Tuesday 19 May 2009

Playing gay, being gay


24 November 2005

This well might be the Year of the Gay at the Oscars. Not the year of the gay actor - heavens forbid - but the year when actors are rewarded for playing gay parts. Philip Seymour Hoffman has produced what is said to be a virtuoso account of Truman Capote's mincing style in Capote. Felicity Huffman, the put-upon one in Desperate Housewives, has been persuaded to play a male-to-female transvestite in Transamerica. And Annie Proulx's great short story, Brokeback Mountain, about an extended and tragic love affair between two cowboys, has been filmed by Ang Lee with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in the leads.

Oscars surely await some of these. There are half a dozen other big name actors playing gay roles this season, and it's evidently now a safe career move. It's worth noting, however, that none of these actors themselves is gay, and indeed most of them have been at some pains to distance themselves from any such suggestion. Michelle Williams, the mother of Ledger's child, appears in Brokeback Mountain as his character's betrayed wife. That, one must assume, could only happen when there was no possibility whatever of it being, for instance, a sardonic joke on a real-life gay affair. The casting of Williams is a spectacular example of the sexual alibi; for anyone who cares to wonder, we are reassured that this could only be a piece of "let's pretend", and the actor's real interests are nervously displayed on screen.

As if that wasn't enough, the actors in these films are always at pains to stress the incredible trauma involved in having to pretend to kiss a person of the same sex in front of cameras. To be fair, this is always a subject that unhealthily obsesses interviewers, but actors' responses are often highly amusing. Jake Gyllenhaal has said: "Heath and I were both saying, 'Let's get the love scenes over as fast as we can - all right, cool. Let's get to the important stuff.'"

We are left in no doubt at all. The actors in these films are so extraordinarily heterosexual that playing gay presents them with incredible challenges. Personally, I've spent a day down a working coal mine, and think that, as jobs go, being asked to snog Heath Ledger is not among the world's more demanding professional tasks.

But Hollywood, evidently, agrees with the actors. When you look at recent Oscars, the tendency is fairly clear. Tom Hanks - famously uxorious - won for playing a gay man in Philadelphia. Hilary Swank's burlesque turn as a transsexual teen in Boys Don't Cry followed, and then Charlize Theron won for the fat, ugly, lesbian serial killer in Monster. Of course, as is customary, some of the Oscar-winning credit goes to the make-up artist here - golly, look at Charlize, she's made herself all ugly - but most of it is surely down to the incredible fact that an artist was prepared to demean herself enough to play a lesbian.

When you look at the history of Oscar-winning performances, Hollywood's new enthusiasm for embracing minorities seems less than profound. Notoriously, the easiest way to win an Oscar is to play somebody bravely fighting against a physical condition or a mental handicap. The easiest route of all, in fact, is to play a gifted artist suddenly struck down by disability - the early years of the Academy awards are littered with long-forgotten tales of deaf sopranos and ballerinas with gout. As the "Kate Winslet" character in Ricky Gervais's series Extras scabrously observed, "Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot? Oscar. Dustin Hoffman, Rain Man? Oscar. Seriously, you are guaranteed an Oscar if you play a mental."

The way Hollywood is rushing to reward heterosexual actors playing gay roles does not, really, reflect very well on its engagement. It is just too much like its fairly disgraceful engagement with mental and physical disability, and too much like rewarding a variety turn. Hollywood, so admiring of an actor's ability to project a sexuality not his own in these cases, has never been in a hurry to reward those far more common examples of gay actors convincingly playing heterosexual roles. In most cases, that involves rather more than the requirement of kissing this year's starlet in front of the cameras - a requirement no less or more demanding for a gay actor than Mr Gyllenhaal being asked to kiss Mr Ledger, surely. It may involve an actor's whole life.

One of the very striking things about this whole curious fashion is that not one of the actors involved is gay themselves. Moreover, it seems fairly likely, in view of the tone of the attendant publicity, that a studio just wouldn't cast a gay actor in one of these roles. It is quite impossible to imagine Heat magazine asking a gay actor how they enjoyed kissing their straight co-star, or indeed, their gay co-star. It would raise questions of enthusiasm which the world of publicity is not quite ready for and we can only, it seems, watch such kisses with the assurance, as swift as can be arranged, that nobody involved could possibly have derived pleasure from it.

But there's another, rather bigger reason why the studios wouldn't cast a gay actor in such a role. In America, evidently, there aren't any gay actors. One may grow rather satirical on the subject, but the truth is that whereas in every other country in the world it is widely accepted that theatre and film offer a congenial and sympathetic area in which gay men and women can work, this is simply not true in America. There are no gay actors - or at least, there weren't until Nathan Lane, to everyone's utter incredulity, came out. Of course, there were gay actors in America's past - James Dean, Cary Grant, Dirk Bogarde, Rock Hudson, Danny Kaye. Plenty of them, in fact. But, for whatever reason, there's hardly a single gay actor of recognisable stature working in Hollywood. An incredible fact.

Sooner or later, one of those non-existent gay actors will take a role as a gay character, and tell us all subsequently how difficult they found kissing their co-star, to general derisive hilarity. In fact, it's not hard to think of a recent film where exactly that situation arose, starring one of those gentlemen with a boyfriend on the payroll and a lady hired for the purpose of premieres. But Hollywood will only seem truly tolerant when it allows gay actors to play gay roles, kissing included, and no whining about it in the publicity afterwards. Until then there's - how should one put it - a slight air of Al Jolson about the whole business.

Source: Gay for today by Philip Hensher, The Guardian

1,855 comments:

1 – 200 of 1855   Newer›   Newest»
Jackie said...

@
@ Previous post's comments

Anonymous said...

