Out Magazine celebrated its 30th anniversary, and former editor Jeffrey R. Epstein (no, not that Jeffrey Epstein) marked the occasion by revisiting some of his favorite cover stories over the years.
Among them was a feature with former WWE wrestler and current blockbuster superstar Dwayne Johnson titled “The Rock Goes Gay!” Reflecting on the piece, Epstein remarked that Johnson was a “class act” and one of “the nicest, smartest humans I have ever interviewed.”
Later that day, Johnson quote-tweeted the memory, sharing that, at the time, he was warned that taking a gay role would ruin his career. His response? “I said ‘hold my tequila and f*ck off.’ Nicely of course.”
Jeff, thanks man so much for these very kind words. I always say, “it’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice”.
I was told back then (by a few influential folks) that playing a gay man would “ruin my career”
I said “hold my tequila and f*ck off”
Nicely of course ? https://t.co/t2Irhk4EF9— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) July 31, 2022
Regardless of your thoughts on gay-for-pay roles, it’s pretty cool for a straight actor like Johnson—especially someone with his star wattage and mass appeal—to have no hang-ups about playing queer.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
But this trip down memory lane inspired us to seek out the movie that convinced The Rock to “go gay,” and, uh, it’s a doozy.
Be Cool was the confusing and poorly reviewed follow-up to the 1995 gangster comedy Get Shorty, both based on Elmore Leonard novels. The original followed mobster Chili Palmer (John Travolta) as he fumbled into a career in Hollywood, while its follow-up saw Chili attempting to make the transition into the music industry.
Among Be Cool’s eclectic ensemble is Johnson as Eliot, a gay man with dreams of becoming a movie star, who also happens to be the bodyguard to rival music producers. The actor does his best to play Eliot without making him a stereotype, but the rest of the movie does him absolutely zero favors.
If the central role for Christina Milian didn’t make it obvious, the 2005 film is definitely a product of its era (no offense, queen—we still love “Dip it Low“). But that’s no excuse for the homophobic jokes and remarks that run rampant through the film. Take, for example, this cringey scene where Eliot’s employer, Raj—played noxiously by Vince Vaughn—tries to apologize to him after saying f*gg*t.
The rest of the movie doesn’t fare too well either, trafficking in unfortunate stereotype after unfortunate stereotype.
Be Cool takes great pains to let you know it’s on the joke (like in this deleted music video scene, featuring Johnson’s character performing “You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man”), but that doesn’t make it look any less problematic 17 years later.
But we can’t dismiss the film entirely because, thanks to Johnson’s committed performance, it did give us one gift that we’ll cherish forever: A scene where The Rock performs a “monologue” from Bring It On. In it, Eliot recites both Gabrielle Union and Kirsten Dunst’s line from the famous “bring it” exchange just before the movie’s climax. It’s a sight to behold:
Would we recommend Be Cool? No, no way—absolutely not. But do yourself a favor and check out the clip above. It might not ever earn a spot in the Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures, but Johnson definitely earns to laughs with his spirited interpretation of Bring It On. And for that alone, well, we’ll give him a pass for playing gay in this otherwise forgettable movie.
Donston
It’d be nice if you guy stopped referring to actors acting as “gay 4 pay”. You don’t have to porn-i-fy everything.
It’s also hard to give The Rock or the movie any credit. The main purpose of even casting The Rock was the supposed hilarity of seeing a buff, masculine guy everyone assumes to be “straight” playing a fairly stereotypical “gay”. And I doubt there was much real threat to his career.
Mattster
I agree with most of this, except for the last sentence. This movie was early in his career, his only leading role prior was Scorpion King, which did OK but was not a huge hit compared to its budget.
I don’t doubt at all that he was told this would kill his career, however likely or unlikely it actually was.
I’m surprised neither he nor anyone else has commented that he’s on the cover of a magazine with the top headline “Unhung Men: How They Cope”! Ouch!
Crayonap
“Gay 4 pay” means doing porn or hooking.
ScottOnEarth
That says A LOT about The Rock. In those days, it was very risky, and not at al trendy, to play gay as an actor. He is the classic example of someone who is confident and comfortable with who he is, so, therefore, is not threatened by inane prejudices and other people’s opinions.
Donston
He, his friends, his agent might have perceived it as “risky” but it really wasn’t. He was playing a cartoonish “gay”. And that’s always been accepted. While the whole point of casting him was was to kinda making fun of “gays” (see how we got this “straight”, macho guy is acting ‘gay’). There was no homo-romanticism or eroticism to the character, he didn’t show any affection towards guys. All he did was use gay tropes to contradict his public image for comedic value. There wasn’t any real “risk”. But still, props to him for not giving up the role after people around him became nervous. The check was really the main guiding point though. And once he became a legit movie star it’s doubtful he’d ever think of playing a “queer” character.
bachy
Regardless of the whole gay character issue, I’ve always found muscle-giants like The Rock to be hard on the outside and unexpectedly soft on the inside. I’m frequently surprised to encounter the incongruously gooey, molten mashmallow emotional center.
Rock’s “niceness” agenda can be even sappier than Ellen’s.
Beanie16
Rock seems like a genuinely nice/good guy. I can report he is putting his name on a KILLER tequila by the name of Teremana. I’m nit a huge drinker anymore but I was on a buddies night out at a bar in Palm Springs where they were giving away shots of it. I may not be a huge drinker but I used to be and when I did I was a tequila drinker. This is the absolute best tequila I’ve ever had it’s so good you don’t need that sucking on a lime a licking salt off your hand…you don’t need it like you do with most other tequilas
Bromancer7
So in this context “gay for pay” is “acting”? Yeah, don’t do this.
boblrice
Because there’s power in numbers, I’m adding my name to the list of others here regarding using “gay 4 pay” when describing actors, which Queerty has done continuously. It’s obnoxious, misleading, and disingenuous.
JeffBaker
OMG! I saw this movie on cable about twenty years ago! Johnson was hilarious! (I didn’t recognize him!)
johncp56
Yes Gay for pay is for porn or hustlers, not actors in a gay part! let it be we need good actors in all parts
Phuryous4
G4P refers to sex work, not str8 actors doing queer roles.
SUPREME
……and he looked fine doing it.
dbmcvey
He wasn’t “gay for pay” he was an actor playing a gay character.
ingyaom
Probably not the OUT cover I’d want to be on—with the headline: “Unhung Men: How They Cope”
Res1
There is no such thing as “gay for pay”. You have to think you can do something to do it, and well… How many of you can be straight for pay? That’s right, you don’t see that because there is no such thing.
Mattster
There totally is. Look how many gay guys (and lesbians) have been married (or still are) to opposite sex people and have kids. This used to be the norm before openly living in a same-sex relationship was ever possible.
Rock Hudson, Alan Cummings, Elton John, and Anthony Perkins were all married, as were countless closeted people. Prototypical gay Oscar Wilde was married, and had two children.