Tiger King star John Finlay recently spoke with Australian radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O from KIISFM and, honestly, it was pretty bad.
The 12 minute interview, which aired last week, was laced with homophobic undertones, biphobic jabs, jokes about addiction, and general mockery on the part of the DJs.
During the interview, Kyle and Jackie grilled Finlay, a recovering addict, on whether he was “still on meth.” They also interrogated him about his sexuality, despite the fact that he repeatedly told him he identifies as straight and is in a committed relationship with a woman.
“You’re not on meth anymore, are you John?” Kyle asked. “You’ve given up the meth?” To which, Finlay replied by saying he has been clean for six years.
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Kyle then asked if any “people from the gay community” have reached out to Finlay about hooking up since the docu-series premiered.
“There have been some who have tried to do that,” Finlay replied, “[but] I’m straight now.”
Later, Jackie asked who Finlay would like to play him in a potential Tiger King movie.
“I would have to go with Channing Tatum,” he replied.
And that’s when Kyle asked, “Do you find him attractive even though you’re not gay anymore?” When Finlay replied in the affirmative, Kylie joked, “Hmmm, I’m not sure how straight you are.”
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Kyle then asked, “Are you bi now, or straight?” To which John once again said he identifies as straight, before Jackie jumped in with even more questions about his sexuality.
“What came first?” she asked. “Were you straight in the beginning and then turned gay and then went back to straight?”
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After the painful 12-minute interview concluded and Finlay had hung up the phone, the hosts burst into fits of laughter.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve done an interview where it’s been a real struggle,” Jackie said.
“The message there, kids, is drugs are bad!” Kyle joked.
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PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
What’s so “cringe worthy” ??? He is a low rent filthy hustler who sold his dick for cash. That does not fit the definition of a Gay man.
By this little puke proclaiming he is “straight now” it gives ammunition to the noxious pernicious smcubags that being Gay is a “lifestyle choice” and bolsters their “reasons” to deny our community equality and protections…
Queerty, I am a huge supporter and defender of this site. You really need to be more selective in encouraging outrage at persons such as the hosts who rightfully mock an opportunist sleaze attention whore who does nothing but harm our community….
Cam
Exactly! I wrote that based upon his statements her question was on point, and my question got moderated out.
Donston
Is John Finlay problematic? Yes. Did he stay with Joe primarily for money and drugs? Very likely. But we really need to stop with the “people are going to say being ‘gay’ is a choice and use it to stop our rights” talk. Multiple ships have already sailed on those fronts. Homophobes don’t care if it’s a choice or not. “Gay” doesn’t align with their agenda and principals. That’s all they care about. Homophobic and anti-gay perspectives don’t flourish because people think it’s a choice. That is merely an excuse that hateful people lean on like all the other excuses. Furthermore, if being “gay” actually is a choice, who cares? If it’s a choice it’s just as valid as any other choice out here. It being a “choice” doesn’t validate hate or trying to suppress people’s freedoms. While folks keep talking about fluidity and experiencing shifts in their orientation. We may not have control over our orientation, but a lot of people’s orientations appear to evolve in whatever ways over time. The gender, romantic, sexual, fascination, affection, emotional fulfillment, relationship contentment spectrum is vast and varied. A lot of people seem to deal with some type of shifts in exactly where they land within it. And it’s okay to embrace that reality. On another note, there are plenty of non homosexuals who choose to live a “gay lifestyle”. There’s plenty of homosexuals who choose not to live a “gay lifestyle”. There’s plenty of people who are not inherently homosexual or don’t live homo lifestyles but still embrace being seen as “gay”. Ultimately, we don’t have any control over other people’s hatred. We will never have any control over what people do or what they say they are. We don’t have any real way of knowing where someone truly is within the orientation spectrum. We don’t know what this dude’s motivations are now or what they were back then. This guy was likely a drug-addicted hustler no matter his orientation. He may be a different type of hustler now. But it’s generally best to just let people be, because folks go through a lot of shit and you never truly know what’s going on with someone.
However, asking us to be outraged over this interview is Queerty asking for too much. Her questions were not out of line considering the context of the documentary. He should have been ready for those type of questions or simply chose not to do interviews.
Cam
@Donston you said “”On another note, there are plenty of non homosexuals who choose to live a “gay lifestyle”. ”
_________________________________________
You’ve said that multiple times. Please provide a citation or link showing us these large amounts of straight people living a “Gay Lifestyle”.
