Entertainment :: Television
Leno/Phillippe Snafu ContinuesWednesday Apr 2, 2008 The reaction to Jay Leno’s ill-advised questions to Ryan Phillippe last week on the Tonight Show led to the talkshow host to issue an apology yesterday.
In appearance to promote his role in the film "Stop-Loss," Phillippe was asked by Leno to give his "gayest look" to the camera.
Leno asked the question as a reference to Phillippe’s first professional role - as a gay teenager on the soap opera "One Live to Live" in the 1990s.
"In talking about Ryan’s first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong. I certainly didn’t mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize," Leno said in a statement.
Leno’s on-camera question was: "Can you give me your gayest look? Say that camera is Billy Bob... Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming."
"Wow," replied a clearly uncomfortable Phillippe, 33. "That is so something I don’t want to do."
In response to criticism of the interview, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation condemned the remarks on Tuesday.
"We are proud of Ryan for refusing to participate in Leno’s thoughtless attempt at humor," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "Under the guise of comedy, the talk-show host is demonstrating a lack of respect for the gay community and insensitivity to both his co-workers and the audience, to whom he owes an apology."
It also brought a pointed response from "Avenue Q" co-creator Jeff Whitley (he wrote the book to the Tony-Award winning musical) on his blog www.whitless.com/LenoRedux.htm
(You can view the Leno video on his site.)
"I’ve gotta ask: would you ask a guest to make their ’blackest face?’" Whitley wrote. "Their ’Jewiest face?’ Why not? (I charitably imagine your answer to be, "Not all black/Jewish people are the same, so it’s kind of offensive to think there’s a ’black/Jewish face.’") Very good!"
He also posted his response to the question as a visual. (see photo.)
Whitley has subsequently recanted his criticism after seeing Leno’s apology.
"I say: good for Jay. I do wonder what will happen the next time an actor comes on who has some gayness in his career past, but that’s to be dealt with in the future."
He went on to chide GLAAD about their response:
"And also: GLAAD, come on. This was heavily-saturated in the blogosphere for over a week before you decided it was worth pursuing. And need I mention the fantastic work of Melissa McEwan, one of our invaluable straight allies? GLAAD, you have a big megaphone -- USE IT BETTER. Who is making the call these days in your organization?"
McEwan is the brains behind the website mygayestlook.com, where anyone can post their response to Leno’s comment.
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