From Wicked-
In the past week, we have seen and read several interviews with Jake. In some of these interviews, Jake has made comments about his sexuality and relationships that could be construed as his attempt to "straighten" things out. In other interviews, Jake has made statements that are more typically ambiguous and leave his closet door ajar. It is hard to know how to take the contradictions in these interviews. I think these statements are reflective of someone whose reality does not match how he thinks he needs to be perceived. What I take away from these interviews is that Jake believes he must be perceived as straight for the sake of his career. I don't think that Jake is straight, and it saddens me that he thinks he must be seen as such to be successful in Hollywood. I think Jake does not believe Hollywood is ready for a gay leading man. What do you think?
Picture from the UK Telegraph
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The Media and the Message
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48 comments:
unfortunately, i agree with Jake - i don't think hollywood (or the in general, the US public) is ready for a gay leading man. it is sad, but it's still true. But Jake still have the privilege to say "f**k it all" any day if he wants to.
I'd share one recent experience with you all which made me feel even less optimistic: i was at a company function hosted by my bf's US company, I was drinking with a couple of his colleagues and their wives. They were gossiping about a new female analyst they hired whom they suspect is a transexual. Some relayed how shocked they were when they saw her adam's apple, some just laughed. When one guy said he's not very convinced that she used to be a man, one of the wives then suggested to the guy, "hey, you should just go and grab her bottom!", complete with demonstration of the action herself. I was totally disgusted by it and told my bf, i'd never go to any function with that woman again : (
I think I agree with Wicked 110% and I admire the temperate way she has expressed the feelings I was trying to corral. The past week's TV interviews (not to mention the front-page real-name E!Online revelations and Ted's avowal that tooth-love wants out) have not given me any reason to think Jake is other than the person we believe him to be, yet I interpret this interview as a definitive denial.
AT THIS POINT I think this is what he feels he has to do. I hope THIS POINT does not become a permanent state for him. I don't want him to become a narcissistic huckster. Fans - of all beliefs - shouldn't be toyed with forever.
Plus which I had to BUY and am now carrying round (pre-Rendition viewing) the bloody Sunday Telegraph :) The pictures are very beautiful in real. No bespectacled Crest tube, he.
unfortunately, i agree with Jake - i don't think hollywood (or the in general, the US public) is ready for a gay leading man. it is sad, but it's still true. But Jake still have the privilege to say "f**k it all" any day if he wants to.
ITA
I think Jake does not believe Hollywood is ready for a gay leading man. What do you think?
HW is a village still stuck in the 50’s in many ways and all of Jake’s life has been about HW so I guess it's no surprise he’s reached this conclusion. Yet, since he often comes across as made from a different material than your standard HW celebrity, this idea sometimes comes to me that he might have chosen the less-traveled path, professionally, if, when younger, he had strayed from the comfort and security of that life he knew so well - maybe traveling abroad with friends or staying in college. Hasn't Jake himself said that he learns a lot about himself when he’s away from home?
Am a bit confused, when did Wicked say this?
As for the interview I am not going to get all upset about it. There has been a lot going on lately with what Ted said and Jake's interviews, etc. I take it all with a grain of salt. In the end as much as I love Jake and Austin they don't owe me any explanation on their lives. I am not going to jump all over this and get upset. Sure I would like to know what is going on with Jake and Austin but it has been frustrating to see Jake's personal life be questioned so. Then when he does answer people get upset if he doesn't give a certain answer. He seems damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. So I just take it as it comes. I respect Jake and Austin as actors and appreciate them as people even if I don't know them.
I am more interested in Rendition. I saw it and thought it was very good. Jake was really good. He showed a real maturity and comand in the role. Much different than he has done before.
Btw, Special, Wicked and the Boston crew who saw it together what did you think of the movie.
I think these statements are reflective of someone whose reality does not match how he thinks he needs to be perceived.
I think you sum up the entire situation perfectly here, special. It deeply saddens me that this is the reality both Jake and Austin feel they must portray; I certainly don't think they're living it day to day. We're going to see Jake continue to say one thing and do another or simply contradict himself in the odd interview because he's caught having to play this balancing act that all individuals who are not out have to play. And he's not terribly adept at it all the time because of that damn heart on his sleeve that never goes away.
