We’re no strangers to online outrage, but it helps when there’s an actual, you know, offense being committed. But some have opted for the alternative approach in their pearl-clutching complaints (and worse) against Perez Hilton‘s latest shower selfie featuring son, Mario, 2.
The pic (right), in which a happy father shares a silly moment with his jubilant kid, sparked accusations of “child abuse” and “perversion” online by commenters whose intelligences we truly fear for.
He captioned it “Our family motto is #fun”.
Though most of the comments were positive, Hilton was called “creepy” and “odd.”
Another commenter wrote, “He’s another Michael Jackson. Hopefully his kid won’t turn out gay. Sad sad sad…”
Hilton later responded to the reaction, “I had my bathing suit on, and I didn’t feel the need to clarify that in the caption.”
He didn’t need to clarify that in the caption or anywhere else.
Many took to Twitter to share similar support after a segment about the controversy appeared on ITV:
Others brought up a separate but equally manufactured issue of consent. Consent!
To these people, we say: Take a look at the photo. A baby’s face, shoulders and partial arm is visible. Now go find something else to get upset about.
Eddie Poole-Boccio
I guess millions of people are perverts then! It is perfectly natural to shower with your kids and teach them how to clean properly.
Chris Duffy
Finally. Blow back against the suffocating keyboard outrage culture. “I’m offended” jumped the shark a long time ago. Thankfully everyone’s catching on.
Charles Schultz
News Brief kids are in the tub during tub time.
Jerry Green
Oh good lord! Seriously? There is nothing perverted about that picture. Tell the Christian Right Wing to stop throwing stones when they live in glass houses.
John Kuehnle
People have done much worst and haven’t been called a pervert, get a life.
Ryan Thomas Murray
Straight man in tub/shower with son….cute…Gay man in tub/shower with son…perv…SO F**KED UP…!!!
Terry Green
Ridiculous…never would have been an issue if he were straight…
Troy Geary
It’s the people pointing their finger that are so perverted. Jesus F*cking Christ what losers.
Carlos Zuniga
Granted he is the Worst kind of gay, but really, what decent parent doesn’t do this with their child now and then. Who complained anyway, Huckabee!?
redcarpet30
Oh this is homophobic bullshit. Why isn’t anyone calling it out?! If he were straight, no one would give two shits. Parents bathe with their young children all the time and it’s perfectly innocent. Plenty of us have stories about it. Sarah Silverman even does a bit about it in one of her acts. No one accuses her or her mother for being “creepy”.
There’s plenty to complain about Perez Hilton. This is not it.
Billy Budd
There is nothing wrong with the photo. Perez Hilton is despicable but he did nothing wrong.
Xzamilio
@redcarpet30: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/341678#tab=comments&sc=0
Yeah… it happens to the straight ones, too. An overly sensitive culture that feels the need to jump on everything and everyone if they see something perceived as sexual.
DarkZephyr
@Billy Budd: “There is nothing wrong with the photo.” Other than the fact that Hilton looks like his about to swallow the entire planet.
SpunkyBunks
Unfortunately, Perez is a fame whore idiot. Of course he’s going to come under more scrutiny than the average Joe. This is what happens when you use poor judgment and treat people like crap. They will return the favor and treat you like crap in return.
Neil Patrick Harris posts pictures of his family all of the time, but he doesn’t suffer from any controversy about it because he uses good judgment and has a reputation for treating people well.
Chris-Tyler Young
As much as I despise what he does got a living…this is an innocent and adorable picture! If this is perverted, then my parents were pedophiles! They gave photos of my sister and I completely naked jumping on the bed when we were like…2
Deiter Kunze
Ohhhhh paaalease!! Seriously?? WTF?? ð???ð???
Craig Shapiro
Bored house wives. . . There’s so much more graphic stuff on TV and in magazine’s. How about focusing on the actual criminals, child abusers, Obama(cide), etc.
Jake Lara
Maybe payback for how he’s branded everyone else over the years
Jeff Hickson
They are perverted…that’s his son. Stupid judgmental hypocrites, do they not have better to do?!
Ken Painter
You go Perez! Not a damn thing wrong there!! And this from a 64 yr. old gay dad and grandpa. Sheesh!! 🙂
David Cartee
But if David Beckam did it it would be ok.!
Stephen Meeks
People need to get a life and get their own house in order. Good lord, bunch of prudes.
Nathaniel McManus
What do you expect? He is a provocateur.
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
@Eddie Poole-Boccio: That’s true, but it’s the homosexual part that bothers these homophobic assholes.
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
@redcarpet30: Yep, you’re right.
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
@Carlos Zuniga: The worst kind of gay? What’s the worst kind of Jew to you? I’m sure you’ve given Jews some thought.
Ogre Magi
He is a jerk, but he is not a pedophile
Larry Belusko
Is his son already 14 years old ? Wow that went fast! Idiots…
Steven Burr
The world is full of perverts, Perez is not one of them
Giancarlo85
He is just being a father. People put your personal feelings about him being the “worst kind of gay”. Seriously, keep your judgmental SHIT to yourself. I don’t really like some of his antics, but that isn’t up to me to judge.
Poloboy50
As much as I don’t think there is anything wrong with the photo; I do feel it was not wise for Perez to put this photo on the web. These people that are having a problem with it are complete ” Moon Bats ” The Extreme Christian Nutjobs have to be careful because this stuff always comes back and hits them smack in the face.
Raphael
Whether it’s gay or straight, I don’t think this is appropriate. You don’t need to get naked and get into the shower with your child, that’s just weird.
Yoshi Hil
The people who are sexualizing the picture are the perverts.
