For a series that counts gays as some of its most loyal fans, the Real Housewives franchise sure does love propagating homophobic tropes.
The denizens of the Andy Cohen Universe have once again trotted out the tried and true “shocking” gay rumor storyline and are accusing yet another one of the husbands of, wait for it, sleeping with men!
Over the years, Housewives like OC’s Tamra Judge, Atlanta’s Porsha Williams and Kim Fields, and New York’s Alex McCord have all had their husbands tasked with defending their heterosexuality as allegations of being a Friend of Dorothy were hurled their way.
Usually these accusations arise simply because the dudes in question are deemed too physically fit or too fashion conscious to fall into the strict societal norms of what is acceptable for a cis het man to be. Yawn!
This time it’s the good Christian women of Salt Lake City doing the queer finger-pointing.
On this week’s episode of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, new full-time cast member Angie Katsanevas learned some of her best Judys were trading wine-soaked whispers that her husband, Shawn Trujillo, was hooking up with the fellas behind her back.
For the record, Shawn is extremely buff and a successful hairdresser who owns a chain of Lunatic Fringe salons. So, of course, in certain circles of Housewives-land he might as well be rocking a pink tutu front row at a Gaga concert. Now that there’s anything wrong with that!
The ticking gay bomb storyline was detonated after Angie was informed by fellow cast members Whitney Rose and Monica Garcia that HBIC Meredith Marks was spreading rumors about her husband’s alleged sexual proclivities.
“The rumor is that your Shawn likes to f*** other men,” Monica said eloquently.
“Are you f***ing kidding me?” Angie responded, before retaliating. “I’ve been with my husband for 27 years. We are loyal to each other. Meredith lives to lie about other people’s marriages and the only one that is spreading their legs outside of their marriage is Meredith.”
Monica furthered the pending queermageddon by adding, “She is saying that his boyfriends need to be quiet because they’re out here in the streets of Salt Lake City talking about f***ing your husband.”
While the episode ended before Angie could snatch a wig and fully confront Meredith, she has since gone on the record to refute the rumors that her husband is cheating with men, while also reaffirming her stance as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.
“My marriage is real,” Angie told Us Weekly. “These rumors are not, and that’s the bottom line.”
Speaking to Hollywood Life, she added: “My husband and I are allies of the gay community. My husband and I have been together for 30 years. We have been supporting the LGBTQ community for 30 years, not just at events taking photos.”
“We love our gays — both of us. What we are offended at is rumors about infidelity which have absolutely never existed in the Salt Lake City community about our marriage.”
While some of the phrasing could use finessing, Angie’s intentions are in the right place.
Meanwhile, Meredith, who also purports to be an LGBTQ+ ally, denies spreading false rumors about Angie’s husband and tweeted, “I did not say that. I barely know the woman! I don’t care who her husband is sleeping with as long as it’s consensual.”
Whether real or contrived, this storyline will undoubtedly continue to play out over the season before it’s resolved and everyone moves on to the next manufactured brouhaha.
And while reality TV’s bread and butter relies on the sensational, it’s particularly irritating that producers and cast members continue to regurgitate these outdated stereotypes like it’s still 1995. Do better, Andy Cohen!
Regardless of the all the faux homosexual outrage on the show, Shawn is damn hot. We wish he was gay, but are very happy that he and Angie have a healthy marriage and family life.
In the meantime, let’s show him some gay love by respectfully gazing at a bunch of his hottest photos from Instagram:
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Donston
Honestly, it’s all boring and tired, including this article. The actual “reality” is that a very large percentage of dudes with queer dimensions still end up committing to cis women for whatever reasons. It is what it is. It’s even more common in places like Utah. So, no matter the dimensions of his “sexuality” or where he is in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, commitment spectrum- speculating about queerness for drama is tired. But also, claiming that the accusations are absurd (as this article tried to do) and hyping up this woman for using the phrase “we love the gays”- it’s also very tired.
Ultimately, though this is a “straight” world and will continue to be, a very large percentage of folks (including many straight-presenting people) have queer dimensions. Continuing to use queer speculation for views and drama is just dated at this point. But at the same time, these are people exploiting themselves for TV. You have to be ready for people to came at your personal life. While you’d be silly to actually have faith in these “reality stars” or believe anything they present.
Openminded
Well said.
Mr.Gavin Elster
I see a lot of “ladies” (insert HUGE quotes and twitching quote fingers HERE) of this ilk clogging-up our few remaining nice, gay bars here in West Hollywood and Palm Springs, with their awful Bachelorette parties and tired booze-fed, bus-transported “Look At The Gays In the Urban Zoo” girl’s nights out! Remember kids: original “real housewife of London and mannhattan.” PRINCESS Lee Radziwill, (Jackie KO’s little sis) allegedly said, when asked about a famous Gore Vidal/Truman Capote (my neighbor Corey use to have 2 poodles named Gore and Tru!) feud: “Why, they’re just a couple of fags.”
ScottOnEarth
I agree with Johnny Lopez – this is such a tiresome, worn-out storyline. If it’s even true, I’m sure the other hags on the show were more than a little jealous that Angie’s husband is so hunky and handsome. I do love Angie’s response, saying that the queer rumor doesn’t bother her or her husband but the allegations of infidelity are what they take issue with. The Housewives franchises are mostly total trash because Andy Cohen is involved and he’s total trash…..but I do love the ladies of Beverly Hills!
cuteguy
And then Andy Cohen wonders why he’s so hated in the lgbtq community.
CatholicXXX
Gays like that trash? All the fans I’ve seen have been lonely women.
abfab
The nuns?
Georgeiv2
I’v never seen the program life is too short but even if I was as straight as a die married to her I would give it a try !
Noah
It reeks of homophobia when women do that. Even if her husband is bisexual, it’s likely she knows so who the f cares! Reality shows are about the gossip, fair enough. But on ALL franchises when the ladies throw assertions about one of the husband’s sexuality (with the intention to humiliate a housewife by questioning the husbands masculinity). Andy never confronts the housewife about how problematic it is. Men shouldn’t be shamed for being bisexual (god knows women aren’t). There’s an underlying of homophobia and production/Andy always miss the opportunity to address it and he’s a gay man, I don’t get it.
abfab
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
abfab
Gay as a picnic basket.