Follow Zap2it:
'Dilemma' resolved: Ron Howard and Vince Vaughn movie to keep 'gay' joke
Electric cars may not be gay in real life, but they will be in "The Dilemma."
Universal's Ron Howard-directed comedy came under fire for including a "that's gay" joke in the opening scene of the film's trailer, and the studio's announcement that it will stay in the film -- despite removing it from the trailer -- has earned some harsh words from gay activist groups.
"At a time when so many in our country are speaking out against the bullying of gay youth, Universal was right to acknowledge the offensive nature of this 'joke' when it removed it from trailers," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios says in a statement, issued Oct 29.
Clearly, he had more to say: "Unfortunately, by leaving it in the movie, they are now contributing to the problem. The conversations started as a result of the community's response to this slur will help schools, media and parents understand the impact of the word 'gay' being used as a pejorative."Universal's Ron Howard-directed comedy came under fire for including a "that's gay" joke in the opening scene of the film's trailer, and the studio's announcement that it will stay in the film -- despite removing it from the trailer -- has earned some harsh words from gay activist groups.
"At a time when so many in our country are speaking out against the bullying of gay youth, Universal was right to acknowledge the offensive nature of this 'joke' when it removed it from trailers," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios says in a statement, issued Oct 29.
We understand where both sides are coming from, but isn't all of the discussion -- and this post is guilty -- just giving free press to the film?
Follow Zap2it and MikeyLikesTV on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news
Photo Credit: Universal
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Featured Partners
Good for them (Howard and Vaughn). Just another example of how overboard some of these interest groups (like GLAAD, NAACP, etc.) have become. People aren't always going to kowtow to your vision of how the world should be or how people should talk, so get over it. Point well taken, in that all GLAAD did was draw attention and publicity to the film.
@ Jeff, Ditto!
Time to take a stand against political correctness, media be damned.
The whole thing was gay from the very beginning. Much ado about nothing.
I have a feeling GLAAD isn't so condemning towards a show like "Modern Family" (nor should they be) since it portrays a loving homsexual couple while including plenty of jokes that are no less "offensive" than this silly electric car joke.
This is so ridiculous. They are trivializing a serious situation by tying the bullying of gay youth to calling electric cars "gay" in a Vince Vaughn movie.
The Modern Family example makes no sense. There's nothing wrong with racy jokes that push the envelope.
GLAAD is specifically upset about using the word "gay" in mainstream media to have a negative connotation. Obviously, this one film doing that makes no difference- if you go onto any playground in the country there are kids calling each other gay as an insult.
From a big picture point of view I can understand where GLAAD is coming from. The only way to reverse the negative connotation of being gay is by convincing people to stop using the word in that way.
Either way, I think it says more about the film than anything else. If they're fighting so hard to keep a joke in that's not even funny to begin with, this one's probably a real stinker (though I'm sure that won't hold it back from a $35+ million opening weekend).
As a side note, if you really think about it, calling somebody 'gay' as an insult is really pretty brutal (especially if there are gays in the audience). Imagine if we routinely called people "Black" as an insult ("Stop doing that, you're being so black right now!").
the use of the word "gay" to mean stupid is pretty dumb. besides, i remember kids started saying that in the 80's, you'd think the kids would've moved onto to something different by now! as for the use of the word in the movie, it is not a govt movie and no one has to worry about PC in a movie. they can be as un-PC as they want to be, and thank god for that.
Political Correctness gone astray yet again. All this in your face garbage is getting old. Come on! Man-up or whatever you're supposed to call it now. ;)
It has nothing to do with political correctness. Saying, "That's so gay" is a negative comment and is intended to make the receiver of the comment change his/her actions to not be doing something that is considered "gay". If people started saying, "That's so black" or "That's so Chinese" people would be up in arms.
"Either way, I think it says more about the film than anything else. If they're fighting so hard to keep a joke in that's not even funny to begin with, this one's probably a real stinker (though I'm sure that won't hold it back from a $35+ million opening weekend)."
It's a matter of censorship and it doesn't matter of that was the unfunniest joke in the world.
Don't like it, don't go see it. Simple as that.