Look at the people Jake surrounds himself with, Reese, Jamie Fox, RDJ etc. And he himself has A-List aspirations, although many consider him as A-List anyway.
If his career goes well (in future) I think he'll become even more arrogant. That's honestly how I feel. This brings me to the godfather thing. As I've said, I would bet that he thinks it isn't very prestigeous to be the godfather of Dawson's Creek's Michelle William's kid. It was a different matter when HL was still alive, whom he seemed to admire much. Jake's parents chose Jamie Lee Curtis as godmother and Paul Newman as celeb godfather. See how they want to be in the in crowd? And Jake is now godfather to Michelle William's kid. LOL. I don't mean to downgrade Michelle, but even though she's a fine actress, she'll probably never be in that in, A-List crowd.
/

Mike White, Peter Sarsgaard, Matthew Katz-Frost and Austin Nichols aren't A-List crowd.

Anonymous said...

"As I've said, I would bet that he thinks it isn't very prestigeous to be the godfather of Dawson's Creek's Michelle William's kid."

What a terrible thing to say.
According to you Jake is probably pissed with his parents and family for not being very prestigious.

Anonymous said...

"Look at the people Jake surrounds himself with, Reese, Jamie Fox, RDJ etc."

Reese is a beard, and Jake worked with Jamie Foxx and RDJ.

Anonymous said...

"OT but funny. Ryan Reynolds could be Jake in real life, the other 2 the Chin."

Ay, can't watch it.

Jake reposting said...

Shit! No wonder I always get lost when Austin tells me how to get somewhere!

Never Ask A Gay Man For Directions

a woman said...

Because studies show homosexual males navigate like women

Ouch!

Never Ask A Gay Man For Directions said...

Due to atypical hormonal influences on the developing fetus during prenatal growth, including the amount of circulating androgens (e.g. testosterone) present in the mother’s womb, homosexuals (both men and women) often display several telltale “bio-demographic” markers—residual bodily characteristics that indicate the prenatal effect of these hormonal factors. For example, you may already know about the well-publicized “2D:4D effect,” scientific shorthand for the peculiar finding that, for both straight women and gay men, the length ratio between the second and fourth digits (fingers) is, on average, greater than it is for gay women and straight men. Since the brain is just another physical template, there are also differences between straights and gays in brain structure (notably in the hippocampus) and therefore cognitive abilities. For example, gay men and straight women tend to outperform gay women and straight men on most verbal measures, whereas straight men outperform the other groups on measures of spatial intelligence.
...
Now before you go conjuring up exceptions to these general findings, note that they refer to aggregate population-level differences. Although I personally match Rahman’s cross-sex neurocognitive model for gay brains to the tee, my partner, Juan, is a walking GPS device who could have given old Uncle Vitus a run for his money. And Juan, unlike me, has a pronounced 2D:4D ratio. Furthermore, in science, a statistically significant difference between comparison groups may actually translate to negligible differences in the real world. Finally, Rahman is quick to point out that it’s not as though gay men simply have women’s brains, or that gay women have men’s brains. Rather, the brains of homosexuals are more like neurocognitive mosaics of both sexes. For example, lesbians do not appear to differ from heterosexual women on cognitive measures except for verbal fluency, where they score in the male-typical direction.

Anonymous said...

"What a terrible thing to say."

It's probably true, though. Jake seems to be very pretentious.

Anonymous said...

Huh? Matthew Katz-Frost (for example) is more A-list than Michelle?!

THE KIRK AND SPOCK BROMANCE said...

In a recent interview with Parade magazine, Star Trek's Chris Pine (Captain Kirk) opens up about the supposed 'bromance' between himself and co-star Zachary Quinto (Spock):

"It's a relationship between two men that spend a lot of time together in space. It's sort of like Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany in Master and Commander. It is very much a story about two men learning really to love one another, and in the end, they become fast friends. But, along the way they butt heads because they're alpha males. They strongly believe in themselves."

link

Don't Ask, Don't Tell said...

Anderson Cooper covered social issues and the pressure on President Obama to take action on his campaign promises. Candy Crowley reports on the current situation and Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and DNC member Robert Zimmerman join Anderson to discuss the administration's silence.

Also, today the Wall Street Journal takes up the issue of Obama and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", noting that the administration let pass a May 3 deadline to appeal to the Supreme Court in the case of the expulsion of Major Margaret Witt: "That means the case will be returned to the district court, and administration officials said they will continue to defend the law there." Witt had served as an Air Force reservist flight nurse for 20 years until she was ratted out by a citizen in her home town of Spokane who, according to her attorney, called the Air Force and told them she was living with her female partner there.

The WSJ reports: "President Obama faced an early March deadline to file an appeal to the Supreme Court. Obama aides twice filed requests asking for a one-month extension, which the court granted. The administration let the most recent deadline pass without seeking another extension. A Justice Department spokeswoman said the government would defend the law at the trial over Maj. Witt's dismissal. The decision not to appeal to the Supreme Court 'is a procedural decision made because the case is still working its way through the regular judicial process,' she said."

Watch the AC360 segment, AFTER THE JUMP...

AC360 on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Same-Sex Marriage, and Obama

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't be so apt to dismiss Michelle. She's going to be in Scorsese's upcoming "Shutter Island"-and with a sizable role. Try that on for size, Prince of Persia!

Anonymous said...

Kirk and Spock were incredible - they really were two alpha males butting heads in the beginning. Spock didn't back down either, but in the end, they are like two halves. It's beautiful. I really enjoyed it, and hope to see more sequels. They are both gorgeous too, and it was such fun when all the characters were introduced. Lt. Uhura has always been my fave female character, after Spock. And who was that gorgeous Romulan? Eric Bana! :)

dirty mind said...

"Kirk and Spock were incredible - they really were two alpha males butting heads in the beginning."

Butting and "butting heads" sounds naughy :)

Anonymous said...

^^Could be, not yet tho. It's a slash writer's dream - Zachary Quinto is beyond gorgeous, and shows a bit more emotion than the original Spock. There's a surprise in this movie too that was wonderful. :)

Anonymous said...

What surprise?

Anonymous said...

I don't want to spoil it, but let's just say there's a visit from an old friend. :)

Anonymous said...

Randy Dan and El Bingo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YhTKiFEMAg

Anonymous said...

Michelle's days on Dawson creek are the past.

