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Zap2it readers weigh in on Brett Claywell and 'One Life to Live'
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When news broke that ABC was writing gay couple Kyle Lewis (Brett Claywell) and Oliver Fish (Scott Evans) off of "One Life to Live" due to poor viewer reception, fans mobilized, writing petitions, starting campaigns, and even planning a rally.On Tuesday (March 16) Brett Claywell opened up to Zap2it about getting laid off by the network, his surprise at not being mentioned at the GLAAD Awards, and his continued fight as an ally to the gay community.
Some of his comments stirred up controversy with Zap2it readers. Here are some of the choice responses.
Fans:
E.: "Very classy interview, and too bad the show doesn't have the guts to pursue this story further. We need more representations of gay love in all forms of entertainment, so more people can see there is NOTHING to be afraid of."
Larry: "Brett is from the South as am I and he is spot on. I am in Mississippi and you know what we are going through now. This is Repuglican, Talibangelist country. Whether he wrote the words or not, it was his face and voice on the screen. What is wrong with some of you critics? Brett and Scott will be missed."
Lasha: "Brett is a classy guy and an amazing actor. I hope he wins an Emmy and shoves it in OLTL's executive producers' faces. The manner of Brett and Scott's firing was disrespectful. I will not be watching OLTL after Kish leaves the show."
Jay: "I don't think either of these actors or their characters deserve the blame for low ratings. Look around ABC, the entire soap genre is losing viewers. That is why CBS has canceled two soaps in the past two years. OLTL has a history of being one of the most diverse soaps, so it is especially disheartening to hear that most of the actors/characters getting pink slips are minorities (gay, black, latino, etc.)."
Rick: "Another reason the soaps are headed for the dumpster! This is 2010, not 1940. This fresh approach to relationships was too much for the stale, contrived plots the soaps have been churning out for years. Next step: OLTL cancellation."
Not so much:
Izzy: "What an ego! All he did was read lines someone else wrote. Adios."
Buh-bye: "Ultimately, the storyline was as stilted as the actor's brazen dismissal of all things South. (It is ironic that one must rely on bigotry to make a point about bigotry--and doing so is neither classy or articulate.)"
Middleman: "...The comments about the midwest and south were very unpleasant surprises, and damage my respect for this actor. There are caring, open-minded, and fair people everywhere, and there are bigoted and hateful people everywhere. The superior attitude of some--emphasis SOME--coast-dwellers is very off-putting, and, sorry, you don't get a pass because you "escaped" from the barbarian heartlands. And, just as a P.S. - last time I checked same-sex marriages are recognized in Iowa. What's the holdup, California? New York?"
Bottomchef: "Claywell's still implying that homophobia is the reason for kish's kibbosh. Whatevs. So where's the complaint of racism since Daphnee Duplaix was let go? She's a person of color, so according to the mindset of the Kish fans, that must be it. Claywell and the Kish fans need to get over themselves."
So what do you think? Zap2it loves reader feedback, so make sure your voice is heard by leaving a comment below!
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More Kish Dish:
Brett Claywell on the end of Kish
Brett Claywell shuts down partying rumors
Photo credit: ABC
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Who should be surprised? This is the modus operandi of Brian Frons and ABC Daytime. They throw out the bait, and a minute later reel it back in. They don't give relevant and compelling story lines a chance to be developed and nurtured. For Frons and Disney it's all about ratings and cash. There's no social consciousness or commitment to programing any longer. Why should fans be loyal when ADC-Disney have none to them?
The fact that ABC and OLTL allowed these rumors to fester unchecked, as well as allowing the statements about Kish "not resonating with the mainstream audiences", language, is horribly offensive in and of itself, and might also be applied to ABC's view on their characters of color and gay characters (see, Montgomery, Bianca, and Spencer, Lucas).
Brett seems like a true Southern gentleman. If you take the time and watch his video interviews and read other print interviews that he's given, he is insightful and thoughtful with his answers.
I have to agree with him that there are some parts of the South that are ignorant or fearful of things that they are unfamiliar with. That wasn't his experience with his family, but it's still there. I grew up in OK, and I have no problem with his statements. Intolerance is clearly still everywhere, and it sounds like ABC caved into that same bigotry and hatred. I don't understand how people can ignore the fact that the show blames him and Scott and the characters' romance on the falling ratings and see that there was homophobia at work,
His post-firing interviews have shown nothing but class to the show's producers and his commitment to his career and his role as Kyle Lewis. As for me, he's won a fan for life.
Who said no one's crying "FOUL!" over the dismissal of the black characters en masse and now the dismissal of a prominent Latina character from ONE (WHITE STRAIGHT) LIFE TO LIVE? The article was talking about the gay characters hence the references to homophobia. But make no mistake: Many folks are just as upset at the termination of the characters and actors of color and are crying bigotry on that front as well.
Yes, many of us have noticed the bizarre whitening and straightening of OLTL and have protested. ABC blaming Kish for falling ratings (simply not true) was particularly shocking, as was their attempt to smear the actors with rumors, but all the firings are disgraceful. ABC/OLTL should just be honest about their motives and change the name of the OLTL town from Llanview to Klanview. You're not welcome unless you're white and heterosexual.
Yes, trust me, many OLTL viewers are equally upset "whitening" of the show as much as we are the "straightening" of the show. First it was Daphne Duplaix, who was wonderful as Rachel and had terrific with (the also fired) Scott Clifton as Schulyer if only they'd gone that route, but also what appears to be developing as the firing of the fierce and magnificent Florencia Lozano as Tea Delgado. Frons and Valentini are gutting the show and in the process ruining it.
I'll agree with the criticism of Brett's comments about the South and Midwest. (I grew up and live in the Midwest). And yes, Iowa has gay marriage - via court ruling, and it hasn't been overturned in court.
However, I was very disappointed that ABC cancelled this storyline - and blamed the gay storyline for their low ratings. I've enjoyed watching the Kish story play out.
I meant the Iowa court ruling on gay marriage, hasn't been overturned by the legislature passing a constitutional amendment that would be taken to the voters.
This exile of our black, latina (can we count Adrianna along w/Tea--when'd we last see her?) and gay characters is disconcerting. I'm mad we're losing all of them mostly because they're the most interesting characters and if we're being real here they're also portrayed by the more talented actors (in their respective age groups anyway). I like the vets well enough and find the actors talented but I doubt they'll get the story to support that. The two who needed to be shuttled off are Rex and Gigi. They eat the show and the actors are below par when compared with their peers.
Sigh. Where was this "brazen dismissal of all things South"? I didn't get that from this interview with this Southern boy. It was an acknowledgement. I didn't read it or interpret that as an indictment of the South.
I live in rural South Alabama--in the heart of the bible belt. OLTL's Kish storyline is not responsible for the low ratings. OLTL was having those problems before Kish was even thought of! When is America ever going to "grow up"?
They don't give relevant and compelling story lines a chance to be developed and nurtured.That wasn't his experience with his family, but it's still there. I grew up in OK, and I have no problem with his statements. Intolerance is clearly still everywhere, and it sounds like ABC caved into that same bigotry and hatred.