Like hopeful tb said in the previous thread, the constant for me is Jake and Austin, come twist, turn, up or down. And even if that constant one day crumbles, they will always have my support as people and fine actors. Jake in particular I will follow to the very end of his career; I'm mesmerised by his acting and choice of work.
I think we are reading a bit much into all this. This was always going to be a difficult interview. The Telegraph could give a fuck about pissing off a Hollywood star. Jake can't even say 'I'm not gay or bisexual.' It is always done in a round about way. I don't expect Jake coming out of the closet in the next couple of months he is going to be pretty busy. Until he actually shows up with a real beard I think he is still leaving the option open.
Jake is in the closet so if it comes down to it he is going to have to deny it.
I have only a few things to say today and it will be brief. I enjoyed meeting follow tbs yesterday very very much(I love you all) and "Rendition" was a very good movie.
This interest in Jake has more social meaning to me than artistic. Jake ended that social interest for me with the UK Telegraph interview. He said two years and he meant it.
I hope Jake has a great career and I will not believe he is a liar. I can't. I will be around but my interest in the dicussion has ended. I love all TBs.
In the light of the question asked by Special, I just posted a reply over at WFT about how hot Jake was in the opening scenes of Rendition. As I said over there I went to see the movie firmly convinced that Jake is gay but that did not take away any of his hotness as a straight lover totally making out with his girl. :D
(((((Tom))))). I sure hope you'll stick around.
Wireimage has some pics of Jake at the Rome film festival. Hope he is having fun in the ethernal city
Sorry for the OT: Have been to holiday of the cinema in rome, have seen jeke am still upset! Have postato the photographies on WFT, he is wonderful *___________________________*
I swear: he does not seem human
Those photographs of the Rendition photocall are bizarre to say the least.
Jake looks like a little boy out with his mum (because of the hands in pocket not that Reese looks old) except in the picture where he's looking down on her and looks like he's about to pat her on the head.
This is supposed to be two people crazy about each other?
Jeesers - see Lakers 1 for examples of what they should look like.
Re The actual premiere - I don't like Reese's dress and I don't like Jake's suit.
I thought the Jake and Reese shots looked like Jake with his snotty older sister.
This is supposed to be two people crazy about each other?
Jeesers - see Lakers 1 for examples of what they should look like."
Yes, or even the shots of Jake with Kirsten.
The photos are a bit bizarre, but good on them (Jake and Reese) actually turning up and putting on a bit of a show, unlike the rest of the cast. It must be pretty hard to walk the red carpet etc when you know the film you're promoting is pretty much tanking. Shows that they're both very professional.
Austin barefoot:
http://barefootmalecelebs.com/austin-nichols-male-celebrity-feet_751/
And Giusi, if Jake was that close to me I'd get the shakes too. Great pictures anyway.
TBS- I posted this in response to the UK Telegraph interview that was linked to yesterday. Jake seems to be encouraging the perception that he is straight. I have to say, I'm not really surprised or upset by it. I thought he would say something like this at some point.
Re our get-together- haven't had much to say about it yet because Spesh and I have been out having fun rather than being online! Sorry, guys. We do have pix and will post them as soon as I can upload them from my camera. We all enjoyed the movie but I thought Jake's character should ha ve been more developed.
I think Jake may resent having to put his sexuality in a box- even a gay box.
7:14
I think that may be true, about Jake putting his sexuality in a box. I think he may resent having to publicly label himself because he thinks he has something to hide. Or believes he does.
Do you have a name that I can call you. A name is so much nicer than a number. Even for just one post, one hour, or one night.
This is supposed to be two people crazy about each other?
Jeesers - see Lakers 1 for examples of what they should look like
No, it isn't because they never were. I thought we all agreed on this one. So to me those pics are not at all bizzarre because they just show what Jake and Reese are, colleagues, friends? What did you expect them to look like, since there is nothing between them?
As for Reese's dress I don't like it but I am not a big fan of her unimaginative style in general, but I do like Jake's suite, I have always had a thing for that kind of fabric/pattern, which I find pure classy.
