How Fox Packaged Homophobia as Entertainment

I will not watch so-called reality programs because they are about as real as the Tooth Fairy. The only apparent real thing about this show was their blatant ignorance and homophobia. Good going, Fox. Methinks a boycott on their advertiser's products would really get their attention. Anyone with me?

It really was disgusting to watch. I've been a huge fan of this show from the beginning, and I'm wondering what its past gay contestants - of which there have been quite a few, though not openly at the time - think of the segment.

The comment about what would happen if a 12 year old gay boy watched this is far too true. In a world where it's already difficult to grow up gay, seeing a segment like that on a show that's primarily directed towards teen viewers is deplorable. Some people just don't get how damaging it can be for a kid who's still trying to figure it all out. Gay teen suicide rates are as high as they are for a reason, and while I'm not saying what SYTYCD did is going to cause a teen to kill himself, it's a piece of the puzzle that adds up over time.

Thank you, Michael, for clearly articulating what I've been trying to explain to several friends (mainly straight but a few gay) about the subtle power of editing and storytelling in reality television shows -- and how producers' choices can truly affect the message being sent out.

Many of my friends have said, essentially, "What's the big deal? That's what happened at the contest/audition/whatever. They're just showing us what happened. Stop whining."

But it's not that simple, as this post explains so well. I wish there were a faster, shorter way to explain what's really going on with the producing and edition of reality television programs, some of them sublty yet powerful homophobic in tone. But unfortunately, it takes approximately 1000 words and a few images and some links to fully explain what's happening in one segment of one episode of one mediocre reality show.

So thank you for doing this careful, well-researched, clearly articulated work. I appreciate the effort and will be sharing with friends as Case Study #1...

reach that far, my lips would be kissing your feet right now.

Thank you, Michael, for eloquently writing what I've tried to write.

 

You just pulled the words out of everyone's mouth. Perhaps what Nigel needs to be told is that: you might want to try more man-to-man latin/ballroom dances, you might enjoy it!

Seriously, reading this will help a lot more people get why so many people are po'd. It has nothing to do with the guys not making it (I honestly didn't think they did that great of a job, and actually agree with Mary's comments.  One person should have led, and one should have followed). It has to do with the nasty and boneheaded way things were handled.

Nigel bothers me because it is so obvious that because he was a straight guy in dance he was constantly ridiculed because dancing isn't "macho". So now he holds this nasty bitterness towards anyone he feels that upholds the idea that all male dancers are gay and that dancing is for "sissies" (I hate that word). So, he takes it out on all these guys who don't come off as masculine. Thats why he keeps saying sexuality has nothing to do with it. If the guys came out on the show, then it would just be, to him, another knock against the idea of straight guys being dancers.

I was shocked to see in tonights episode a male contemporary dancer who danced very feminine not get reemed for it. He did a great job, and made it through, and he deserved to. Now note, I'm guessing this young man was gay, but it is never stated, so I'll leave it up in the air. His segment was all about how his dad, a small town football coach , supported his son wanting to be a dancer and not a jock. So, they can handle things well, but with the same sex Samba they dropped the ball by a lot of dumb choices and Nigel's boneheaded remarks.

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I had not seen the show before and thanks to you, I never will =D. As an 18 year old i would hate to think that there is someone out there who watched this show and felt anything less than human because of the comments and the inconsiderate editing. I only hope they read your articles and understand that it is not ok to be treated like SYTYCD did those men.

Thank you. =D

My tounge would catch your tounge...were the world mine :-)

I have taken swipes at GLAAD for not doing anything meaningful but lay down a good red carpet, but this instance begs them to reconsider the model they tout as helping the fight to end deflamation. It's the question of the bars at the zoo and who are they protecting? Are they there to keep the Animals in or protect them from us?

What SYTYCD did was horrible and homophobic. The president of GLAAD called for action and spoke to Lythgoe about the situation. By that time the press had reduced the appeal to a sound bite: Gays were upset by Lythgoe tweeting "Brokeback Ballroom." Sure, that was obviously insulting, but it was also a very catchy phrase that writers were quick to pick up on and reporting that in itself seemed to be a continuation of the abuse rather than a characterization or condemnation of the situation. Millions of people who would never have read it otherwise were presented with that phrase in tiny 200 word snips, and no doubt some even had a chuckle about it and repeated it to their friends. And in comments across the internet the topic always seemed to boil down to that one phase "it just came out as unintentional, verbal diareha. People (meaning gays) are way too quick to overreact." is a typical, middle-of-the-road, sounding response and the most common type of reaction I've read out there. The bigger picture, the larger story had been obscured.

