Following the Emmy-award-winning success of Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy enjoys a high-profile career these days. However, on a recent podcast, he spoke of experiencing homophobia earlier in his work life.
Back in 2006, in his early 20s, Dan worked at MTV. He says that some office banter would mock his sexuality.
Speaking on the first episode of the Phone a Friend with Jessi Cruickshank podcast, Dan said, “I remember walking into work one day and someone asked me what I did on the weekend. I said, ‘Well, I installed a dimmer switch in my apartment.’ And that person said, ‘Wow, it’s almost like you’re a real man.’”
The 39-year-old said such comments made him retreat into himself. He didn’t want his sexuality to make him stand out or potentially vulnerable to discrimination.
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“We didn’t have the sensitivity, I think, that we do now, at least around people’s coming out and the fact that it’s an incredibly personal experience. I mean, I think we all knew it at the time. So, when you do feel like there’s this hunt to out gay people of note in culture, it almost makes you want to hide even more because you don’t want to draw any attention to yourself.”
Dan was born in Canada to parents Eugene Levy and Deborah Divine. Real-life dad Eugene played his dad on Schitt’s Creek.
Dan started his career as one of seven co-hosts on MTV Canada’s MTV Live. He shot to worldwide fame playing David on Schitt’s Creek, which he also wrote and co-produced.
Since then, he’s appeared in the movie Happiest Season and hosted The Big Brunch reality show. He’ll next be seen in the movie, Haunted Mansion. He’s also producing the animated show, Standing By, about a group of disgruntled guardian angels.
Related:
Dan Levy praises billboard campaign for final season of Schitt’s Creek
“Very grateful for @poptv and @cbc and their support on this campaign that my teenage self would never have dreamed to be true.”
CatholicXXX
Guess it’s a good thing he’s a nepo baby
inbama
Being a “nepo baby” certainly gets your foot in the door, but it won’t get you nine Emmys, “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Group” from the Screen actors Guild, two Critics Choice Awards and a Golden Globe.
BTW, dear “Catholic,” is there any bigger “nepo baby” than Jesus Christ?
dbmcvey
So how do you defend the abuse committed on children by Catholic priests and the cover up by the church establishment?
Sageman
Guess it’s a good thing he has talent!
thebaddestbabby
“Well, I installed a dimmer switch in my apartment”
lol the response to this seems more like someone dissing him for being a coddled man child than for being gay. if someone told me that’s what they did with their weekend, I too would make fun of them!
but I guess everyone’s gotta have some sort of victim narrative
davidjohng
The remark is really about the belief that gay men are not really men. That’s what this is about. If a women had installed a dimmer switch would she be receiving that comment? I doubt it nowadays. You don’t have to be a “man” to install a dimmer switch. But the underlying belief is still there that gay men are not really “men”. I still get that from otherwise intelligent people, “I never would have guessed you’re gay” because I guess I have a masculine persona. In people’s minds male homosexuality is still associated with femininity and in reality it can play out that way but the gender roles for men are too narrow not allowing room for other expressions.
still_onthemark
Installing a dimmer switch is fairly “butch.” I doubt 90% of my gay male friends could do it or would even try to!
nm4047
having a dimmer switch installed is the more likely grammar that would be used by most gays. PS: it’s not rocket science.
thebaddestbabby
yeah, it really is not rocket science. gays can be smart too!
dbmcvey
Bitter bees responding to this story.
thebaddestbabby
it’s just absurd that *this* is his story of encountering homophobia. by all accounts he has lived a charmed life
dbmcvey
@thebaddestbabby
You have no idea what kind of life he’s lived. That he’s supposedly lived “a charmed life” doesn’t mean he didn’t encounter homophobia just like being the child of actors or performers didn’t protect Mira Sorvino and Ahsley Judd from Harvey Weinstein.
thebaddestbabby
his story of homophobia is literally someone making fun of him for installing a dimmer switch… it’s not even clear how it’s homophobic
DBMC
@thebaddestbaddy
Really? Think about it for awhile.
Sageman
You can live a charmed life and still be a victim of homophobia. Besides, there’s nothing charming about having to stay in the closet.
thebaddestbabby
he’s not in the closet!! his whole career/public persona is as a gay man. would anyone care about Eugene Levy’s straight son?