Matt Damon has a message for closeted actors — stay put if you want the career you’ve always dreamed of.
Or else, end up like — god forbid — Rupert Everett. (You could do worse.)
Damon told the Guardian: “I don’t want to, like [imply] it’s some sort of disease – then it’s like I’m throwing my friends under the bus.”
Cue the “but.”
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“But at the time, I remember thinking and saying, Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy – more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor – it’s tough to make the argument that he didn’t take a hit for being out.”
And hey, maybe he has a point. But maybe he doesn’t. He also had to go back nearly 20 years to find an example to support his theory — surely the landscape has changed a bit since Everett came out in 1997? Zachary Quinto, Neil Patrick Harris, Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer and Wentworth Miller seem to be doing alright for themselves, but would they be even bigger names if the world still thought they were straight shooters?
Related: Rupert Everett Says Coming Out Killed His Career
Back when Damon and Ben Affleck hit the scene running with Good Will Hunting, there were more than a few gay rumors flying around about the two golden boys.
At the time, he told Playboy: “I never denied those rumors because I was offended and didn’t want to offend my friends who were gay – as if being gay were some kind of fucking disease. It put me in a weird position in that sense. The whole thing was just gross.”
Damon went on to say in the Guardian that all actors should be in the closet, so to speak.
“In terms of actors, I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period,” Damon explained.
“And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”
Related: Matt Damon: Why His Love Of Gay People Is Reciprocated
By that logic, his participation in this YourTango article — Matt Damon Shares His BEST Marriage And Family Secrets — must have made him a much worse actor.
Jim Thronberry
Now he is an expert on wether a gay actor should decide to come out or not Not sure anyone ask for his lame advice!
Luis Collazo
Yeah look at the most successful actor on TV Jim parsons who’s out and highest paid actor on TV. Look at Ellen look at Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Look at Nathan lane. There are plenty of successful out actors!
Mark Reimer
Perhaps this explains why he has never admitted the true nature of his “close friendship” with Ben Affleck?
odawg
Please stfu, Matt Damon.
Joseph Pasquino
The issue isn’t an out gay olsctor. It’s the homophobic industry and their fans
Zenon Torin
Unfortunately still true.
If you’re an openly gay actor you will get supporting “comedy/clown” roles, “best friend” roles, “wise old man” roles or part-of-a-larger-team roles.
You will never play the main role in a blockbuster, main str8 love interest or macho action hero in movies. Those are still reserved only for str8 actors.
Myk Gonzales
his brain is moving backwards
Wei Chuen Wong
Dear Queerty, read the actual interview
“Is it harder for actors to be openly gay in Hollywood? â??Iâ??m sure. When Ben and I first came on the scene there were rumours that we were gay because it was two guys who wrote a script together.â?
Really?
â??I know. Itâ??s just like any piece of gossipâ?¦ and it put us in a weird position of having to answer, you know what I mean? Which was then really deeply offensive. I donâ??t want to, like [imply] itâ??s some sort of disease â?? then itâ??s like Iâ??m throwing my friends under the bus. But at the time, I remember thinking and saying, Rupert Everett was openly gay and this guy â?? more handsome than anybody, a classically trained actor â?? itâ??s tough to make the argument that he didnâ??t take a hit for being out.â?
He thinks attitudes are changing, and welcomes the introduction of same-sex marriage in California in 2008. â??I think it must be really hard for actors to be out publicly,â? he continues. â??But in terms of actors, I think youâ??re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youâ??re straight or gay, people shouldnâ??t know anything about your sexuality because thatâ??s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.â?”
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/sep/27/matt-damon-i-think-you-are-a-better-actor-the-less-people-know-about-you
Bobby French
Worked for him and Ben!
Bisexual-Transwoman
Isn’t he closeted?
Maggie Brown
I wish his sex tape with Ben Affleck would get leaked soon.
