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Kristin Chenoweth slams Newsweek's anti-gay actor theatre review
A Newsweek writer has a problem with openly gay actor Sean Hayes' portrayal of a heterosexual man in the Broadway play, "Promises, Promises." Despite the fact that Hayes has been nominated for a Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and a Tony for his performance, the Newsweek writer finds Hayes impossible to believe as a straight man.In fact, the recent Newsweek article raises the question about whether any gay men can ever convincingly play straight, Neil Patrick Harris notwithstanding.
Kristin Chenoweth, Hayes' costar and love interest in "Promises, Promises" has her own problem -- with Newsweek's article.
And her comments about the critical article titled "Straight Jacket: Heterosexual actors play gay all the time. Why doesn't it ever work in reverse?" written by Ramin Setoodeh, is gaining a lot of support from equally outraged readers on the Newsweek website.
Here's Kristin's full comment:
"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 [sic] 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.
Lastly, 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!"
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 [sic] 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.
Lastly, 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!"
What do you think? Is Kristin right? Or do you agree with the Newsweek writer?
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Hi, All I can say bravo on Kristin Chenoweth letter to Newsweek. I'm with her on her opinion on who cares who the actor personal lives or who they sleep with. People just want to be entertain only. When I go see movies I see the actor or actress acting not whether they gay or straight.
Two words--Rock Hudson
Ms. Chenoweith is exactly right and Newsweek should be ashamed. Last summer I saw Rupert Everett on Broadway in a revival of "Blythe Spirit" where he very convincingly played a straight character in love with two women. And he was hot, too. Good for her for standing up because, sadly, gay people can't do it and be taken seriously by their critics. They'll bejudged as being defensive. Straight people have to take the lead in situations like this.
Guess we now know why no one wants to buy Newsweek, huh?
I love Kristin Chenoweth.
And she is totally right.
Homosexuals are the dirtiest people on earth.
Here here!!! More reasons to love Kristin!! It's called ACTING, gay or straight, if you are good, you can pull off any character. And ps, gay or straight, I personally find Jonathon Groff on GLEE to be a TOTAL heart throb and who I now really want Rachel Barry to be with, even if he is a bad boy! So take that Newsweek!
I am told on good authority that Mr. Setoodeh is a g*y 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!†Promises, Promises http://atmz.us/kristin-chenoweth-slams-newsweeks-actor-theatre-review-472/
I saw 'Promises, Promises' and Sean Hayes has to engage in witty batter, endure hilarious slapstick and break out in son every five minutes while falling in love with elfin screecher Kristin Chenoweth. That is a tall acting order for a straight man but Hayes pulls it off admirably. He is a fantastic actor regardless of his personal sexual orientation.
When I clicked on this article and caught the photo out of the side of my eye. I thought it was Rock Hudson and Doris Day! Then I looked at the photo. Yes, I totally agree with Kristin. An actor is an actor-is an actor, Much like a rose, Sean would smell just as sweet in any role he is cast. He is the consumate actor.
John Barrowman defies that stupid article from Newsweek and completely defies its conclusion. He has chemistry with anyone, or anything, you but him in a scene with. Marc Cherry, a gay male, has him playing a straight role because he is a great actor. Another actor that blows that ridiculous conclusion out of the water is John Glover. He played "Lionel Luthor" for six seasons on "Smallville" and no one ever had a problem with Lex's dad being played by an out and proud gay male.
What a small minded piece to be included in "Newsweek".