Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill...another article twisting words and reading into them. Yes, Rupert Everett took a hit...you came out during that time you lost jobs, and yes, how do you respond to rumors that weren't true...it's a tricky situation...he's being very honest here and people who write such articles should get real jobs.

And yes Rupert Everett took a hit, but that's the case less and less as more actors come out. Neil Patrick Harris is very successful, for instance.

About 15 years ago...yes, it has changed, but still someone known as gay is going to disqualify them...and he's not targeting one's sexuality...put in vegan and someone wouldn't get a role in a western mabout a rancher...he's noting how people have preconceived notions about a lot of things about people.

lots of twisting going on here.

People are trying to turn his comments into some sort of anti-gay thing. They were not.

There have been rumors for years about certain actors and I see their need to remain in the closet if they want. Women see men differently if they're gay, i.e. "well, I can forget about HIM." As for actors, women tend to "fall in love with" those that appeal. (For me, it was Robert Redford, Tom Hanks and Denzell when we were all younger). Rock Hudson and James Dean would have never had a chance had they come out. It's different today but since women love to "fall in love with" their favorite leading man, it probably is best for the careers of some actors if they keep it in the closet.

And he's rihgt...how do you respond...they weren't gay, do you say that and sound like you're trying to make it sound like it's something to be ashamed of...that's the way some would take it even with a simple denial.

He's been such an advocate for so many good things. Now we have him interrupting a black, female producer when discussing diversity and this. Why isn't he pushing for Hollywood to use out actors in straight roles like they do the opposite?

Shameful

He is just saying he understands why some gay actors do and that it's probably best for their careers if that's their choice.

Where's the part about how Hollywood needs to start using out actors in straight roles?

Same for pro sports. Lots of gay athletes but they hide for their careers.

I hardly think Matt Damon is a homophobe. He's as liberal/progressive as they come. His godfather was Howard Zinn, for crying out loud.

I love Matt Damon. I never came close to implying he's a homophobe. I am still disappointed in both things I stated. But in the scheme of things, it really is really far down on my list of concerns. Chill.

I wonder if managing appearance has become the only lens that he uses out of habit or something.

It seems he does not know how to take the experiences of others into account when he talks about the relevance of public perceptions. It is a flawed perspective because his statements sound as if he buys the notion that being gay or being black are naturally negative. It would be nice if he would acknowledge that any disadvantages related to identity are imposed by people in power and see himself as someone who could help make a difference.

I have no doubt he's probably minorities. He just seems a tiny bit clueless here

... for interview after interview and have an opinion and analysis about EVERYTHING.

If I were Matt... I'd let gay actors decide when or if to come out.

They've given it much more thought than he has.

If Rupert Everett, who as Damon notes, was a handsome, classically trained actor took a hit in his career, can you imagine someone just trying to break into films?

Sure, it shouldn't be that way, but, apparently, it is; and Damon is talking one actor to another about making a living in the field.

It's no one's business and it shouldn't matter. Either you can act a gay role AND a straight role or you can't. Acting is what I buy with my ticket, not someone's life.

took a part of an interview out of context for this.

He has been under a microscope since his remarks about diversity in film. He is also doing a lot of press for his new movie.

I just scan the gossip headlines on the Huff front page, so I don't really know what was said there, but do understand why he is making the news.

I hope he isn't as dense as the headlines are making him out to be.

He was a lot better looking before.

when I saw this.

A black actor might have came to the same conclusion if asked the same question. Explanations don't necessarily come from a white perspective or black perspective. Some explanations come from asking the question of what would be human suffering or unfairness in a particular case. They may answer wrong, they may answer right but it doesn't necessarily deserve disqualification because of one's color.

It's like saying to someone "you never read this book I read so you need to shut up about this subject."

and Damon had to apologize.

But thanks, anyway. At least you didn't cut someone off in the middle of their post to "explain" their position to them.

and I doubt you do, the appeal to consensus is not proof of validity.

personally, I do not need to read celebrity gossip and know about people's private lives, I would say I don't need to know about politician's private lives if they weren't so hypocritical about things.
I think the actors need to not stay in the closet and don't have to say if they are straight or not, Over the years a few actors (include actresses in here as a group term not to offend to be offensive) have refused to say either way and some were straight and some were not. I kind of like that.
Am I the only person who puts their fingers in their ears and goes LALALALALA wen the supposed news talks about Kim Kardashian? I want to know about stuff, not people.
I also find it offensive when people are forced out of the closet (not politicians who vote like super conservative crap) before they are ready, no man or woman is an island and sometimes they have to deal with family and religion and stuff like that, It is not someone else's job to find when to push someone out of the closet, everyone has a right to choose their own moment no matter how good it "would be for the cause".

Here's what he actually does say...

but then, he says that but also talks about his wife all the time, so he doesn't actually follow it, and if he as a straight person doesn't follow it it seems like a reasonable conclusion that he doesn't actually mean it about straight people.

So it doesn't seem all that reasonable that he's outing himself by talking about his wife any more than a gay person would be outing themselves by talking about their legal spouse. Furthermore the marital status of Hollywood stars is certainly no impediment to sexuality rumors.

Hollywood event.