A lot of "prestigious" actors worked in sopies in their early carrers (including Heath) and then they became important movie actors.

Of course, it seems to be a rule where they have to talk shit about those first works. Michelle always speaks with embarrasement about her work in DC,as if she was just paying the price for becoming a star in the future (thank "accidental"pregnancy with heath for that,honey)
Although, i can say i really blame her because that show was a seriuos piece of crap.

sorry, are you still talking about this topic,right?

Anonymous said...

What a terrible thing to say./

Do you really think he would have accepted the "honor" to be godfather if it was just Michelle's child? I don't think so! He accepted because he liked Heath a lot (and it was also a reason to stay in touch with each other, ya know? ;) ).

Anonymous said...

Although, i can say i really blame her because that show was a seriuos piece of crap. /

I admit I watched DC as a teen (I'm Michelle's age now), but I always found the way they spoke ridiculous. No teen I knew at the time spoke like that. They spoke like intellectual grown ups. LOL.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't be so apt to dismiss Michelle. She's going to be in Scorsese's upcoming "Shutter Island"-and with a sizable role. Try that on for size, Prince of Persia!/

I wish her good luck with the Scorsese film. After BBM she really had only two acclaimed films INT (she was barely in it though) and W&L (she got a Spirit Award nom. for it). That's about it. The gal's pushing 30, there are many pretty and talented actresses out there. If she doesn't have another big hit (critically AND commercially), I doubt she'll ever really "braek through". We will see.

Anonymous said...

Anne Hathaway @ award show. She looks good.

Anne Hathaway @ Village Voice OBIE Awards

Anonymous said...

Jake only accepted the role of godfather because Heath asked him. I do think Jake was friendly enough with Michelle, but his primary relationship was with Heath.

Although, I've always wondered a bit about his real feelings for Michelle. I wish I knew how to find or link this pic I saw on the DC forum once, but it was a shot of Heath, Michelle and Jake at the 2006 Oscars. It captured a partial side shot of Heath with Michelle looking adoringly (what else?) at him. Jake was a row behind them, but I swear, it was like he was giving Michelle the stare of death. It was kind of eerie.

If I can ever figure out how to capture and link this photo I will. Has anyone else seen this pic? Am I totally misreading Jake's expression?

Anonymous said...

I'm not a fan of Ryan's, but he and Abbie make a good looking couple:

X17

Anonymous said...

If I can ever figure out how to capture and link this photo I will. Has anyone else seen this pic? Am I totally misreading Jake's expression?

^^
I don't mean to burst your bubble but i think at that time (Oscars 06) Heath was already cheating with Gemma Ward and Jake was negotiating his bearding contract.
No plans to run away together and no unrequited love were taking place, IMHO.

Anonymous said...

RP & AC are sexy together they have kind of heat that Reese and Jake lack.

Anonymous said...

10:53 AM, it was only a week or so before the Oscars that Jake forgot where he was and almost kissed Heath when he won the Bafta. And why would his bearding contract put a stop to his crushing? It doesn't work that way.

Anonymous said...

"I don't mean to burst your bubble but i think at that time (Oscars 06) Heath was already cheating with Gemma Ward and Jake was negotiating his bearding contract.
No plans to run away together and no unrequited love were taking place, IMHO."

I don't think Heath cheated with Gemma at the time. I think he hooked up with her after the break up with Michelle. And I'm not sure about Jake's bearding plans either. LOL.

Jake/Heath - There was admiration and I think attraction too, although I don't think they ever acted on it.

Anonymous said...

"RP & AC are sexy together they have kind of heat that Reese and Jake lack."

Agreed!

Anonymous said...

Where's Abby??

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/05/19/hayden-panettiere-is-cruising-in-cannes/#comments

Anonymous said...

In comments, someone says this knocks out Jake as TT but then someone else says no, Ted is using Jake's real name. We all know Ted has meant Jake as TT over the years but it's curious what he says. Why mention TT not being in the poll at all, then?

Ted: and even our beloved Toothy's been outed—from the poll, that is, not from his closeted daily existence. Got excited there for a sec, didn't ya?


White-Bread Boring

* Jake Gyllenhaal
* Gwyneth Paltrow


AT Awful Celeb Voting.

Btw current results are:

* 42.2% Jake Gyllenhaal
* 57.8% Gwyneth Paltrow

Anonymous said...

RP & AC are sexy together they have kind of heat that Reese and Jake lack.

**

Maybe the fact that RP & AC are actually enjoying having sex together makes the difference

Anonymous said...

"If I can ever figure out how to capture and link this photo I will. Has anyone else seen this pic? Am I totally misreading Jake's expression?"

That was brought up a couple times. He used the same expression on Oprah towards Michelle when she thanked her for a compliment. I think it's the way Michelle said "thank you" both times to Oprah and then to Heath at the Oscars. She kind of whispered it. At the Oscars she whispered "thank you" to Heath after he winked at her (it was after her clip was shown and she got applause). Both times she whispered "thank you" and Jake looked annoyed. LOL.

Anonymous said...

Heath and Michelle were very much still together as a couple at the time of the Oscars 2006. Heath didn't start dating Gemma Ward until the Fall of 2007, and this was months after he and Michell had broken up.

The rumors about Jake and Reese, let alone the active bearding, didn't begin until much later ( I think it was either late 2006, early 2007 that we began to hear the first rumors), but it was after the 2005-2006 award season.

Anonymous said...

Jake's looks ;):

Oscars 3rd videoOprah (10th video/media section)

Anonymous said...

I was thinking about that Coachella ass feel. I don't know if it was for the cameras or not but if Jake is like my gay friends he's all touchy-feely but not in a come-on sexual way so the boundary isn't breached like it would be if a straight guy friend did it. Another thing, Reese was wearing her bathing suit under her dress, maybe she wore it like that all day? Its very possible that at the time they were walking she said something about it like "I don't have to waste time to change, I'm wearing my suit already under my clothes" and that's when Jake, who couldn't believe she would wear a bathing suit all day, copped a feel to see if it was really true. Just saying, because my close gay friends (and even some of their gay friends who I maybe just meet at a party who I don't even know, my god!) will do that stuff to me. Hands everywhere! You gay boys are sluts lol.