Lythgoe apologizes and GLLAD quickly accepts his apology for all of us. Any meaningful debate has been cut off at the knees as most news sources first report the story as "Apology Accepted."

This flap seemed to do little but promote the show and condone the homophobia they present -what some even summarized as "mild homophobia", which to me sounds as appealing as "mild rape" or "mild murder." Presenting the argument that way even taught people that subtle and constant jabs against gays can be acceptable and at what levels. In other words, people seem to think: 'it's okay to use homophobia to criticize what gay people do (dance together), if you don't understand or like their actions, but refrain from using slurs to characterize us in general,' or some such rot. I'm having a hard time understanding the public's opinion, but that summarizes much of what I've read.

While angry gay bloggers and tweeters were geared up to brandish the proverbial pitchforks in a virtual storming of Castle Lythgoe, GLAAD was there to quell the angry mob and protect the snarling monster held up in the tower, like any good zoo keeper should do.

GLAAD accepted Lythgoe's apology. That's all fine and good. But their model failed miserably this time and I am still waiting to hear GLAAD's apology to me. They failed our community because they failed to engage a meaningful dialog in the media and allow the true story of why this was damaging come to light. Instead, Lythgoe was able to sweep this under the rug and come out smelling like a contrite rose. I expect more "mild homophobia" from him because that is what his fans are going to be expecting, just as you expect Simon Cowell to tell someone they sound like an orphanage on fire. And if we complain? "Well, he already has apologized, people (gays). Grow up!" Will be the public response. This flap has promoted his brand of homophobia and may prove to galvanize it rather than diminish it.


I would like to propose an alternate award to the Not Hot 100 award, an award where readers at After Elton submit nominations, but which is chosen by the Editors and staff, I'd call it the "After Elton Sweet Hairy Ass Award" and I nominate Lythgoe as the first recipient. Kiss that Nigel.


Nigel Lythgoe Criticizes Male Dance Partners on YouTube..

 

Thanks for the article. I've never watched this show, and now I know not to start.

Beautiful piece of analysis and writing. If they air this series of the programme in the UK, I'll be using your article as the basis of a complaint to Ofcom (the broadcasting regulatory authority over here). Ofcom has the ability to publicly censure the broadcaster, fine them and/or force them to issue an on-air apology - and I'd like to think that your excellent analysis would force them to take a complaint seriously. Well done again.

Add me to all the people singing your praise for this. This whole segment left me with such a bad feeling I haven't been able to make myself watch last night's episode. But so many people--because it was presented as "humor" completely missed the point.

where the best I've seen you write. I too add my vote to your praise. Fox has always been on the afore front of defacing the LGBT family. Fox news on a regular basis will always put us down, as well as anything not republican.

I'm not sure why anyone would be surprised at FOX's homophobic actions. Kevin Reilly has straight up lied over and over in regard to his network's gay-friendly future.

One of the only bright spots FOX had was VIRTUALITY (with it's depiction of a married gay couple). Now it's pilot is being dumped on SATURDAY, JULY 4th after multiple reports that the creators were told to drop the gay couple.

The other bright spot being Glee, which I mostly enjoyed but have concerns about it's stereotypical gay character. So far he's just that flamboyantly gay character straight out of an 80's sitcom and that is just not acceptable anymore.

I know that is mainly the fault of openly gay creator Ryan Murphy but it shows that FOX certainly doesn't seem to mind gay characters as long as they can be laughed, humiliated or sassy on a weekly basis.

Nigel Lythgoe does have a long history of gay jokes and extreme hetero-bias but at least he issued an apology that sounded sincere. The one issued by FOX was more like an insult wrapped in a generically pretty bow.

At some point, we all have to accept that making an equivalence argument between different kinds of adversity and discrimination is counterproductive and short-sighted. Being an Asian woman, or paraplegic, or bald, or fat, or gay, does not automatically make one sensitive to others' plight.

If I were that gay dancer and had been used to dehumanize gay people like this, I would show up at Lithgow's door and punch his lights out... or punch out whoever was responsible for this evil treachery. The bastards who put together anti-gay TV like this need to get the message that their actions have consequences. If I were a 13 year old seeing that show I could see myself getting hopeless and killing myself after seeing gays dehumanized and mocked like this. I have personally known 2 gay youth who killed themselves for less reason than that. We forget how hopeless and hellish life can be for gay kids who have never heard anyone anywhere say a single positive word about gays.

I have watched the show in the past (only in passing) and I happened to turn it on tonight while waiting for friends to come. I found the show to be deplorable (just tonight's episode and only the few minutes that I could stand to watch) and the content/editing to be awful. After reading this article, I have absolutely no reason to watch this show. It is a shame as this show had been entertaining in past seasons.