Carol Schwab Leister
Speaking as a straight woman, I couldn’t care less what the actors I like do on their downtime. I can still enjoy seeing, for example, Neil Patrick Harris in anything, because he’s a good actor, and way easy on the eyes. I don’t think I’m alone in this. I don’t think it’s the audience that has a problem so much as the suits in charge who are afraid of upsetting the Kim Davis’s of the world.
Deon Letsoalo
Can’t help but agree with him. Even the so-called successful out actors portray stereotypical characters that are just caricatures when given gay roles. Who’d ever take Jesse Tyler’s character seriously? I personally get extremely embarrassed whenever I watch ‘Modern Family’. Tuc Watkins — who’s reasonably talented and quite easy on the eye — hasn’t been heard of since and Michael Sam’s (I know he isn’t an actor) failure will also be probably linked to his sexual orientation. Unless you’re really accomplished like Zach Quinto and Matt Bomer, stay in your lane and your closet. Rumors will go around, so long you don’t confirm anything, you’re in the clear. Pretending everything will be A for Away, honky dory, moonlight and roses is naïve.
Richard Lee Zweiben Klein
What! To live a lie. Those who came out suffered little negativity.
Eoin Maher
Yeah it totally ruined Stephen Fry and Ian McKellen’s careers,
Thomas Cameron
Hahaha any thing this guy says is going to be spun 1 way or the other if he was to fart there would be reporters posting that he had kale for lunch and lettuce is traumatized by it! While chasing a tomato to find out how it feels about the situation. So what if he thinks gay actors should stay in the closet maybe he is right maybe he wrong who care its his opinion. He still has the right to have one right? Gtfoh with stupidness like this. He probably had a million awesome things to say during his interview that we will never no about because the person writing this article was stuck on stupid and only heard this! Cue womps! Womp! Womp! Womp!
Alan Maguire
Only if straight actors also stay in the closet.
Rikard Pearson
he is a thoughtful man and has the guts to carefully say some things that could be unpopular. things are changing, but the actors mentioned as bankable out stars all had substantial success before coming out to the media. the evolution is clear and the future hopeful.
Jaime Enrique Sibauste
Is he insinuating something? Another closet case?
Alan Maguire
What’s he saying? If someone impertantly asks about your sexuality – you should lie? You should say your straight?
Desert Boy
He raises a compelling POV.
Michael Sam blames coming out with the end of his NFL career. I want to believe things have changed but, there’s much evidence to the contrary.
jamesthomas
And he’s the vox of experience, first met him at a “club”
notevenwrong
@Desert Boy, Michael Sam has had career problems because he is an impulsive and emotional hot mess, not because he’s gay.
redcarpet30
He has a point insofar as there are multiple layers of old ignorant white men between an actor and the roles they need/want, even today. I’m sure Zach Quinto was quietly forgotten by more than one casting director after he came out.
So even best case a gay actor is probably going to take a career hit. Whether the hit is big enough to justify staying in the closet is the question. One which I think the answer is a firm No at this point.
As for actors private lives, they don’t get that option. You want fame, we get to know if your gay or not just like we get to know other topical info like where you were born. We are not asking penis size, whether you top or bottom, or whether you like leather. It’s a small price to pay for the millions you have raked in Matt Damon.
Jaime Enrique Sibauste
Here is a list of Gay Actors, how many are clowns?
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls052534452/
Ken VanArsdale
He’s right
Michael Lepper
Sounds like he is one of those “Straight married men”………. Just saying.
Nick Grillo
That was a douche move by Damon. Rather than criticize the industry, he implied that being true living honestly will ruin an actor’s career. Can Damon say “Neil Patrick Harris?” He should be encouraging more actors to come out in order to make sexuality a non-issue in Hollywood.
AtticusBennett
fun fact – that just means Closet Culture will continue. wanna change things? accept the reality that those of us who are Out and taking the burden and ensuring that what we go through won’t happen to future generations. the end.