Anonymous said...

Both times she whispered "thank you" and Jake looked annoyed."

This explanation is stupid. sorry

Anonymous said...

"This explanation is stupid. sorry"

I don't claim it's the reason he looked at her like that, it's just something I noticed and said it might be it.

Anonymous said...

I am 10:40 and the look I was referring to is the one captured in that 2:45 clip from 11:25's post. But I think he looks a lot more than "annoyed" in that shot from the Oscars. My question is why?

Anonymous said...

"My question is why?"

Unless Jake tells us, we'll probably never know.

Anonymous said...

"I don't mean to burst your bubble but i think at that time (Oscars 06) Heath was already cheating with Gemma Ward and Jake was negotiating his bearding contract."

March 2006 was too early for both.

Anonymous said...

"But I think he looks a lot more than "annoyed" in that shot from the Oscars. My question is why?"

I don't know, maybe because Michelle was the one fucking Heath, not him?

Anonymous said...

^^LOL.

12:12 PM said...

LOL at 12:10's comment.

Anonymous said...

"I don't know, maybe because Michelle was the one fucking Heath, not him?"

Maybe...

Anonymous said...

One more time - the point of the bearding contract is to have a public "girlfriend" and to fuck with guy(s) in private.

Anonymous said...

It could be some many things...
Maybe HE WAS annoyed because Heath promised him to run away 2gether and then got MW pregnant, maybe he already knew that the gay rumors will persist probably forever, maybe his drunken father made a scene and embarrasing him shortly before or maybe his necktie was too tight.

What is certain is that we can't never know EVERYTHING about this guy, he is too misteryous and can pretend very well.
But then again, what person (famous or not) really shows all their cards to other people?

Jake said...

Michelle was fucking Heath? With what? DAMN if only I had known she had a schlong maybe I should have gone after her too. Fuck!

Anonymous said...

I guess Michelle taking "his" place might be a reason for Jake to be pissed.

Anonymous said...

Randy Dan and El Bingo

Aww, so cute:

Sisters

Anonymous said...

It's funny. He does kind of look like he's saying, "Die bitch Die" in that shot. Well, it's got to be hard wanting somebody you can't have.

Jake said...

It's hard all the time!

Anonymous said...

Michelle actually whispers thanks not thank you. It doesn't matter anyway.

Anonymous said...

"I guess Michelle taking "his" place might be a reason for Jake to be pissed."

I guess so. I would've hated the bitch too, to be honest.

Anonymous said...

"I guess Michelle taking "his" place might be a reason for Jake to be pissed."

Nothing at all against Michelle, but Heath and Jake seemed to fit better. :D

Anonymous said...

"Do you really think he would have accepted the "honor" to be godfather if it was just Michelle's child?"

Yes. One would have to dislike the person or be cold as a fish not to accept such honour.

Anonymous said...

If Heath had wanted to fuck Jake he would have done it. I think Heath was the kind of guy who fucked first and thought later.
Sorry to all the BBM lovers but,IMO of course, those two never were together.

Anonymous said...

Not necessarily. You could turn it down because you think there are people who are closer to the parent and better suited to be a godparent.

Anonymous said...

"If Heath had wanted to fuck Jake he would have done it. I think Heath was the kind of guy who fucked first and thought later.
Sorry to all the BBM lovers but,IMO of course, those two never were together."

ITA

Anonymous said...

I don't think people are saying Heath and Jake got together. Heath was straight. Just that Jake wanted to be with Heath (and was pretty obvious about it). And Michelle was a constant reminder that his fantasy would only ever be a fantasy. Damn her. LOL

Anonymous said...

^^I think there was much of mutual admiration (on Jake's part more) and attraction. Though I don't think they ever acted on it (on the attraction).

Anonymous said...

"In comments, someone says this knocks out Jake as TT but then someone else says no, Ted is using Jake's real name. We all know Ted has meant Jake as TT over the years but it's curious what he says. Why mention TT not being in the poll at all, then?"

To tease :)

Ted did not eliminate Jake. "Toothy Tile", being listed as "Toothy Tile", is out of the poll (Toothy listed as Toothy was in the previous poll).

Anonymous said...

^^
I don't get it but i believe you ;)

Anonymous said...

Toothy Tile was one of the options in the previous Ted's poll.
There is no Toothy Tile in this poll = "our beloved Toothy's been outed—from the poll".

Anonymous said...

I've always thought that they were a bit attracted to each other as a result of the filming.

pic 1pic 2pic 3:)

Anonymous said...

^^Sorry for posting the links like that.

Anonymous said...

Add space and / after link, I think it will help.

Anonymous said...

"I think there was much of mutual admiration (on Jake's part more) and attraction."

The attraction wasnt mutual, had it been they would’ve acted on it. Unfortunately for Jake, Heath liked pussy, not dick.

Anonymous said...

"I've always thought that they were a bit attracted to each other as a result of the filming."

They were together for weeks in some God-forsaken, God-forgotten place :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks, 1:04 PM.

Anonymous said...

"The attraction wasnt mutual, had it been they would’ve acted on it. Unfortunately for Jake, Heath liked pussy, not dick."

Oh please, that's your opinion not fact.

Brothers said...

First "Brothers" movie still or just a photo from the movie set

Anonymous said...

"Oh please, that's your opinion not fact."

You really think had Heath been attracted to Jake he wouldn't have fucked him? Come on, this is Heath were talking about.

Anonymous said...

^^Finally something. TY for posting this 1:10 PM.

Anonymous said...

"You really think had Heath been attracted to Jake he wouldn't have fucked him?"

He would :)

Anonymous said...

"You really think had Heath been attracted to Jake he wouldn't have fucked him? Come on, this is Heath were talking about."

Maybe it was different with Jake? I think if they did it, their relationship would have become more complicated. I think their friendship was more important than to spoil it with sex. If you believe Ted, Jake had someone for gay sex (Austin) and if you believe the canada.com BI, Heath had his twink(s?).