I knew what Damon meant and am not offended by it. He was speaking off the cuff about his experiences of being thought of as gay when him and Afflek hit it big. He was trying to say how it was a balancing act of trying to deny being gay without making it seem like being gay was wrong, especially in an era where being gay was pretty much career suicide (Everett).

Yes, let's eat our allies for no reason. Very productive. (Not you, OP, but this stupid habit we've gotten into where every stray word is an OUTRAGE. Tired of it).

The article imagines he believes something that he didn't say, attributes that belief to him, and then finds a way to take offense and blames him for holding that belief.

Headline: "Matt Damon says gay actors should stay in the closet"

Reality: Matt Damon says “I think it must be really hard for actors to be out publicly,” the actor said. “But in terms of actors, I think you’re a better actor the less people know about you period. And sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether you’re straight or gay, people shouldn’t know anything about your sexuality because that’s one of the mysteries that you should be able to play.”

Better headline: Matt Damon reflects on sexuality and the acting profession; Salon writer says "I'm in charge here."

A lot of people are doing this these days, not just Salon writers. And it gets tiresome.

Couldn't agree more.

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]And the I believe that the only person qualified to determine that is the individual.

Further, depending what one is keeping to oneself, the experience and results of coming out vary dramatically. Coming out as a homosexual man or woman is a very different experience as coming out as a transgender person which is different from coming out as an asexual which is different from coming out as a member of a minority religion and so on.

There are so many different factors that I don't think it is possible to give a broad statement on coming out in one way or another. One needs to simply assess their own situation and trust their own best judgement on such a decision.[/font]

We know their church heavily lobbied in favor of California's Proposition 8 (successfully, I might add), so I'm wondering if the film industry gets a lot of covert (or overt) homophobia from the influence of local sources.

and homophobic Baptists, and homophobic Catholics and the like. I think also that Hollywood has a tradition of underestimating the American people. Simpsons writers commented that when they were asked to make changes to scripts based on "letters" they would ask to see the letters and it would be like one or two at most. The people who decide what movies to make are often more swayed by a desire to make as much money as possible and a desire not to offend anybody.

Full disclosure - I am a Mormon.

Bryant

Neil Patrick Harris.

he is out and is killing it on tv and films...

He's not cast as the lead actor in TV shows or films.

But...he's not being cast as the LEAD actor in a movie or a TV show. He's the host of a variety show or a supporting actor. And, that's what Damon is trying to say in the article. When you come out, it's difficult to be cast as the LEAD actor in a movie or TV show.

he was in the closet for years, though an entire TV series and into the second one, he came out with enough money in the bank to last a lifetime, a hit show with a long term inked contract and unlike other actors on that show he has not gotten leading roles, romantic or comic, in major motion pictures.
Not sure what he disproves.

Henry Cavill is rumored to be gay. The rumor says he has to be publicly seen with girlfriend looking women.


I can see why he doesn't come out. The studios have decided.

As long as straight actors don't reveal their sexual orientation. As long as they don't date people of the opposite sex. As long as they don't appear in public with their spouses. As long as they don't appear in public with or tell us about their children. As long they remain sexless, gender-neutral, drones.

Then, yes. This makes some sort of sense.

Otherwise, it's bullshit.

Damon didn't say that at all.

I honestly feel bad for celebrities sometimes, they're definitely put under a microscope for their opinions and one quote can be taken out of context for the eager internet police to strike.

.......Jodie Foster's orientation has been one of the worst kept secrets in the universe for years and she's doing just fine, as well. I could posit why those two cases have kept pretty seamless careers while not hiding in a closet, but I'd no doubt get stoned to death over it, so I'll just let the fact that they're excellent examples of why hiding isn't necessary speak for itself.

time in Hollywood, his answer is yes. He cites Everett who has lived the subject matter.
The point of his answer was this: Fuck that question. Do you ask your accountant if they are gay? Why are you asking actors?

It is not easy to say to reporters that their questions are the meat of the problem they speak of. Read the original. Also question why this was reconstructed as it was.

Thank you

... then I have no problem with homosexuals playing
heterosexuals.

All I care about is the .. gasp .. acting.

Derek Jacobi, an openly homosexual man, plays both
very well, for example.

For the record, he didn't say they "should" stay in the closet.
He gave the advise that, because there is prejudice, they not come out.

I mean, it's still wrong. The only way to fight prejudice is to confront it. But he wasn't saying there's something shameful about being gay, which one could reasonably imply from that red herring of a headline.

I can't wait to hear his opinions on feminism. It's an amazingly retrograde opinion for someone who has been a liberal for a long time, and in a moment when LGBT actors/actresses have been more outspoken and visible.

heaven help Salon to print what he really said.

I'm well-informed, thanks. I'm sure you'll be happy to know I don't care what you think I read.

This was in the fifties and sixties. Didn't seem to have hurt his career any. He played the best romantic comedy leads, in my opinion. Especially when paired with Doris Day. They made such an adorable couple! I think "Magnificent Obsession" is one the the best movies ever made.

Of course, in those days he couldn't be out in society in general. He even had a brief marriage (arranged by his publicist, I think) to make him seem "normal".

My personal opinion is that people's private lives are their own. I have no need to know who is gay or straight, religious or atheist, misogynist or not, left or right, liberal or conservative, unless they're using their beliefs to hurt others.