Duane Ram
sure forget bout yourself do it for everyone else cause they are what matters
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
I really wanted to see The Martian too. Oh, well. Looks like I’ll pass. I wish straight people would shut up about gay people.
Giancarlo85
Matt Damon… it’s not the 1990s anymore. It’s 2015. Even in that short period of time attitudes change.
Jaclyn Kaluhiwa
Says the biggest closet! if ya’ll only knew about his desires……. pot & kettle tryst but it’s none of my buzinessss lol
Erik Anderson
Qweerty, this is a super shitty click bait title that doesn’t truly represent what he said.
Frank House
WRONG….You have the story WRONG…get with it. He never said that.
KlausRose
As a gay man myself I have to completely agree with him …anywhere you are it doesnt even matter if your gay,…you can be straight as well keeping your sexuality a mystery kind of widens the hope for both men and women to think that your gay or straight or bi….etc…So in a way you can say its part of business…why do you think actors or idols don’t even say there sexuality (an example as kpop guys) but you guys have to understand Yes a while back not everyone was so accepting in the United states but now at days its become accpeted a lot more so people r ok with it…..but some parts of the world arent…its a business move
Julie Boddorf
Ugh. Quit while you’re ahead, Matt. Um, waitâ??too late. JUST STOP.
Billy Budd
He himself is closeted and wants everybody to do the same as he did.
Avery Alvarez
So what Damon is saying, is that he, and all other straight actors, can show up to premiers, award shows, nights out on the town…etc, with their whore wives and nasty crotch fruit children, and show them off in all their glory, and talk proudly about them in interviews.
During this time, the gay man must show up alone. He must claim to be alone. He must have no husband to show off, no kids to show off. He must be presented as a lonely, single bachelor who “just hasn’t found the right woman yet” so that the loser, assholes straight pieces of shit in America don’t get abusive towards him.
That nasty ass proposition “stay in the closet while straighty gets all the glory” disgusted me before and it disgusts me now. The only way it would work is if straight people volunteer to go first, and not discuss their marriage, or their children or their dating life. Seeing as so many trade their careers on it, i doubt it will happen.
Dameon Gene Rogers
I am so disappointed in him and from Boston too. I know it is difficult to get gay male luv, but really…not that difficult
Ladbrook
Hollywood, especially the filmmaking wing, has a long and nasty history of “promoting” LGBT causes, gender equality, and racial equality in their work. Statistically, however, they rarely if ever, practice what they preach. LGBTs, women, and African Americans are still underrepresented and usually underpaid when compared with straight white guys.
Matt is an insider, so he knows all of this. Perhaps he should have lectured the Hollywood hypocrites for THEIR choices instead of sending a subtle “we’re gonna get you” message to the younger LGBT community trying to make it in the film industry.
Bisexual-Transwoman
@Maggie Brown: Heh I have heard about that too.
I hear they are both closeted and Ben is bi while the guy in this article is gay.
MarionPaige
Rupert Everett was so beautiful in his prime. It’s hard to tell how much “bad plastic surgery” and bad movie choices worked against Rupert (more than his being gay). After one particularly bad eye job, Everett was unrecognizable when he appear on a tv talk show.
Everett has bragged in interviews about traveling to different countries in search of cheap plastic surgery. And, for a while, his face looked like he’d had a lot of bad / cheap plastic surgery.
When you realize that the out movement was / is a marketing strategy by publishers to make gay a recognized demographic for advertisers, it is amazing that so many clowns have swallowed that Out Koolaid and incorporated it into their being like some new age religion.
broadshoulder
I got sick of Matt Damon when he slagged off James Bond
Matt Damon = crashing bore…
onthemark
@Ladbrook: “Perhaps he should have lectured the Hollywood hypocrites for THEIR choices instead of sending a subtle “we’re gonna get you” message to the younger LGBT community trying to make it in the film industry.”