Anonymous said...

Greed is good. Sex is easy. Youth is forever.

Anonymous said...

"I think their friendship was more important than to spoil it with sex."

LOL, look at how important their friendship really was.

I think that if Heath had returned the attraction they would've screwed like rabbits, friendship or no friendship.

Anonymous said...

"LOL, look at how important their friendship really was."

If you are talking about his behaviour after Heath's death, well I think much had to do with him following Reese. He seems pussy whipped by her. JMO.

Anonymous said...

I think Heath was too volatile in the love department. Everyone who loved him got hurt at the end. Maybe Jake is smarter than we think and prefers to play it safe (Austin)

Anonymous said...

^^Jake's not smart. He hooked up with Reese!

Anonymous said...

You like it or not, he must be winning something out of the reeking.Otherwise, why does he bother?

Anonymous said...

Thanks 1:10 - I think Jake and Tobey are going to be great in this. :)

Anonymous said...

I frankly don't think Jake is that good in bed. I can't imagine Heath being attracted to him. and i dont think Anne and Michelle liked him very much.

No one ever comments on how well Peter S plays gay. or the graphic male sex scene, albeit behind a screen, in Dying Gaul.

how come?

Anonymous said...

I think 1:24 #2 is right. I think Heath loved sex way too much to not take it if it was offered.

And you know Jake would have spread himself like cheese on a cracker.

Anonymous said...

^^I think Jake thought he landed the big fish. Reese was a fresh Oscar winner and even before that she was a popular actress. And she was probably glad Jake showed interest, so she didn't look like a loser like Aniston did after Pitt dumped her ass. And for Jake's gay desires there's always the "little goose on the side". I think he swings both ways.

Anonymous said...

"and i dont think Anne and Michelle liked him very much."

I don't know about that.

Anonymous said...

"And you know Jake would have spread himself like cheese on a cracker."

LOL!

Anonymous said...

Matilda Ledger dancing queen

Anonymous said...

I think the 'little goose' may have flown the nest. Let's look out for Jake beginning to resemble 'wolf man' (remember when Austin dumped him before).

Happy to be proved wrong, but do think Austin deserves much better.

Also, anyone else liking the fact that Abbie and Ryan are becoming this year's Cannes couple. That's definately going to pique the Brentwood midget.

Anonymous said...

Matilda Ledger dancing queen

:)

Anonymous said...

"And she was probably glad Jake showed interest"

Reese was glad Jake needed a beard.

She got "RW has it all, including better than Ryan bf" public image and a lot of PR for Rendition - PR whore couldn't ask for more.

What Jake gets? Straight image (producers like that) and more freedom for gay sex - gay slut couldn't ask for more.

Anonymous said...

Abbe and Ryan will only be of minor interest until The Brange arrive. Their is only one royal couple in Hollywood right now.

Anonymous said...

Matilda is adorable. It is such a shame that her dad is not here to witness her growth.

And her godfather should be ashamed for not being more of a presence in her life. I know it's difficult from 3000 miles away, but I think he could make more of an effort. Unless he and Michelle don't get along, but even if so, they ought to be able to get past whatever issues they have for the sake of this child.

Anonymous said...

Our Jakey is not exactly a horndog -

Anonymous said...

"Unless he and Michelle don't get along"

I've a feeling they do get along, but who knows.

Anonymous said...

Heath once said he wanted his child to become fearless.
Matilda doesn't need such a coward,manipulative,phony person in her life.

And,excuse me if i'm harsh, but he (heath) should have stay away from drugs if he was so concerned on her education, it was HIS responsability after all, not the godfather's.

Anonymous said...

"Matilda is adorable. It is such a shame that her dad is not here to witness her growth.

And her godfather should be ashamed for not being more of a presence in her life. I know it's difficult from 3000 miles away, but I think he could make more of an effort. Unless he and Michelle don't get along, but even if so, they ought to be able to get past whatever issues they have for the sake of this child.

Of course her Da is about to look after her. as for her so-called gawd-fahthah - come on, Matilda doesnt need Jake.

Anonymous said...

2:43, what drugs are you talking about? The ones for the back pain; the ones for the insomnia, or the ones for his anxiety attacks.

All prescribed by doctors.

Anonymous said...

"All prescribed by doctors."

Well except for the two pain killer pills. Though to be fair, maybe they were prescribed in Europe or Australia when he was there before he passed. The rest of the pills were prescribed in the USA.

Anonymous said...

Here we go again. Heath died from a mixture of presciption medication. It was an accident. He had traces of six pills in his system. Some of those pills had been in his system for at least 24 hours.

You do know that thousands of people die every year from a mixture of presciption medication because they don't realize just how long any given medicine can stay in you system. All it requires is taking the wrong one when another one is still in your system and you don't even realize you could still be impacted by it.

Stop trying to make it look like Heath was some kind of junkie illegal substance abuser. The man was just trying to deal with his back pain and insomnia.

Anonymous said...

"Abbe and Ryan will only be of minor interest until The Brange arrive. Their is only one royal couple in Hollywood right now."

IMO Brange are overrated.

Anonymous said...

2:47

Drugs are drugs, prescribed or not, the addiction is the same and apparently the consequences are equally fatal. And IF Heath ever took illegal drugs, that doesn't make him a monster IMO

He took drugs, get over it

Anonymous said...

Michelle left him becuz of drugs and whoring around. As 2:58 said about drugs, so what, get over it.
It's no fun for a partner when you're trying to raise a kid, but the industry is brutal.

Anonymous said...

Who said that Heath was addicted to presciption drugs?

Yes, drugs are drugs. I take aspirin for headaches. Does that make me an addict?

Anonymous said...

I don't doubt that Heath took illegal drugs at some point in his life, but there is no evidence that he ever became an addict. There were no illegal sustances in his system. There is no evidence that he was addicted to prescription drugs.

Or do some of you know more than the medical examiner?

Anonymous said...