Gus8519
I think it is weird any parent showering with their children, That being said I assumed it was a photo op and they both had swims suits on. You can teach children how to shower with out getting a shower with them.
lauraspencer
My problem with Mario is that he uses his children as props. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t photograph them and plaster them all over the web. Mario might be starved for attention, but don’t force the poor kids to be in the spotlight. Let them decide if they want to be when they get older.
Glücklich
@Chris Duffy:
Come visit San Francisco. Being offended by/protesting ev-er-y lit-tle thing *on others’ behalf* is a whooooole industry out here. It’s obvious it doesn’t pay well.
wiredpup
If anything, Perez Hilton is a looser who shouldn’t be representing the community.
Dennis Mitchell
Not
Giancarlo85
People who said this is just weird are just being nonsensical. How is it weird?
Philip Jones
yes i understand why this is upset some people, what get me some are putting this as if he doing something with his child just because he is a gay dad! to it is sad to see people posting views that is so sick there brain is dark!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian Watson
He’s just using this to get attention. Internet trolls are always gonna have something to say. All I think is Perez who?
scotshot
@Carlos Zuniga:
Would you care to explain to us what makes a gay “the worst” and other gays better? Are you the arbiter on this issue?
If you don’t like him fine, but it certainly appears that he provides well for his son. I know a lot of gay & straight guys who
have skipped out on child support and didn’t spend time with their kids.
Louis Goodrich
He should be branded a pervert for being Perez Hilton. Not for this pic, which is innocent.
dr35
I personally find it creepy in this day and age for parents to be posting pics of their nude kids in the bath tub, let alone being in there nude to begin with. That being said, this has never been an issue in the past, and it’s really up to the parent what they deem appropriate for their family (God help us all.) I can’t believe the outrage sparked over Perez’s pic though. Do we give other Dad’s bathing with their little girls a problem? Nope.
The whole idea of bathing nude with your kids past their infant stage is creepy to me either way, but to each their own I guess. Coming at Perez is clearly a PERSONAL attack though, and not one of the act itself. It’s still so disappointing that we as a human race continue to think this way
david dirdam
More homophobia from the PC brigade.
When are we going to see that SJWs are the enemies of us gay men, and fight for our social and cultural marginalization just as much as the #TCOT church of Kim Davis?
inbama
@dr35:
Actually, straight old grandmothers have been arrested for taking photos of kids in the tub.
You’d think a media whore like Hilton would know better.
Tobi
I’m not sure why some people are confusing nudity with sexual activity.
Louis
I swear these people are so ridiculous and blow so many things out of proportion especially when it comes to the LGBT community.
First of all to that moron who spoke of hoping his child wouldn’t turn out gay Perez I mean that mentality continues to be and will ALWAYS be pathetic and uneducated.
Id rather my child if I had children grow up to be well adjusted loving and compassionate members of society not narrowminded or prejudiced as this man clearly is and possibly even his children as well I have no idea I don’t personally know this man…thank god.
As far as this picture and Perez goes Perez Hilton has been cruel and malicious too many times to count he has bullied and justified it and made plenty of mistakes… hes human though not perfect.
Whilst I may not necessarily respect the way he goes about things and his attitude in general this was simply a picture of a loving father enjoying his time with his child.
The true PERVERTS are the ones who went to that place in THEIR minds who commented on this sweet photo and said those things in the first place.
Kudos to Perez and his adorable child there was nothing wrong or SCANDALOUS about this picture peoples minds truly need to stop going to the gutter and they quite frankly need to grow up as well.
Alan David Smith
my parents didn’t shower with me. but the truth is. this pic really isn’t all that big a deal.i mean lets be real if you have ever lived on a block with more than 5 children under 5 you have seen bare but. because childrens feelings about being dressed is simple i object. so move on.
William Holahan
Those who point their fingers are revealing their own perverted minds.
Jane Freeman
I think perez Hilton is a weirdo and media whore but not a pervert. there was nothing wrong with that photo!
Willie Ramos
Because he is gay if this would have been a straight man. It would have been cute
Emery Biggar
Perez is a fool for posting the picture in the first place – like he didn’t know the controversy it would cause. He’s been out of the spot light and likely did this for publicity. Nobody should post pictures like this of their family until the child is old enough to decide if they want it for the world to see. He’s just looking for attention.
Joe
Whoever thinks there is something wrong with this photo, there is something wrong with them. There is nothing perverted about this photo. I mean really? Queerty, you’ve gone way too low with a story where there is not one.
QJ201
Ironic that the jerk that started internet faux rage is now its victim
ml822009
This is an innocent selfie-style shot with a kid’s head in the background. If you were born in the 80’s or sooner there is a 99.9% chance that you are already in one of those kid-in-bathtub pictures. They’re commonplace. Probably better to get it out there and see what the public has to say so we have a better gauge of how we are regarded in this day and age.
Giancarlo85
@inbama: Except the photo in question here isn’t even legally disputable. There is nothing wrong with it legally.
inbama
@Giancarlo85:
As much as I agree with you, you can choose to go through life avoiding controversy or creating it.
We are talking, of course, about the piece of slime who posted sex photos of Dustin Lance Black – hardly the moral character I’d want to see in a father.
Giancarlo85
@inbama: I don’t see how the photo is creating controversy. The people who created controversy are the right wing nutcases… and they always do that. Perhaps we should be criticizing them a bit more?
Louis
@Giancarlo85: Exactly correct the right wing individuals who are consistently trying to equate us to pedophiles are the ones people should be focused on not Perez Hilton.
inbama
@Giancarlo85:
I don’t care who’s doing it. In this case, Perez is getting a taste of his own medicine.