Donston
I haven’t said that multiple times. Hell, I haven’t even said it once. Use your reading comprehension. It says “non homosexual” not “straight”. There are plenty of people who are not homosexual, some not even close to homosexual, who choose to only have sex with their gender or choose to have a monogamous same-sex relationship with their gender or choose to only have legit and “serious” relationships with their gender or choose to embrace being seen as “gay”. And all you have to do is ask your friends (if you have any), check out social media or read the interviews from a lot of these “out” celebrities. You can’t have about things concerning sexuality, fluidity, the general orientation spectrum and the tons of things that motivate people’s lives if I have to keep answering these basic questions. Some people really need to stop with the identity politics and the self-righteous whining and genuinely educate themselves on sexuality, psychology and sociology. Because you in particular seem to have so judgement to offer, but your perspective stays one note and basic and frequently flat-out wrong.
taniajroland
??Looking for hook up with a stranger! ?? Ready for any experiments… 2.gp/a71sG
Cam
@Donston
You literally said it a few posts ago on the “gay men who hit on Straight guys” post.
https:// www. queerty. com/gay-men-try-seduce-straight-dudes-creeps-20200411
You said “”For example, there are many men who might “like” women, or who attractions or sexual enjoyment towards females, or who may contend with some fluidity or confusions. But they don’t feel genuinely “at home” with a female. They don’t have emotional or relationship fulfillment with a female. “”
________________
You posted that a very short time ago, so why would you not be honest aboutposting it? Then, instead of answering my question which was basically, where is the proof of all of these men who are attracted to women (Straight) but having homosexual relationships, instead of simply providing the evidence of where you got this information that you constantly post, you lied, claimed you’ve never said that before, then lashed out and attacked me.
Conclusion: You don’t have any evidence to support your statement, you made it up because it’s something you want to be true, and tried to deflect from that fact by lying and claiming you hadn’t said it before, and by attacking the questioner.
Donston
It’s funny how people like you think you’re doing something wonderful, but you’re just adding to the hate, division and manipulation. You have always been a terribly insecure, bitter person who sees things in a very one-note way. And it just comes out more and more the longer you post here. I have personally experienced fluidity. I was entirely homosexual throughout my teens and about half I’m my twenties. Now, I’m not. I experienced a gradual shift over the course of several years. You can choose to believe that or not. But what I have experienced is not at all uncommon. One of the reasons so many people give up bi identities as they get older is because many people become more fully homo or hetero as they age. It’s not always about being initially scared to present yourself as “gay”. While you know damn well there are no real stats, because there are never any accurate stats when it comes to “LGBTQ community”. People just say they are whatever they want to say they are and do whatever they want to do. Hell, science hasn’t even proven the existence of homosexuality, bisexuality or heterosexuality. There’s barely any consensus about what those words actually mean. Almost all “queer” studies and experiments are contradictory and inconsistent, because it’s difficult to pin down the elements of sexuality, the orientation spectrum or whatever fluidity someone may have experienced. But even Kinsey believed in “fluidity”. There are tons of people all over the internet who talk about what I talk about. So have plenty of “out” gay/bi/queer/fluid/whatever identifying celebrities and public figures. And once again, if you have friends, family, co-workers, partners who will open up to you you realize how vast and varied everything is and how everyone has their own dimensions, reasonings, struggles and journeys. But instead of listening to the tons of people who have different experiences and perspectives, you choose to ignore them because it’s convenient to your agenda. That is hateful. It’s also sad that you think someone has to be close to homosexual for them to prefer pleasing their same sex and prefer persistent same-sex affections, passions, affirmation, love, relationships. It highlights how you might be a homo but you may not be as “gay” as you claim. That attitude is partly why so many dudes are manipulating women and men into thinking that they really prefer their affections, attention, love, relationships when it’s really mostly about sex, money, ego, sociology, babies and/or opportunity. Your perspective upholds the problems you claim to have an issue with.
People like you are a reminder of how important it is to evolve with the times, accept that folks don’t always see things your way and to genuinely listen to people. You’re a reminder of just how far we have to go in making sure people can speak their truths, that people confront their struggles, that people truly understand sexuality and get a hold on the gender, romantic, sexual, fascination, affection, emotion, relationship spectrum. You assume that everyone who has a different perspective or a different journey is lying or has ulterior motives. That just highlights how ignorant and insecure you are. You are a part of the problem, but you think you’re solving something. That’s what makes you toxic.