"Michelle left him becuz of drugs and whoring around. As 2:58 said about drugs, so what, get over it.
It's no fun for a partner when you're trying to raise a kid, but the industry is brutal."

You shouldn't believe everything you read in the tabloids.

If Heath was such a womanizer and party animal why did Michelle get pregnant? Don't tell me it was an accident, please. She should’ve thought about the baby BEFORE trapping the father.

Anonymous said...

Don't worry 3:09,you are not an addict.
You just don't know the difference between taking aspirins and taking Oxycontin,Valium and Xanax together

be careful,ok?

Anonymous said...

not-blaming-it-on-a-a-a-alcohol

Anonymous said...

I think people may be missing 2:58's point. Heath did not those pill at the same time. That's what makes these drug interactions so scary and possibly fatal.


You don't have to take them at the same time, or even within a couple of hours of each other, for them to kill you. All it takes is just enough left over in your system to mix with something else, just one time, one mistake.

It's scary.

Anonymous said...

Our poor baby. :( It's just unbearably tragic.

Anonymous said...

I always had the thought that the medical examination that went public was not the real one. With some $$$ you can hide some things. Maybe the family did it to protect Matilda.

Anonymous said...

We'll never know, so it's best not to speculate on what might not be the case.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I don't think it was Michelle who left him. He was a partier that's what he wasn't ready to give up even with Naomi. Michelle most likely knew about his partying ways and still got pregnant. Maybe she thought she could change his ways, but she didn't succeed. I think Heath was only interested in her at first, I doubt he was ever in love with her. She, otoh, seemed crazy about him and got pregnant withing months of "knowing" him. I do think he was a partier and took drugs occasionally, but I doubt he was an real addict. As for the pills. What happened really? That's what we'll never know for sure. But looking at photos of him, he didn't look good at all before he died. I remember some fans were concerned about him.

Anonymous said...

3:26, are you serious? You are talking about the medical examiner for the State of New York. Just who do you think did this bribing, and why would the examiner risk his job over this?

That makes no sense. And we do know how Heath died. It's in the report.

Anonymous said...

"I always had the thought that the medical examination that went public was not the real one. With some $$$ you can hide some things. Maybe the family did it to protect Matilda."

What's the matter, the medical examiner's report doesn't fit with your idea of Heath therefore it mut’ve been altered? Get over yourself.

Anonymous said...

It's very, very unlikely that it could have been altered.

Anonymous said...

"I always had the thought that the medical examination that went public was not the real one. With some $$$ you can hide some things. Maybe the family did it to protect Matilda."

I don't think so.

Anonymous said...

"It's very, very unlikely that it could have been altered."

Of course, but facts that don't make Heath out to be a nasty junkie bother some people.

Anonymous said...

AArggh!! The report was NOT altered!!! But the PUBLIC information about it WAS.

Anonymous said...

^ Prove it since you KNOW it was.

Anonymous said...

I said it was something i was thinking, not that it was a fact and if you think that celebrities don't pay to hide certain information then i think you are too innocent for this world

Anonymous said...

What is it about Heath that is such a threat? We know all about the rumors about him using coke, and that may have been true. He probably did like to get high on occasion. But that does not make him a junkie, and there is no evidence of his being an addict, of any kind, at the time of his death.

Yet some people persist in trying to paint that picture of Heath, especially regarding his death.

Why?

Anonymous said...

How do you know that, 3:44 PM?

Anonymous said...

So who was paid off? CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, NYTIME, NYDAILY NEW, NYPOST?

who? And how do you hid a PUBLIC, OFFICIAL report?

Anonymous said...

So, 3:42/3:47, since you know the public info. was altered, what did the offical report say?

Anonymous said...

Man, Reese must be totally pissed that Abbie's film and performance were so well received. Green eyed monster anyone? Ha!

Anonymous said...

"I said it was something i was thinking, not that it was a fact and if you think that celebrities don't pay to hide certain information then i think you are too innocent for this world"

Your patronizing tone won't cut it. It's one thing to hide certain information about your life as a celebrity, altering an official report is another thing entirely. You should know that.

Anonymous said...

I ask again, what is it about Heath?

Anonymous said...

3:51 PM, IA.
Heath was a talented and respected actor, not a politician. So no need to hide some juicy info. I think it was the combo of pills that killed him, like the report says.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what the report said but it should establish that a person who dies because of drugs is not evil and their fans don't should get so defensive,
he was only human after all.

But,yes,you are right.My theory sucks,i admit it :(

Anonymous said...

4:00 PM

I don't think you'll get an answer, no one is brave enough to spill it out.

Anonymous said...

"I ask again, what is it about Heath?"

I know some posters here are no fans of him, but maybe there are others who think that him being an addict means he had it comming. If it was really "only" a stupid accident, it's kind of more tragic and sad. You know what I mean?

Anonymous said...

People, if they are defensive, are so because the theory most likely is untrue, not because it is an evil assumption. Medical examiner's reports are matters of public record.

Anonymous said...

Heath fans are not defensive. We just tend not to tolerate inferences regarding things that are blatantly untrue and easily disproved.

Anonymous said...

"but maybe there are others who think that him being an addict means he had it comming."

Really? Wow. What about Winehouse, Moss, Doherty,etc, etc who have been notorious hardcore cokeheads for years? Do they have it coming too, or only Heath did?

Anonymous said...

^^I honestly wonder how Winehouse and Doherty are still alive.
No, I don't think Heath was an addict like that, I think he was an occasional user. But I think he had a real problem with anxiety/depression.

Anonymous said...

One time I was taking a medication that said on the bottle "Do not take while consuming alcohol" so okay, I didn't. Almost a week after I finished it, I had less than half a glass of wine and I instantly got sick as a dog, like alcohol poisoning. My friends thought I was going to die, seriously. The ER doctor told me that some meds (especially the antibiotic I was taking) are still strong in your system even 2 weeks after you take the last pill. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE LAST PILL. So Heath (and thousands of others every year) dying of a mistaken combination of pills taken over 24 hours or even a few days, it's easier than you realize.