Just a little clarification. Wicked composed this wonderful written response to the Telegraph article. I sat at the computer stumped at what to write. I think she captured what we both sat and discussed over and over what Jake said in the interview. But here is another question for you- Did he really answer any of the questions directly? He has done a good evading answering directly. He could not answer yes or no to yes or no questions.
RE: Rome pictures
I think after having such a great week in New York,(and yes with Austin!) he was unhappy about being pulled back into farce, that he thought he was finished with. I think in some pictures he reminds me of little boy who does want to stand to an "icky girl" and have his picture taken. I think he would rather be at home with his boy.
to trilobyte: thank you so much for the Austin barefoot picture. I haven't seen it before and I rejoice, it's a beautiful pic of a gorgeus Austin, love him!!!
Thanks
Thanks for this post, Wicked. I personally think that Jake doesn't really know what to believe or what is best for him and his career. My guess is that he flip flops constantly on this question which would jive completely with the description of TT being on the verge of coming out and then changing his mind.
At this point, I'm fully committed to following the careers of both Jake and Austin. I'm enthralled by both of them and want to see where their careers and lives take them. As far as I'm concerned nothing has really changed. Unless Jake declares his undying love for a woman and directly denies that he ever had a relationship with Austin, my belief in J&A will not change. Maybe Jake really does want someone else to do the dirty work for him so that he can stop debating which course of action is best for him. Deep down I think he knows that living his life openly and honestly is the only way that he can be truly happy.
And yes, thanks for barefoot Austin, trilobyte. He is gorgeous!!
I just got back from Boston and haven't had a chance to read the interview or absorb this post. I had a great time with everyone. I of course had to take at least a quick scan of the posts, and look at the new Austin picture. LOL, I can't believe there is a site devoted to male celebrities' feet, and I don't think I want to dwell too much on the whys. He does have nice feet.
(((Tom))), don't let one interview get you down.
Zero, to be honest they don't even look like friends in those pictures.
Not even really colleagues considering that Jake is usually far friendlier to his colleagues.
My goodness. A website devoted to celebrity feet. I don't feel so bad about my obsession with celebrity's heights now.
Err, I have to confess I think feet are kind of disgusting even the ones of such a beautiful creature as Austin. I'm more of a hands person and both are boys have very nice fingers. No wonder they like to play with them.
Re the Telegraph interview. It may feel like we've done a u-turn this last week from Jaustin holding hands to Jake declaring straightness. Not really. That Telegraph interview was probably the same day as the J Ross show. He does that then comes back to spend time with Austin in NY.
"They could have walked to the ferry, and I still would have followed them,” admits our pavement detective, so refreshingly honest (see, always loved those NY types, this is only one reason why)."
I think Ted throws in this "so refreshingly honest" comment to say he trusts this source. Otherwise it would have been a BI.
Also I still think Jake was wearing Austin's jeans after the Letterman show. Then there is the report of Jake and Austin walking together. Coincidence much?
I would love to look at the feet site but I'm at work :) I like the heights site too, ag. I haven't changed my name, just morphed with my DC id because I don't go there as much.
I think we're in a different place from last week. We now have two OVERT contrasting positions rather than two covert ones. I'm still watching - it seems I can't look away. :)
I really enjoyed Rendition and thought Jake was just fine but Peter even better, his best role since "Kinsey". I think Reese was a little miscast, Meryl suitably scary but I'm sorry older women always end up as witches one way or another :(. I have a lot of thoughts about the movie particularly it's one major weakness (IMO) but don't want to spoil for those outside the 19 Oct zone who haven't seen it yet. I loved the cinematography, the blue and red contrast for west vs east. Loved the focus on the incredibly differing statuses of women. Hopefully those aren't spoilers. The audience was a bit fidgety but a lot of people were talking about it on their way out and on the way home.
another uk tb - so do I :) :) :)
it's = its
Great catch another uk tb.
Maybe it's just because he's at home vs. being abroad but he seemed so much more relaxed during his interviews in the States than in the UK and in the pics in Rome. I choose to believe it's because he was able to catch up with Austin. Jake becomes so giddy and skittish when A is somewhere around. It's easy to detect.
i never read the Telegraph... and i think the only broadsheet newspaper that's trustworthy in UK is The Guardian.