Cam
@Donston
So …
1. You lied about not writing that on another post and can’t explain why you did that.
2. You have absolutely no proof of your comment that MANY straight guys who are attracted to women are actually living in fully homosexual relationships.
3. Instead of being able to articulate why you lied, and why you couldn’t provide any proof, you devolved into calling names and throwing a tantrum.
I figured I’d summarize so others didn’t have to wade through your usual 14 paragraphs of blathering.
Floofster
Also no sympathy for someone who doesn’t do an ounce of research… If he did his research, and just listened to some of their previous interviews, he would know the kind of situation he was getting himself into. No time for a deer in headlights who volunteered to be there.
Cam
“”Kyle then asked, “Are you bi now, or straight?” To which John once again said he identifies as straight, before Jackie jumped in with even more questions about his sexuality.
“What came first?” she asked. “Were you straight in the beginning and then turned gay and then went back to straight?”””
______________________________________________________________
When you have an interview subject who is claiming you can change your sexuality, her question is actually a fair question. He didn’t say he was always straight, and was sleeping with the guy for Drugs, or that he is Bi and with a woman now.
He said he was Straight NOW, implying he was gay or bi and now is magically straight. He made that statement, which invited her folow-up.
Wefbee
Ah, you’re direct now. Makes sense asking such question.
okiloki
The radio show hosts are grade A asses.
Chrisk
By asking simple straight forward questions? I think they did pretty well considering the guest was so allusive.
Hussain-TheCanadian
Donston, you lost me with this paragraph:
“There are plenty of people who are not homosexual, some not even close to homosexual, who choose to only have sex with their gender or choose to have a monogamous same-sex relationship with their gender or choose to only have legit and “serious” relationships with their gender or choose to embrace being seen as “gay”.
How is this possible? How can a person not be a homosexual but chooses to have sex with the same gender, it seems like you’re saying sexuality is a choice, labels dont matter because ultimately it’s all down to being on this sexual spectrum, and where you fall determines your level of fluidity?
Is this what you’re saying?
Donston
I’m pretty sure you know that people who are not entirely heterosexual can sexually engage with their opposite gender and people who are not entirely homosexual can sexually engage with their same gender. So, I’m gonna assume that you just didn’t get what I was saying. But yes, who you sexually engage with is ultimately a choice. (Or at least it’s a choice under the best circumstances). Behaviors do not equate to orientation. They never have. Identity doesn’t always correspond with orientation either. We should all know that. People are free to do whatever (once again, under the best of circumstances) and free to say they are whatever the hell they say they are. There are people who are entirely homosexual who choose not to engage in homo behaviors. That’s their prerogative if it is truly their choice. There are people who are entirely heterosexual who choose to engage in non hetero behaviors. And yes, there are people who are no where homosexual but choose to not sexually engage with their opposite gender for whatever reasons. Sexual behaviors can be driven by things like money, drugs, sociological/religious/family pressures, ego, narcissism, resentments, convenience. While inherent sexuality alone can contain different types and rates of attraction, arousal, desire, enjoyment, passion, comfort, fulfillment. And that doesn’t even touch on the romantic, affection, fascination, emotional fulfillment, relationship contentment aspects of orientation or the different types of fluidity or confusion some people contend with. People not accepting all these different things is mainly why there’s still so much manipulation and so much hiding behind identities or behaviors.
My point is simply that everyone is different. And everyone does different things for different reasons. It’s time to move beyond the identity politicking. It’s also time to move on from immediate judgement when you really have no idea what’s going on with anyone beyond yourself.
The majority of people on this Tiger King show were a mess, frankly the bottom barrel of people. Telling us we need to be offended by someone being asked questions that they should have anticipated being asked and are reasonable questions under the circumstances is a step too far. Everyone wants to be outraged about something, and it can be tiresome. I’m also here for all the Tiger King jokes and parodies. Still, everyone does have their own dimensions, struggles, motivations and journeys. And it really is time that everyone understands and becomes okay with that.
Hussain-TheCanadian
I have yet to see the documentary? but I can tell from the coverage it’s getting in the press, and everyones reaction on Queerty, that the people in the documentary are extremely damaged, confused, abusers and abused, and pitiful in the purist sense.
The person above is indeed problematic, his claim of being “straight now” isnt simply inferring behavior, I understood it as not being gay, not in the sense of a socially constructed identity, but in feelings, in desires, in coveting, in longing, as if he switched. I thought you agreed with him, now I know you well enough, through your posts, that’s not when you must of meant and I wanted to double check.