I think Heath's death points out the problem of incomplete labeling and med mixture warnings on medications. Like my med that said on the bottle "Do not take while consuming alcohol" - does it mean don't drink alcohol to swallow the pill? Or no alcohol during the exact timespan you take the meds? Or no alcohol during the time the meds are in your system, and if so, how long are they in your system, btw? Heath may have thought Pill #1 was already worn off so it was safe to take Pill #2 and Pill #3, and Pill #4 was taken 48 hours ago and since it didn't help the back pain it must be harmless, and so he took Pill #5 to get some relief... It's very easy to do this, when they are all prescribed meds by different doctors and the interaction warnings, especially without timeframes, aren't clear. Very easy.

Anonymous said...

"Almost a week after I finished it, I had less than half a glass of wine and I instantly got sick as a dog, like alcohol poisoning."

I had to take antibiotics quite often but never heard about that prolonged alcohol abstinence - my doctors never mentioned this to me.

Anonymous said...

I think Heath's death points out the problem of incomplete labeling and med mixture warnings on medications. /

I agree.

Anonymous said...

Are we back on the same tiresome topic?

Anonymous said...

How scary is it that it's the prescription shit, the legal shit, that will kill you?

Anonymous said...

Well, sorry if relating information that might help you stay alive is "tiresome."

By all means, scroll past.

Angelina Jolie tattoo said...

That which feeds me destroys me.

Anonymous said...

Well, sorry if relating information that might help you stay alive is "tiresome."
I would prefer to get this information from more trustworthy sources than a gossip blog. Thank you very much.

Anonymous said...

Well, sorry if relating information that might help you stay alive is "tiresome."
I would prefer to get this information from more trustworthy sources than a gossip blog. Thank you very much.

^^

I understand what you mean but don't trash gossip blogs.Remember we have to thank them for a lot of Toothy stories ;)

Anonymous said...

Geeeze this is boring, Heath's drug use, Jake's "responsibities" as "godfather" - yeah I do know how to scroll, but don't y'all know how to MOVE ON?

Anonymous said...

^^No!

magic said...

We can move on and we can go back :)

Adam Lambert's Boyfriend Drake? said...

Perez Hilton claims that this man, allegedly named Drake, is Adam Lambert's love interest and Lambert was affectionately referring to him as "my boy" at a recent party. Over the weekend, the New York Daily News floated a rumor that Lambert was spotted with someone he referred to as "his boyfriend" while dining out with fellow Idol contestants over the weekend.

Towleroad

Anonymous said...

6:03

When i first visited this blog there were comments complaining about recurrent topics that i still didn't have the chance to discuss. New people have a say on this issues too! Or is it that we are always the same posters?

Anonymous said...

Adam Lambert's Boyfriend Drake? - Towleroad comment:

"That guy is sitting in the audience every week next to Adam's parents. So yeh, I'm guessing they're having relations."

Anonymous said...

6:03 PM, WFT2 gets the most activity when the topics you’ve mentioned are discussed. What does that say about interests of the posters on this blog? Just because you don't care about those topics, doesn't mean others don't either.

Anonymous said...

New people have a say on this issues too! Or is it that we are always the same posters? /

Everyone has the right to start the discussion about new or old subject.

Or just vent :)

Anonymous said...

The deformity of Reese's chin is a very popular subject too.

Anonymous said...

Heath has been dead God rest his lovely soul for more than a year and people are still arguing about his drug use.

Jake has shown himself to be a narcissistic shit and fame whore and jerk-off and people still want him to go visit Matilda, who seems to be doing VERY WELL -

I dunno. I guess I'll go to the movies.

Anonymous said...

I'll not go to the movies if we can discuss Reese's deformities.

Anonymous said...

ewww

Anonymous said...

Does anybody here think she got a shower today?
I think there is a 20% chances that she did, but i'm always an optimist

Anonymous said...

Ewww and LOL!

Anonymous said...

"Jake has shown himself to be a narcissistic shit and fame whore and jerk-off and people still want him to go visit Matilda"

I don't. She doesn't need a selfish prick like Jake in her life, like you said, she's doing very well. Unless there’s something in it for Jake (PR,etc) I don’t think we’ll ever see any pictures or read any reports of them spending time together. Oh well, best for her.

Anonymous said...

I believe there is something off with Jake & michelle friendship,
i don't know, she never mentioned him again and they seemed to be close friends. After Heath was gone, is like they don't exist to each other anymore. I'm not saying there was a fight but i still find very odd the lack of connection between them,specially after what happened with Heath.

Anonymous said...

^^

I feel the same way. It's odd.

Anonymous said...

The deformity of Reese's chin is a very popular subject too.

That thing is either a knob or a third elbow. Whatever, I bet its great for tapping down carpet in corners or hammering nails.

Anonymous said...

Why should Michelle have a friendship with Jake? Did she ever? Must be annoying to have somebody getting a hard on over your b.f. and everybody talking about it, like, all over the world.

Anonymous said...

Im trying to figure out why Reese doesn't take showers.

Maybe the steam loosens up her hair extensions.

She must smell turrible!

Anonymous said...

There was somebody called "Bathless Groggins" in an old comic strip. Maybe she's related to him. Or maybe it's a southern thing. I knew someone from the south that gave her children orange soda pop for breakfast.

Gee I wonder who they're talking about said...

Dear Ted:
Hypothetically, when a well-known female acts as a beard for a well-known man, should we assume that she's also gay, even though she's been married and has children? I just can't think of any other reason she'd agree to do it.
—B.C.

Dear Think Harder:
Press.

Bitch Back

Anonymous said...

What gets me is the Coachella pic of Reeke standing facing each other in the parking lot with that other lady and Jake's zipper is obviously down and the Chin doesn't even friggin notice. Honey, when you're having a sexual relationship you're always looking THERE on your hottie.

Anonymous said...

She's no more interested in Jake than he's interested in her.

Anonymous said...

