatedly did so, once her acting career was on the wane. It’s her business, but she isn’t at the front of the courage line when it comes to coming out, though I’m glad she has.
Fahd
I kind of agree that her being gay was clear from her early films, but I’m not sure if it might not be going back and seeing things through updated knowledge.
Given how really terrible so many child actors’ lives have played out, I want to refrain from judging her, but the write-up here does seem to sugarcoat/reinterpret. If I had only 50 to pick, not sure she’d be on the list, but it’s your list.
MissTerri
Good for her! Who cares what bitter Judgemental (emphasis on Mental) Queens think of you!
Cam
Another post by the right wing troll screaming about not liking an article, or being bored by it or saying “Who cares”….
Yet it comes in and frantically comments on all the articles it supposedly doesn’t care about.
Sweetie, there you go embarrassing yourself again.
MissTerri
Speaking of ‘Mental Queens – There She Is ^^^^^^ Hi-LAR-ious!!!!
Cam
@MissTerri
Awwww, the right wing troll still thinks the worst insult it can give is to call somebody a “Queen”. I get it honey, Russia is hurting and Putin can’t afford the smart trolls anymore.
Jim
Anyone who states they don’t care what people think of them are lying. Why else would they bother to make such a comment?
Donston
Foster didn’t say that. This site said that about her. But it was a weird assertion to make. Almost everyone cares what people think about them, especially actors. The problem is getting so caught up in ego, validation and public perception that it dictates a lot of your choices and a lot of how you present yourself.
I don’t really think Foster deserves any flowers. She did spend decades never speaking about any “queer issues” (and still doesn’t) despite indulging multiple long-term gay relationships. She was a Mel Gibson apologist. And her tacky 2013 Golden Globes speech definitely reflected some trauma, internalized phobias, insecurities. After all of that, you don’t suddenly deserve flowers because you made out with your wife at the Globes.
I have no ill will towards Foster. She is her own person and I’m sure she’s been through a lot. But this site (like a lot of publications) does too much convenient overlooking and unwarranted ass kissing.