SHHHHH! You just gave away next week’s episode of “Project Greenlight.” Matt and Ben were going to explain everything to us, in tedious detail!
Cagnazzo82
It all depends on what type of actor you are. If you’re a hearthrob, likely coming out as gay will hurt your career.
However, if you’re a seasoned thespian like, shall we say Sir Ian McKellen? Well, then you can literally be as gay as you wish and it won’t have one iota of an affect on your career.
Also, this statement makes me think if Matt Damon were gay or bi he’d definitely stay in the closet. He might be bi… I’ve always suspected that at least 🙂
Duane Ram
Good luck trying to find life on mars
Joe Stevens
Say what? Is he kidding?? Has he ever heard of Neil Patrick Harris or Zachary Quinto or Matt Bomer or a number of other actors for that matter. It’s NOT the 90s anymore Matt.
AxelDC
Damon doesn’t want gays to even mention that they date other men, yet Damon lets the press know all about his lovely wife, children and his past relationships.
Gay men need to STFU about being gay, but straight actors can parade their sexual conquests across the world newspapers.
garrettgla7
You all are mean. I think Matt Damon is wonderful and I thankful he gave his opinion.
gerome
Rupert Everett is a bitch & reportedly a diva to work with, have we forgotten about that? Matt Damon should just shut it.
NYtoSF
I can understand why he would say that . Look what happened to Ellen DeGeneres at first BUT afterwards, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED to her. $$$
The thing is his statement is in my opinion is childish.
The gay community are men not mice.
Mack
I think it’s up to the individual whether or not to come out. It’s really no one’s business. Most of the famous out gays became famous BEFORE they came out. What they do behind close doors is their business. Having said that, we as gay movie/tv viewers still like to think who is gay and who isn’t and what we would like to do to them or them to us. One can always dream.
Merv
The most shocking thing about this story is the number of commenters who took the headline at face value. Matt Damon said nothing of the sort. He is one of the most pro-gay actors in Hollywood. He simply made the observation that there is still anti-gay discrimination in Hollywood, and therefore coming out can negatively affect an actor’s career.
Cagnazzo82
@Merv: Pretty sure people have an issue with him using Rupert Everett as an example of why gays shouldn’t come out. He basically destroyed his point by using an actor who’s self-admittedly difficult to work.
[email protected]
Everett’s, an out gay man a respected actor became a movie star with Julia Roberts on My Best Friend’s Wedding. He crashed and burned thanks to that awful picture he made with Madge.
bobbyjoe
Rupert Everett has established in interview after interview over the years that he’s not exactly an easy guy to get along with. Queerty itself had an article a while back listing numerous ways in which Everett had sabotaged his own career (like attacking American audiences frequently in the press as stupid or “whiny”– yeah, there’s a surefire way to keep getting roles in Hollywood).
As to gays, Queerty noted interviews where Everett referred to LGBT parades as “party grazing cows” and where he said he couldn’t think of “anything worse than being brought up by two gay dads.”
I suspect that Everett’s reputation as a difficult-to-work-with, wretched human being has much more to do with why he doesn’t get roles than coming out ever did (though it’s been easy for Everett to hypocritically lean on that as an excuse, all-the-while slurring gays himself). In an interview with the London Telegraph, Everett himself even admits that the idea that he’s difficult and that he’s sabotaged his own carer is “to a certain extent” true.
So for Matt Damon to reach back to Rupert Everett as any example of anything– while ignoring the many gay actors who have come out and continue to have highly successful careers– is particularly obnoxious. Everett might still have a good career if he wasn’t such a pompous egotistical off-putting jerk to so many people. It’s not that you’re gay, Rupert, it’s just that you’re… well, you.
Will Gore
Is that his way of saying “I’m gay, but I’m not going to actually say it out loud?” Haha
Rich Walczak
Is this why he’s still in the closet?
passingthru
The way that things change is by pushing the envelope. Thank you to all of the brave, out and attitude changing heroes who lead the way. No thanks to selfish, self-centered opportunist who care way to much about themselves.
