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Kristin Chenoweth defends Sean Hayes, calls Newsweek article on gay actors ‘Horrendously Homophobic’

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http://healthyhollywood.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/cynthia-nixon.jpgKristin Chenoweth is already a goddess in my mind and now, she is a hero. Ramin Setoodeh wrote an infuriating article for Newsweek.com in which he claims that Kristin’s current leading man on Broadway, Sean Hayes, is not convincing playing a straight man.

Kristin has written a rebuttal and here it is:

As a longtime fan of Newsweek and as the actress currently starring opposite the incredibly talented (and sexy!) Sean Hayes in the Broadway revival of “Promises, Promises,” I was shocked on many levels to see Newsweek publishing Ramin Setoodeh’s horrendously homophobic “Straight Jacket,” which argues that gay actors are simply unfit to play straight. From where I stand, on stage, with Hayes, every night — I’ve observed nothing “wooden” or “weird” in his performance, nor have I noticed the seemingly unwieldy presence of a “pink elephant” in the Broadway Theater. (The Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Tony members must have also missed that large animal when nominating Hayes’ performance for its highest honors this year.) I’d normally keep silent on such matters and write such small-minded viewpoints off as perhaps a blip in common sense. But the offense I take to this article, and your decision to publish it, is not really even related to my profession or my work with Hayes or Jonathan Groff (also singled out in the article as too “queeny” to play “straight.”) This article offends me because I am a human being, a woman and a Christian. For example, there was a time when Jewish actors had to change their names because anti-Semites thought no Jew could convincingly play Gentile. Setoodeh even goes so far as to justify his knee-jerk homophobic reaction to gay actors by accepting and endorsing that “as viewers, we are molded by a society obsessed with dissecting sexuality, starting with the locker room torture in junior high school.” Really? We want to maintain and proliferate the same kind of bullying that makes children cry and in some recent cases have even taken their own lives? That’s so sad, Newsweek! The examples he provides (what scientists call “selection bias”) to prove his “gays can’t play straight” hypothesis are sloppy in my opinion. Come on now! Openly gay Groff is too “queeny” to play Lea Michelle’s boyfriend in GLEE, but is a “heartthrob” when he does it in Spring Awakening? Cynthia Nixon only “got away with it” ’cause she peaked before coming out? I don’t know if you’ve missed the giant Sex and the City movie posters, but it seems most of America is “buying it.” I could go on, but I assume these will be taken care of in your “Corrections” this week.

Similarly, thousands of people have traveled from all over the world to enjoy Hayes’ performance and don’t seem to have one single issue with his sexuality! They have no problem buying him as a love-torn heterosexual man. Audiences aren’t giving a darn about who a person is sleeping with or his personal life. Give me a break! We’re actors first, whether we’re playing prostitutes, baseball players, or the Lion King. Audiences come to theater to go on a journey. It’s a character and it’s called acting, and I’d put Hayes and his brilliance up there with some of the greatest actors period.

http://images.hollywoodgrind.com:9000/images/2008/5/britney-spears-in-bed-with-gay-man.jpgLastly, as someone who’s been proudly advocating for equal rights and supporting GLBT causes for as long as I can remember, I know how much it means to young people struggling with their sexuality to see out & proud actors like Sean Hayes, Jonathan Groff, Neil Patrick Harris and Cynthia Nixon succeeding in their work without having to keep their sexuality a secret. No one needs to see a bigoted, factually inaccurate article that tells people who deviate from heterosexual norms that they can’t be open about who they are and still achieve their dreams. I am told on good authority that Mr. Setoodeh is a gay man himself and I would hope, as the author of this article, he would at least understand that. I encourage Newsweek to embrace stories which promote acceptance, love, unity and singing and dancing for all!

FILE UNDER: Stage

Comments

(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)

8 Remarks

  1. Wow, she is the total package. Triple love her.

    For Mr. Setoodeh to be gay and write that article, and for Newsweek.com to publish it = shame on them!

  2. YEA for Kristin!! She is brilliance….

  3. May 9th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
    2201 East says:

    It doesn’t surprise me one iota that Setoodeh, a gay man, would write such an article. Over the years, I find the some of the most negative pieces concerning gay anything are written authors themselves. Is it their own gay self loathing that causes them to strike out at anyone who is out and successful? It could be many reasons. Whatever it is, they are usually one the gay communities greatest enemies.

    Kristin Chenoweth is a woman to be admired. She puts herself on the front line when it comes to striking down bigotry and makes no apologies for it. Many thanks to this gracious lady! She has to be fantastic in the female lead role in Promises, Promises!

    I remember seeing Jerry Orbach in Promises, Promises, years ago. I’d love to see Sean Hayes do the role. They are two different individuals. I do hope they bring different nuances to the role. that’s what theatre is all about.

  4. May 9th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
    JontheMoonspinner says:

    I simply think Setoodeh has been watching “Will & Grace” reruns for too many years. He’s as bad as the casting directors in Hollywood who can’t see beyond the standard typecasting.

  5. Kristen Chenoweth can add another facet to the jewel she already is!! Thank you for your championing remarks about gay actors.

    When all is said and done, I feel that gay actors have an advantage over straight actors because the majority of us gay folk have had to hide most of our lives growing up trying to pass. And alot of us have passed so well that it’s always a shock when someone comes out. This talent has given us the ability to know which mask to put on for each & every different situation.

    It has always bothered me that no one ever criticises straight actors who play gay. In stage & film , 99.9% of the time, straight actors usually characterize gay men as effeminate, with strong lisps & limp wrists and that just drives me batty! The gay spectrum is quite vast from effeminate to extremely butch and it’s quite sad that the “rainbow of gay” is always underepresented. But with Ms. Chenoweth’s heralding voice, change shall surely ensue.

    Unfortunately for Sean Hayes, Ramin Setoodeh probably just can’t get past Hayes’ unforgettable character from “Will & Grace” and will always see that character in whatever performance Mr. Hayes does in the future. Typecasting is a BITCH! You can’t even be good at your craft without being punished. It would serve Mr. Setoodeh well do remind himself that he is not watching an episode of “Will & Grace” but a Broadway play with a whole different set of characters & storyline.

    Thanks Kristen! And by the way, excellent job on your last episode of “Glee” – “A House Is Not A Home!” That episdoe made my eyes well up a couple of times throughout! KUDOS!

  6. May 10th, 2010 at 7:21 am
    Vincent Truman says:

    Wait… Sean Hayes is GAY?

  7. May 10th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
    Spike Colin says:

    There are people who hate themselves & thier ethnic group. There are Jews who hate Jews. Some authors say Hitler was Jewish. There are Blacks that Blacks. Larry Elder a former Black radio talk show host would demean Blacks on his radio show. He did this so effectivly that the KKK made him an honorary member. I met a lot of women that tell me they can’t stand being around other women.

  8. Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again – taking you feeds also, Appreciation.

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