A reformed Brett Ratner to be honored by GLAAD

Nice to see someone turn what was an ugly incident into something positive.

We all remember how Brett Ratner (Tower Heist, Rush Hour), was asked after a screening whether he rehearses with his actors before shooting a scene.

He replied inexplicably: ‘Rehearsing is for faggots.’

The backlash was so great that resigned, under pressure, from producing the 2012 Oscars gig in November 2011.

But he didn’t just issue an apology and move on.

Since then, he has been working with GLAAD on a ‘Come Out for Equality’ public service announcement series. It features a diverse group of Hollywood celebrities, athletes, musicians and politicians ‘coming out of the closet’ as supporters of equality.

It will premiere at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York City on March 16 – the same ceremony where Anderson Cooper will be presented with an award by Madonna.

‘Out of anybody I’ve ever worked with, Brett has been the most humble and willing to put his money and actions where his mouth is,” GLAAD president Herndon Graddick tells The Hollywood Reporter.

‘In terms of an ally and what someone can do after an incident that was negative like that, I’ve never worked with someone who displayed such genuine interest in helping the community,’ Graddick added. ‘There’s no one who deserves this more than Brett does.’

‘GLAAD’s interest is in bringing allies in to join us in our fight for total equality, and he really did that. I now consider him a friend.’