I always got the sense that Michelle and Jake may have liked each other, but Jake was really friends with Heath. But I can see it being an issue for Michelle if she suspected that Jake lusted after Heath. Even if he wanted to be more involved, I could imagine her not encouraging that.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Michelle has lost respect for Jake because of his bearding charade and PR stunts and lies. Or she can't stand Reese. I can't see her and Reeke hanging out together either. Michelle probably fully knows that if she does something with Jake that Reese and her PR entourage will follow.

Anonymous said...

Keep in mind too that Abbie Cornish was close to Heath and his family. Michelle was pregnant with Matilda and with Heath all throughout the filming of Candy so she must have gotten to know Abbie. Michelle may have formed opinions of Reeke based on things she's heard.

Anonymous said...

Maybe, maybe not. There was also the rumor that Heath wanted to introduce Abbie to Jake.

There was no Reeke then.

Anonymous said...

Good point, 8:37. If true (and I think it is) that's yet another thing Jake has lost by bearding. How low will he go?

Anonymous said...

"Michelle probably fully knows that if she does something with Jake that Reese and her PR entourage will follow."

Jake is a prisoner of his own loneliness, emotional dysfunctionality and ambition, and a professionally stunted one to boot because his career seems to have ground to a halt after the PoP offer. This bearding is a classic example of the cure being worse than the disease.

Anonymous said...

There was somebody called "Bathless Groggins" in an old comic strip.

ROFL -

This struck me as so funny, thanks for the laugh, Anon. 7:19. :)

Anonymous said...

Guys, do your civic duty tonight and Vote for Adam. Make him the first out gay idol!!!

Anonymous said...

I know that this is mean, but I am so disgusted by the bearding that I hope that Brothers flops and that POP flops big time. If POP flops I would be $1 million that the Chin will dump Jake as fast as possible. We won't have to be subjected to Reeke anymore. She won't have a need for Jake anymore. Reeke is all about making the Chin look good and how could she look good if her pussy whipped boyfriend had no career left. She wouldn't want to do photo ops with Jake the has been actor.

Anonymous said...

10:08, you do know that by hoping for failure you maybe guaranteeing the success of both "Brothers" and "POP."

It often works that way in the Universe. It's like your karma for wishing a negative on someone else.

Anonymous said...

If Michelle really has a problem with Jake I doubt it has anything to do with his bearding or with Jake’s beard having issues with one of her ex boyfriend’s costars. Please! It’s got to be something personal that actually has to do with the baby, the father or herself. How about she didn’t appreciate Jake disrespecting Heath and his death with his behavior?

Anonymous said...

IDK, I think Michelle liked/likes Jake, not so sure about him liking her though. Sometimes the looks he gave her were not nice. LOL.

Here's a nice pic of the three of them:

/J//H/M

Anonymous said...

^^Also, at the music festival, Jake was standing next to Busy, Michelle's BFF and godmother of little M. I didn't get a negative vibe at all from them. I think it's just that Jake is too busy "reeking" for anything else. We barely even see him with his own family like we used to before Reese came into his life.

Anonymous said...

I almost immediately realized that J & H became friends as a result of the filming of the movie, but I was surprised J & M seemed to be close too. I noticed it at the TIFF, she seemed comfortable with him. If there was a friendship (I think at least they got along), it probably cooled off.

TIFF

Anonymous said...

Cute how Heath looks at Jake.

happy times

Anonymous said...

TIFF pic: Actually I think Ang is the sexiest one out of all of them. Man's got a brilliant mind, sensitive heart, and he does exactly what he says and lives his life his way. He's powerful and humble and not afraid of what people think. I'll take someone like that over immaturity, partying and bearding any day.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, but sometimes Ang was a tad too open. Talking about private feelings he saw between Jake and Heath during their love scenes. LOL.

Anonymous said...

3:38, what did Ang say? I don't remember.

Anonymous said...

In a radio interview, he said he saw private feelings between the two druing wrestling and love making scenes. He also said that watching the two of them interact moved him. :)

Anonymous said...

^^ Dang. Someone posted link to that radio interview, but I didn't save it.

Anonymous said...

I didn't save it either. :(

Found it! said...

"I'm pretty convinced Heath genuinely prefered women, but I've always wondered if they enjoyed all the kissing.

Listen to this till the very end."

Ang's "private feelings" radio interview /

WFT2 July 29, 2008

Anonymous said...

"Guys, do your civic duty tonight and Vote for Adam. Make him the first out gay idol!!!"

Was Adam's boyfriend(?) Drake in the audience with Adam's parents?

Anonymous said...

DL: Oh wow, watch this video, at about 1:05 Adam turns his head to get a kiss from Paula and totally kisses Kris on the head. They are adorable!

Video: Kris Allen & Adam Lambert on Their 'Idol' Showdown

Anonymous said...

Adam kisses Kris on the head

Awww! :)

Adam Lambert and Kris Allen in Secret Nail Polish Pact said...

05/15/2009

You may have noticed during Idol's "hometown visit" episode that Kris Allen's thumbnail (above) was painted a lovely shade of royal blue. Turns out, Allen and Adam Lambert had a secret pact sealed with nail polish:

Kris Allen Nation reports: "Kris performed during Rock week with a painted thumbnail, and his homecoming footage captured the chipped polish. Tuesday night, however, Kris performed one of the best performances of the night (and the season, might I add) with a freshly painted thumbnail. According to (friend of the Allen family) Megan Malone, Adam painted Kris's thumbnail after the homecoming visits and removed the polish from one of his own nails, stating 'If you can carry around a piece of me, man; I can do the same for you.' Malone said, 'The Allens believe Kris wears the black fingernail polish in support of Adam because he wanted Adam in the finale. Also, Kris wanted to dispel any rumors claiming the two weren’t great friends.' Kris and Adam were roommates in the Idol Mansion throughout their stay."

Aww.

link

Anonymous said...

4:32 AM, thanks for posting the interview.

Anonymous said...


First "Brothers" movie still or just a photo from the movie set
/

I hope the reviews will be mostly positive. :)

Also, it'll be interesting to see the "Brothers" cast promote the film. I wonder how they'll get along.

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