Francisco A. Diaz
Thats not what he is saying at all. Do people actually read the quotes they are reporting about? And if so, do you understand them? More click bait.
Joe Keller
Even if Rupert Everett was straight he still would not have gotten the A+ jobs because of his piss poor attitude and horrible plastic surgery. I hate he is the “don’t come out” go to guy for actors.
muscl954
In each of these examples of successful gay actors, they didn’t come out until AFTER they were successful. By that time, audiences had already developed a fondness for them. They already had a foothold in the industry before coming out.
Pete
@Luis Collazo: Yes, but all of these people are character actors. Everett, an impossibly handsome extremely talented actor, had Leading Man practically tattooed on him. He could easily have been a Bond. Then he came-out and his career fizzled. In his biography, he deeply regrets coming out. So it’s not Matt Damon’s fault for calling attention to the 500 lb (pink) elephant in the corner of the room: the general public is not ready to accept an out gay actor as a credible heterosexual romantic lead.
The other person who regrets coming out is Michael Sam. What goes for the movie-going public goes doubly-so for the NFL. He should have at least established himself as an impact player first. If he helped his team bring home a ring I don’t think anyone would care if was into sheep!
DuMaurier
@Pete: That was pretty much going to be my reply to Luis. It depends on what kind of career you’re talking about. Within my lifetime a Neil Patrick Harris or Jim Parsons would’ve seen their careers evaporate overnight if they came out, so that kind of change is fantastic. But they’re TV/stage/character actors, which is a far cry from the kind of leading man, movie box office stardom Chris Pratt, for example, is just now achieving.
Show me the gay version of HIM (please, no one say “Matt Bomer[!]) and we’ll talk.
mujerado
Rupert Everett was hurt more by his own public statements and behavior than by “being” openly gay.
Cam
If any other industries had major players making comments like that there would be an investigation launched.
Ok Justice Dept. Please call Damon in and interview him about which agents and studios are the bigoted problem.
adrianjurado310
Or else, end up like — god forbid — Party Gurl. (You could do worse.)
Moritz
There are so many reasons why an actor’s career can fail. I remember when Rupert tried blaming it on his homosexuality. Yeah, right. His career failed because you can only do so many iterations of the same character. Cold, snooty Englishman who may, or may not, have a heart of gold. It didn’t help that he is not very personable during interviews.
When I think of all the openly gay actors out there, then all the straight ones, I think being openly gay might be a minor factor in success. If only because of narrow minded casting directors. But when you see people like John Barrowman, Jonathan Groff, Matt Bomer and NPH, you don’t see people whose career is on the decline. It may even help to restart a flagging career if you come out, and get the subsequent attention.
I’ve always thought that Damon, Affleck, Clooney and their ilk were so progressive and were showing other straight guys how to handle having gay friends and co-workers. Now it seems that I will have to drop Damon off that list.
Doughosier
It just makes suspending their disbelief that much harder. If you want to be a leading man, he’s absolutely right, dad to say. If you’re a supporting actor, that is, an actor no one wants to f*%k, then it’s ok. This also might be taken as Matt’s secret confession, as he’s a big movie star who’s been rumored to be gay got years.
woogersam
@Carol Schwab Leister: Finally, someone with a brain, in touch with the real truth. Concise, to the point, absolutely correct. Thank you, Carol Schwab Leister. Done here.
David Jefferies
Matt you need to get up to speed it’s the 21st century times have changed
Steven
“Stay in the closet”, said the straight guy who already has a successful acting career.
EVERY person is entitled to come out when, how and even IF they care to. It’s nobody else’s business. Damon is free to his opinion but he’s not gay so what he thinks is irrelevant.
I think I’ll leave it to Mr Everett to decide if he made a mistake or not.
Sansacro
Who are the leading film actors who are gay?
