Ian McKellen bemoans LGBTQ representation even though 'half of Hollywood is gay'
Ian McKellen is taking aim at Hollywood’s inclusion problems, asserting that “half of Hollywood is gay” but you’d never know it based on the lack of LGBTQ projects
Screen and stage star Ian McKellen has taken aim at Hollywood’s inclusion problems, asserting that “half of Hollywood is gay” but you’d never know it based on the dearth of LGBTQ projects being produced.
The 78-year-old actor, who’s the subject of the new documentary “McKellen: Playing the Part,” railed against the industry when recently asked by Time Out London what he thought of so few gay characters appearing in blockbusters. He took particular issue with the controversy around Jude Law’s Professor Dumbledore not being “explicitly gay” in the upcoming “Fantastic Beasts” film.
“That’s a pity. Well, nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they?” quipped the actor, who was approached for the wizard’s role in the previous “Harry Potter” films. Then he tore into the industry.
“They only recently discovered that there were black people in the world. Hollywood has mistreated women in every possible way throughout its history. Gay men don’t exist,” he continued.
The Englishman said that Bill Condon’s 1998 Frankenstein feature, “Gods and Monsters,” in which he starred, was “the beginning of Hollywood admitting that there were gay people knocking around, even though half of Hollywood is gay.”
Nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they? They only recently discovered that there were black people in the world. Hollywood has mistreated women in every possible way throughout its history. Gay men don’t exist.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | December 1, 2018 1:51 AM
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Pretty much. In the Armie Hammer thread there's a photo from People editor Jess Cagle's wedding and it is basically all gay male television executives who all look alike.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | May 30, 2018 5:20 PM
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The problem is that the audience is still what only 5% gay? And how do you have a tentpole movie which is how these gay execs make their fortunes with gay leads? I mean the Asian market. itself is so huge and they do not want to see gay characters in leading roles.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | May 30, 2018 5:27 PM
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Ian = uncut & stinky with cheese!
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | May 30, 2018 5:31 PM
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A lot of gay people are homophobic too.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | May 30, 2018 5:52 PM
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R2 is Datalounge’s homophobic social scientist. Yes, a lot of gay people are homophobic. But, gay people who do like gay people, should boycott.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | May 30, 2018 5:54 PM
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Viscous was a condescending, gay-cliché travesty with abysmal writing, directing AND acting, Ian.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | May 30, 2018 5:58 PM
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Hollywood is going to make what sells, or at least what they think will sell. A gay movie or TV series here and there is okay because to much of the straight world we're little more than court jesters. But too much and the straight viewers will rebel because they'll think homosexuality is being promoted too much.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | May 30, 2018 5:58 PM
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Saying the Asian market is so huge and that's how gays and straights in Hollywood make a lot of money from these movies is bigotry.
Geez people are dopes.
Gay SJWs.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | May 30, 2018 6:04 PM
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Gays in Hollywood don't give a fuck about gay rights. They are soulless .
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | May 30, 2018 6:32 PM
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When it comes to large amounts of money for these high powered executives all bets are off. This is just human nature.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | May 30, 2018 6:37 PM
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The studios are also very wary of making any major project 'too gay', lest they potentially impact a film's performance in conservative Asian markets which are often critical to profitability.
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | May 31, 2018 2:46 AM
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I would say more than 50%
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | May 31, 2018 4:57 AM
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most A-list actors (male and female) are gay
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | May 31, 2018 4:58 AM
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Considering the fact that JK Rowling never had the courage to admit Dumbledore was gay in the books but is taking credit as an LGBT community hero decades later, this is ironic.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | May 31, 2018 5:03 AM
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That comment alone deserves an award
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | May 31, 2018 5:04 AM
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People seem to ignore the best part imho.
[quote] Well, nobody looks to Hollywood for social commentary, do they?
The day people give up seeking validation from Hollywood, and other people and so called authority figures, is the day people are finally free from that burden of disempowerment and self loathing.
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | May 31, 2018 6:43 AM
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Did coming out ever cost you any roles?
‘One. Harold Pinter wanted me to be in a film of his [1983’s “Betrayal”] and he took me to meet the producer, Sam Spiegel. We sat in Spiegel’s office and I happened to say that I was going to New York. He said, “Will you be taking the family?” And I said, “I don’t have a family, I’m gay.” I think it was the first time I came out to anyone. Well, I was out of that office in two minutes. It took Pinter 25 years to apologise for not sticking up for me. But young actors in London now have all been out for years. That’s the future.’
| by Anonymous | reply 23 | December 1, 2018 1:14 AM
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[quote]most A-list actors (male and female) are gay
I don't think we can say most.
Some of them are.
But there are some straight ones, you know.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | December 1, 2018 1:51 AM
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