Controversy: June 2008 Archives

I haven't written anything about Boy George being denied a Visa to perform in the U.S. because, frankly, I don't really care.

But I read an item on Queerty that I thought was amusing:

A reporter asked State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey about the trouble George is having getting permission to tour in the U.S. this summer. The singer has had his share of troubles with the law with the most recent being an investigation into his alleged kidnapping of a Norwegian hooker..

Here is the exchange:
Q. And what does the U.S. Government have against Boy George - (laughter) - You denied him a visa.
CASEY: Sorry, I should have swallowed before you said that. (Laughter.) Let's see if I spit the water over any place else. (Laughter.) I've seen the report that's out there. Obviously, visa records are confidential. But I'd simply note that there often are difficulties for individuals who either are currently subject to criminal charges or otherwise may have criminal records. So I think you might want to look toward some of those reasons as why he might be having some difficulties here.

Q. It's tragic really.
CASEY: Do you really want to hurt him? (Laughter.)

Now see it for yourself:

It's one thing to court the gays in your advertising but it's quite another to dump them. Heinz caved to about 200 complaints from people freaked out by its mayonaise commercial which included a gay kiss. Now more than 2,000 people have signed an online petition urging Heinz to put the darn thing back on the air. Until they do, here's a video of the commercial.

Well this kinda sucks. Heinz decides to do a really cool ad for its new Deli Mayo product in the UK that features two men sharing a kiss at the end of a family breakfast scene. No big deal, right. It's the UK, they have equal rights where they let gays serve in the military and have civil unions.

But after 200 or so people called and complained, Heinz yanked the ad from the air! Apparently those caller found such a kiss offensive and "inappropriate to see two men kissing". Other complaints include that the ad was "unsuitable to be seen by children" and that it raised the difficult problem of parents having to discuss the issue of same-sex relationships with younger viewers.

Gee, imagine having to do that!

Nigel Dickie, director of corporate affairs for Heinz UK, told MediaGuardian: "It is our policy to listen to consumers. We recognise that some consumers raised concerns over the content of the ad and this prompted our decision to withdraw it."

Here's the part that really irks me: Dickie added that the campaign for the new Heinz Deli Mayo product, which was due to run for five weeks, was meant to be humorous and that the company apologised to anyone who felt offended.

Why apologize? And did you bother to think that a lot more than 200 gay people - at least those who would eat mayo - might buy your product because of the ad?

Now you've come off as gutless and sorry you even did it. I hope, for your sake, that those 200 complainers are gonna buy your mayo because I'm not!

I believe in freedom of speech, totally. But I also believe in taking responsibility when you say outrageous and irresponsible things. Rupert Everett, who has gotten increasingly reckless with his remarks about everything lately, has issued an apology after remarks he made about contemporary soldiers being "wimps" caused something of a major media firestorm.

He told The Sunday Telegraph that modern-day soldiers are "wimps" who are "always whining about the dangers of being killed." His comments were published the same day three British soldiers were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan.

Everett, in a statement to the BBC, said he was trying to make the point that, "We still go to war but actually we haven't the stomach for it."
"It seems to me that embracing war means accepting its underbelly as well, torture and the unspeakable violence that spirals from the battlefield to its surroundings. My flippant and irresponsible behavior arises from a deep frustration at the fact that we seem to be continually making war, dreaming up new ones, instead of doing everything we can to avoid them."

Well, I'm not so sure it's an apology since I don't see the word "sorry" or anything. Shia LaBeouf, the talented young actor whose stunning resume already includes lead roles on "Transformers," "Disturbia," and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," had his spokesman express "regret" over a two-year-old video that has surfaced on YouTube that shows Shia calling a friend a "faggot" during some slapping contest at a party.

The clip has been pulled from YouTube so can't show it to ya. Here is the statement via Marc Malkin of E! Online:

"The videotape that is currently being circulated is several years old and captures Shia playing a game among friends in which he uses a derogatory word toward a friend," LaBeouf's rep told Marc exclusively. "He regrets having used the word in any capacity and is very embarrassed that this footage is being seen by anyone."