I do disagree with you though that it remains to be important in clarifying, that being gay is not a choice. Whether you act on those impulses is certainly a choice, just like a straight man can chooses to be celibate, do not mistake that though of being the same as gay men sleeping with women.
Its the oppression, subjugation, humiliation and the disgust straight people felt towards us that forced many of our own to be forced into the shadows and be caged in loveless marriages, altering our behaviour, and forcing us into their own social constructs.
Such trauma is still felt throughout the world, as gay men and women still hide, or self medicate to numb the pain. After winning our emancipation in the westernworld, after finally getting the social scientists to admit the obvious, that being gay is indeed a natural phenomenon that cannot be changed or altered, the last thing we need to do is go back to the language of choice and “sexual fluidity”.
Donston
I do agree that people need to be honest with themselves, the people closest to them and with their significant others. Committing yourself to a life of manipulation is never a good option. You just end up hurting people and often damaging your mental health and personal happiness. However, we can’t play identity police. When you do that things really start to unravel.
What about people who have experienced fluidity? Sexual and gender “fluidity” are legit. I have experienced it and so have a handful of people I know. There are some people who don’t really know what “fluidity” is and jump on the bandwagon just because it’s a word many folks are attaching to and they want to be “in”. There are some who are now using the term to justify homophobia, internalized homophobia, hetero superiority, anti-gay perspectives and/or homo-lifestyle shaming. Some are using it to justify past manipulations. And some use the word to purposely deceive others as far as their dimensions and motivations go (some of these folks who embrace bi/pan identities or merely embrace “queer” fit into this bubble as well). However, we can’t deny people’s truths and journeys because it’s inconvenient to whatever social agendas. What about people who were once bisexual in whatever ways and are now completely inherently homosexual or heterosexual? Can they still embrace “bi” identities or must they now go with “gay” or “straight”? What about people that were once inherently heterosexual or homosexual? Can they still claim to be “straight” or “gay” or must they embrace “bi” identities now?
Then you have people with an array of dimensions and paraphilias. What about these guys who are hyper turned on by penis but not turned on by men or hyper turned on by vagina but not the entirety of women? What about people whose sexual aspects contradict with their romantic, emotional and relationship contentment aspects? A lot of those types just pick whatever identities they wish. What about celebrities who people tout as “gay representation”? Guys like Ricky Martin, Neil Patrick Harris, Tom Daley, a few of these Rugby/soccer players and quite a few others- they’ve all claimed that they identify as “gay” primarily because they have more romantic and relationship fulfillment towards their sex. They have more desire to persistently please their sex, to get persistent affections/affirmation/comfort/love from someone of their sex. They feel more investment towards their sex. They prefer building a life with their sex. It’s not about inherent homosexuality or living a homo lifestyle. Do we force them to disconnect from “gay”? Everyone doesn’t have the same definition of the words “gay”, “straight”, “bi”, etc.
All of this mess is why I push aside identity politics and instead talk so much about honesty, mental health, understanding the spectrum, general self-understanding and not allowing yourself to be driven by fear, pressures or expectation. People are going to continue to do whatever they want and say whatever. There really isn’t a point in trying to combat that. And everyone has their own thing going on. That’s why a different approach to this stuff is necessary.
wade.l
The two radio hosts are huge supporters of the LGBT community and are showing how laughable this cretin is and nothing more. You showing your support for him makes you the grad A ass.
curiobi
He is not Gay, and not a ally. He is a straight man that married a gay man for money and drugs, because that man wanted a straight twink and was prepared to pay for it. There are no winners here! -And he does not deserve the kid gloves treatment, and it is not an insult to the gay community that the hosts exposed him to ridicule by mocking his gay for pay status.
Chrisk
Yeah, he got to live way beyond his means. Joe bought him new trucks over the years and paid for his lifestyle. Just doing drugs and no responsibility.
I don’t think the marriage idea was even Joe’s. It was the show’s producers.
Felecia
In Donston’s defense about the many non-homosexuals who choose to live a gay lifestyle, I’d like to point out that you can find LOTS of those in a jail or prison; ya know, ‘Gay-for-the-Stay’, lol….women especially. I am a life-long lesbian, and had more straight girls throw themselves at me while locked up than I can count, lol…yeah, I know it was for so-called protection, yet it’d be a Snow Day in Hell before I myself ‘switched up’ for ANY reason, lol…a death-before-dick motto…which I actually had printed on a t-shirt while in high school; had to tell my 82 yr old grandma that it was an old Richard Nixon campaign shirt, lol….