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Controversy over Merv Griffin's posthumous "outing" rages on...

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Merv Griffin was sent off with a star-studded memorial service in Beverly Hills Friday with the likes of Nancy Reagan and Gov. Arnold paying tribute. Suzanne Somers showed up looking like dynamite!
I'm quite sure everyone in the church was well aware that Griffin was gay but a column by the Hollywood Reporter's Ray Richmond that morning making that pronouncement has led to all kinds of attempted censorship including legal threats from one of Griffin's companies and pressure from some top Hollywood players:
Here's timeline, via Editor & Publisher, of what has gone down:

--Hollywood Reporter publishes story "Merv Griffin was Gay"
--Reporter pulls the story, republishes it titled "Griffin never revealed man behind the curtain."
--Reuters picks up story in its news feed, syndicates it internationally.
--Reuters pulls story, with this explanation: "This was a story from The Hollywood Reporter that ran as part of a Reuters news feed. We have dropped the story from our entertainment news feed as it did not meet our standards for news. GBU Editor."
John Aravosis at AmericaBlog sums the situation up this way: "You'd think the matter of an obit about or reminiscence of a public figure wouldn't generate all this brouhaha, but that's what happens when the world outside of the closet is so frightening to people in Hollywood that all sorts of insane measures are taken to reinforce the message is that there is something inherently wrong with being gay."
Since I gotta run out and do an interview (you will really like this one), I'm glad Towleroad.com gives a great rundown of the happenings which I suggest you check out.


Comments

We have a trifecta!!!

Brooke Astor,
Merv Griffin and
Leona Helmsley!

Three dead old rich gals, and the cycle is complete.

Last time I check, he was straight, and I enjoyed every minute of him....bye

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Greg Hernandez

Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.
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