TV is another animal and being a character actor very different from being a leading man.
Matt Boner’s career, well, we will see what happens. I predict he remain on TV and supporting roles, although I would love to be wrong.
My friends who are working actors confirm that Hollywood remains homophobic, even by many of the powerful gay suits running the show. I would not come out publicly, a la Ellen, but I would not live a lie either or deny it, acknowledging there could be financial repercussions.
Sansacro
@notevenwrong: And his homosexuality in a homophobic field only exacerbated his personal issues. Sorry. Plenty of str8 players worse then him still playing.
Brian
Face it – Hollywood was invented so as to market romance of the heterosexual kind only. It is designed to pander to insecure females in the general population who need to be assured that a man is waiting around the corner to sweep her into his arms. It validates her narcissistic ego.
We gay/bi guys aren’t welcome. Women find us unsettling. We compete for the men they compete amongst themselves for.
Keith Croak
They told Martin Luther King to keep quiet, to wait. He said NO! We will not be silent, hiding or stand still. Be out but be street smart.
And BTW Matt; go to hell! I will not be watching your movie, “Martian”. Boycott!
William Bowman
it’s nice that he has an opinion; it is nice that he can say it in public; who cares?
Giancarlo85
@Brian: Wow… and Smeds is back at it… managing to turn this article around to attack women. How convenient. He’s the real narcissist on here.
Finrod
Rupert Everett’s career stalled because he’s an irksome, whiny prat. He complains incessantly about how the world has wronged him. And he butchered his face. He’s literally unrecognizable. He looks like a badly made up corpse.
NPH, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto and others have gotten career boosts from coming out. But then, they’re a lot more likable than Mr. Everett.
Blackceo
Matt Damon needs to be quiet for a minute. It was just recently he got checked on his white male privilege for making ignorant comments about diversity in film and now he sends a completely wrong message by saying actors should stay in the closet, something that causes anguish for those who don’t have to worry about paparazzi following them and media constantly digging into their private lives. Just…sit down Matt and please be quiet. Sick of all like him.
Cagnazzo82
@Blackceo: If you see a pattern here, basically Matt Damon supports whatever benefits him in Hollywood.
Joshua
@Alan Maguire: no he’s saying just don’t confirm, that it’s Nobody’s business
nemesis9
I cannot believe that Queerty gets away with this terrible ‘interpretation’ of what Matt Damon actually said. Terrible.
Berkleyguy
His remarks come as a real surprise and at the same time, a real disappointment. I think this whole posture is out of line, over the top – whatever. Coming out is so much better for everyone rather than living the lie. How many careers were eroded because of trying to balance the double life? Psychological issues by the tons cause all sorts of problems in a career that needs the total focus and discipline of the actor. It is no longer a scourge. I don’t see Neil Patrick Harris’s career going down the tubes because he finally came out and is now married to his partner and they have adopted children.
Davidlen
I strongly suspect Mr Damon, you protest too loudly. You continue to hide your bi sexuality if you lack the courage to declare it, but keep out of others lives, you do yourself no favours.
skipvanpelt
Just because Damon chooses to stay in the closet doesn’t make it the right decision for everyone else
Billy Budd
Damon is totally gay and in denial.
dr35
Here we go again with everyone jumping up and down with pitchforks. He didn’t say anything there about gay being a bad thing. He simply warned that those who are out have less mystery to them, and their sexuality becomes tabloid fodder, instead of their acting chops taking the spotlight. If he were to say being gay is a death sentence it might be offensive, but all he’s stating is an honest fact. Who you’re sleeping with shouldn’t be anybody’s business
Giancarlo85
@dr35: Oh wow. So if someone comes out, they made a mistake and they should have just stayed in the closet? They are better off being in the closet? Um, the sexuality of heterosexual celebrities becomes tabloid fodder too. So don’t be ridiculous.
pjm1
Unfortunately, as many others in this comment section have noted,
Damon is telling what he believes the truth to be and I think Damon is
correct. So, if Tom Hardy is gay or bi, he should stay in the closet and be
a leading man.