I've interviewed people myself and I know that once the interviewer set his/her mind on something or certain viewpoint, it's very easy to transfer their own perception into the final piece, especially when it's written in non verbatim Q&A.
I am not saying Jake didn't say those things, maybe he did... but I wouldn't trust hearing it 2nd hand from a right-wing journalist who apparently think it's crazy for jake to make ambigious remarks about his sexuality. You can almost hear that journalist thinking, "geez, what was this gyllenhaal bloke thinking?".
That Telegraph interview was probably the same day as the J Ross show. He does that then comes back to spend time with Austin in NY.
One reason why I'm still watching! I think things may be about to get interesting.
Just a reminder- you WILL be deleted if you name call and use profanity.
The interviewer Nigel Farndale is worth checking out on Wiki - it looks as though he was "co-opted for the establishment" by Auberon Waugh :D. Have to say the rest of the Sunday Telegraph seems to have lightened up and improved from the last time I looked. I have no doubt Jake said what he said.
^ I got the impression he was prodding rather than being incredulous - I thought for a Jake interview it seemed quite well researched.
Well, I am really disappointed Rendition didn't do better at the box office. Sure it wasn't going to be a blockbuster but I hoped it would do better. Jake did a lot of work to promote and get the movie out there and once again his personal life has overshadowed his work. Sure I love J&A but I like them as actors first. All the negativity is just getting to me. :(
^ I don't see this, tbs - it's not the kind of film that's going to be huge box office. Jake may be making a play for the mainstream again with his moon movie.
That's the way actors' careers go -we'd all see everything they do, but we aren't typical.
PS, congratulations to giusi!
How many times have we said we all do what we have to do to survive. I think Jake is in this place. He does not have to be our role model. Just as I was not able to ba a role model to all gay women who are nurses in my particular place of employment. I will continue to believe Jake is with Austin and they are doing the best they can.
Joker -- you make a great point, there are many of that agree with just that point. I think Jake does not have to be a role model. I do think they are doing the best that can at the moment. I am really curious to see what transpires over the next few weeks.
scyllanouska, as I said before, it wasn't expected to do huge bo. But it did a lot worse than expected. Yes that happens to actors but it is frustrating to see Jake take the blame on a lot of sites for it.
"Jake did a lot of work to promote and get the movie out there and once again his personal life has overshadowed his work."
I don't think so, tbs. The reviews of the film weren't based on Jake's personal life, even tho the tabloid coverage may be. It's a double-edged sword for an actor: selling your movie, and by extension, yourself.
Whoever he is with, Reese or Austin, (and I know who my money is on!) the reviews would have been the same.
Plus I don't want to go anywhere down the road of thinking like the troll who is happy to blame Ted, and therefore us, for any lack of Box Office receipts for Rendition. You know, "the gay rumors/being gay are ruining his career" spiel. (I know you didn't mean that, tbs, but it's the tack the troll is taking at the moment having got bored temporarily with defending Jake's het-ness.)
I think, in general, actors take on projects believing they will work. It's a strange alchemy that turns an ok movie into a great movie, and there are dozens of people involved. I'm not just defending Jake here, I think this about most actors. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But at least people take the chance of creating something, and I admire that.
I agree, Joker and Spesh, I also think that they are doing the best they can at the moment. It can't be easy. I think these are the times that they need support more than ever.
Not only is Hollywood not ready for a gay leading man, Hollywood is not ready to make another gay movie. It’s going to take a few years before any male actor, straight, bi, or gay signs on to make another BBM, and that saddens me.
What with all the questions, and speculation about Jake's sex/love life, these past two years--speculation I might add, that was non-existent prior to BBM-- few young male actors will put themselves through all this nonsense.
Jake is a mensch. He can take it. He's carrying on with his life doing his thing as always.
Hell, Mark Whalberg said as much in an interview in Premiere Magazine; he knew if he took a role in BBM, his neighborhood friends would give him a terrible time for a long time. He didn't want to take a chance and said no.
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