As others in this section have noted, it is also true for pro athletes, so, and pro
QB’s who are in the closet — should stay their UNTIL their career is over and then
shock alota people with Super Bowl rings and MVP trophies.
Blackceo
@pjm1:
Since we are a society that places so much status on athletes and celebrities why is it not a good idea for there to be more of them who do come out? I totally understand why many of them do stay in the closet. I am not judging them but the message this heterosexual man is saying doesn’t go toward normalizing our community. The more and more we see gay athletes and celebrities come out and see that the earth doesn’t shatter, the less of a big deal it becomes. Again, I can’t judge because that is a reality for those in those positions that it could affect their bottom line and their ability to get TV shows, movie roles, particularly endorsements. But that wall won’t be broken until more break down that wall and dont feel like they have to stay closeted. I just don’t think coming from a heterosexual man this sends the right message.
Giancarlo85
@pjm1: Awesome. That’s a great way to change minds. Is that the way it worked for us in society as a whle? Staying in the closet and staying quiet because we’re afraid we’ll offend someone? No, I don’t agree with that message one bit. In fact, I think your message is highly destructive and dangerous to younger LGBT people.
Avery Alvarez
@pjm1: “should stay their UNTIL their career is over and then
shock alota people with Super Bowl rings and MVP trophies.”
That wouldn’t mean shit to anyone.
You won awards when people believed you were straight, and you hide your homosexuality because you were ashamed of it, and now you want f%cking accolades and congrats form the gay community for being a fraud?
So brave! Such Pride. ewwww
Edwn Szto
that is not what he said at all
Donald Jecker
That’s a misleading title…!
Tracy Pope
lol Queerty editors.
“Matt Damon Warns Gay Actors To Stay In The Closet” Best bait/click title for the week and it’s only Monday.
After reading the actual article I can honestly say the naysayers are wrong. You DO edit your articles.
David Jezek
maybe it’s working for him?
Joe Hernandez
Well, it’s worked for him.
David Jezek
http://instinctmagazine.com/post/matt-damon-clarifies-comments-regarding-gay-actors-addresses-controversy
SonOfKings
There are two sides to every story and then there’s the truth. Yes, an out gay actor can have a lucrative career as a supporting and/or character player. But in that rarified world of romantic leading men and action heroes, being out gay is a big handicap. So he’s wrong and he’s right.
billeetee
Just watched the ‘parody’ on Kimmel, Damon as Dr. Phil, Jimmy as Asshole. Not that entertaining. Both playing their ‘true selves’. And quite suspciously gay overtones, or is that undertones. Either way, Matt, maybe you’re still in that time warp, fine. But the ‘hollywood closet’ door is beginning to really warp and stretch now. Might want to get out of the way when it finally gives! Not to worry, Matt, even when we’re all out, we’ll still love you and lust for you. At your age, if everyone could still look that good…Oh My!
CentralParkWest
I do agree that the less you know about an actor the wider appeal they establish with an audience. I have not read the interview but he would have been wiser to have not gotten so specific about gay actors.
I use to love Bill Cosby but now I have no desire to watch him. I know Mr. Spacey is gay but he has put out so little information that it makes him even more of a mystery and makes me want to watch his performances. I use to go crazy over a young Tom Cruise but now that I know what guides his life and have seen him jumping on couches he is less sexy to me.
martinbakman
@Wei Chuen Wong: I agree. This piece is misleading, starting with the title. Read the actual interview. He makes a valid point that being out is still risky. Think about all the old farts that run Hollywood. Damon is very astute, and not a bad guy at all.
dubstepskater
First off, let me say that I think Matt Damon is a good actor so I’m not gonna spew vile accusations or cheap shots at his “bromance” with Ben Affleck. I will have to disagree with his opinion that actor’s (who are openly gay) careers aren’t successful. I’m pretty sure that NPH proved that with his woman-chasing Barnie on How I Met Your Mother. And Jim Parsons’s portrayal of Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory is why a HUGE reason that show is successful. Also Zachary Quinten seems to be “living long & prospering”. I’m sorry… I had to make a Spock reference… Lol) Also Matt Bomer is very well known (thx to White Collar and uh… what was those very anticipated movies with those guys… Uh… something about magic… (scratches head)… Magic Hat? No. Magic Trick? Nah… Oh! Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL.) Pretty sure those two movies did well. (And according to numerous sources Channing Tatum is Bi… and he seems to get Leading Roles despite his orientation.) I know Mr. Damon is entitled to his opinion, but he’s only making himself look like a homophobe, threatened, or a “closet case” himself. I don’t personally think an actor’s sexual orientation has anything to do with their acting skills… No, wait… correction… If an openly gay actor/ actress can portray a heterosexual character as effective (and convincingly) as a heterosexual actor/ actress… then that takes real acting skills.
Robin Sinn
This is just unwittingly fuelling bigotry. Not so smart, Matt.
Finrod
@dr35: “He simply warned that those who are out have less mystery to them, and their sexuality becomes tabloid fodder, instead of their acting chops taking the spotlight.”
You mean like how he keeps his wife and children a secret? No? Oh, I get it; the rules of maintaining mystery only apply to non-heteros. Mr. Damon has really proven himself to be utterly tone-deaf with his latest comments.
Nedra
@Deon Letsoalo: For you to agree with Matt Damon, tells that you have yet to appreciate the significance of the issue. Why should it be okay for a gay actor to sacrifice his chance to fall in love, get married and have kids, while it is okay for Matt as a heterosexual actor to do so?
Wouldn’t it have been better for Matt to challenge the double standard in Hollywood, especially seeing how gays have come a long way?
Billysees
@AtticusBennett:
” fun fact – that just means Closet Culture will continue. wanna change things? accept the reality that those of us who are Out and taking the burden and ensuring that what we go through won’t happen to future generations. the end. ”
Deserved to be repeated.
scotshot
@Deon Letsoalo:
You live in a different country on a different continent, I imagine with the homophobia there your suggestions are relevant.
I’ve been out for 40 years. Life is not easy, but to consider stuffing myself back into the closet? It just won’t work. I prefer not to worry and be myself.
Hiding is not healthy.
scotshot
@Sansacro: Your friends (and yourself) must be unaware that work in media will get a bigger audience and more will see your performances. Movies are great, but to hold them as the Holy Grail is antiquated thinking.
scotshot
@MarionPaige: It would be better for humanity as a whole if you would skulk back into your closet and never see the light of day again. Once again a few barbed comments regarding homosexuality in a negative context, and pointed hints we’d all be better back in the closet. I’ve been out 43 years and have fought too hard to go back in the closet.
It’s amazing to hear the entirety of the Gay movement has only been a marketing strategy (?).
Please, Kay Thompson died years ago. Stop trying to channel her. You haven’t the class to be her.
BRYANinSF
Oh, yes, Matt, that’s wonderful advice and I’m sure you must be right because it is sooo much better to make obscene amounts of money and be treated like royalty than it is to live an honest, open life. Do you realize you’ve just told millions of kids out there that if they want to be successful and live their dreams, they should stay in the closet?
Having said that, I don’t think Damon is gay or homophobic.
broadshoulder
Went off him years ago when he slagged off James Bond. He did it for one of his premieres.
Also went off him for not having many pubes..
Desert Boy
Here’s what Matt Damon actually said in the Sunday UK Guardian interview:
“I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you, period. And sexuality is a big part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”
He never said “actors should stay in the closet”.
bottom250
This has me in tears. My crush is over.
Nahald
Matt Damon comes across as an ass. It all depends on the talent that person has !