I saw it after reading the outrage and can't believe what the fuss is over. They said upfront only *one* of the dancers is gay, the other a straight man.

They danced together, not as a couple--they are not, but out of convenience of needing partners when back in Denver.  All of the judges remarked that it was difficult to judge because they were both switching in and out of the male and female roles of ballroom dancing. End of.

That's bizarre and nonsensical if you hope to be judged in this sort of competition. There's not one thing homophobic in that. It was certainly queer, not because of one gay man but because it was not the standard practice of ballroom dance. It was even said if each took only one role and didn't switch off it would've worked better to the judges.

 I personally had a difficult time following because their costumes were only mirror images and not sufficiently contrasting for me to tell one from the other. That's not homophobic, that's just common sense and how ballroom is.

We covered this when Lance Bass competed on DWTS and he understood this. Rational thought escaped many of the gay community who insisted then Bass should be dancing with another man. This is the kind of howling and gnashing of teeth over an imagined afront that irritates me so about the most vocal elements of the gay community.

 

Perfect!

Ladies and Gentlemen, a news flash from a viewer. IT IS FOX TV!!!!! What the hell else can you expect from a network that would gladly see Rush Limbaugh be President and Pope at the same time?

I watch this show even though the gay jokes have been "Foxy" from the beginning of the series. I do so because it may be THE ONLY chance for up-and-coming dancers to get a showcase. It is hard (read that 'nearly impossible)' for dancers to break into this business because so much of it is in the hands of a few hidebound, self-important queens and 'grande dames'. The panel on this show demonstrate a love for dance and dancers that only occasionally strays into the hateful. My sermon? Watch the show for the kids that get to have that chance to shine and ignore the 'rednecks in ascots' they feature in front of and behind the camera on this far-right, hypocritical network.

I'm glad I missed this episode, because I would have been fuming. This show is always homophobic and sexist, but as you say, to specifically showcase same-sex partners just to make fun of them is beyond the pale. I might have to boycott this show now. As it is, I already mute most of the judges' comments.

Your article nailed every point that has been irritating me like a cactus up my ass. The homophobic context of the music and setup were actually even more insulting than the judge comments. If the couple had been treated respectfully and presented not as the comedy freak show but as serious contenders would the audience have been more offended - or at least more understanding of why people are offended - by the judges comments?

Keep up the excellent writing, Michael. It's so refreshing to have a strong, intelligent and articulate voice out there representing us.

Just had a conversation I think I should share. I emailed my friend about what happened on the show, as she is the one who got me into it, and we usually watch together. She is my best friend in the world, and I love her to death, so I wanted to tell her how I felt about the show, and why I wasn't going to watch it. Her response didn't surprise me, but it warmed my heart. She agreed with me about how offensive it was, and thought anyone should recognize that. Not that religion should really matter, or that it is important to the discussion, but my friend (and I) are both Christian; she is Catholic, myself a Protestant. So know that it is not just members of the gay community that are upset over this, that "anyone with half a moral compass" is upset (that's quoting my friend.)

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I may be straight, but I'm not narrow.

There is no doubt in my mind that Nigel is a homophobe. Maybe the guy (who reminds me of what the hate child of My Little Pony and Barry Gibb would look like) was bullied as a kid and/or experienced some of what he is dishing out when he was a dancer 500 years ago, but he just does not seem get how inconsistent/biased/and ultimately bad for dancing his homophobic commentary is.

On one hand the guy is responsible for putting together a show which has upped the ante with respect to the styles of dancing introduced to the masses and has hired and given increasing airtime to out choreographers whose sexual orientation is front and center. The results can be breathtaking and inclusive of people and art not to be found in other shows.

Unfortunately, his views on inclusion come to a screeching stop when it comes to male dancers. He is much easier on the women who attack more male dominated dances (tap/hip-hop) and is able to appreciate (to a degree) a "tough" female if she has a pretty face or a tight body.

But why such a train-wreck when it comes to males who don't fit his confines of masculinity? If he and Mary Murphy (who looks like a badly styled drag queen most days) were so "confused" by the same sex dancers profiled, why did a light not flash in their heads about how "confusion" (if done well) could be honed in to express something different than the same tired mess? Nigel is always looking for the latest dances all around the world and seems genuinely interested in embracing some elements that are left of center, but if a male shows any degree of softness and/or androgyny, it's the kiss of death.

Not even campy/fun out director/choreographer extraordinaire Adam Shankman and bitchy out choreographer Tyce Diorio are exempt from the "masculinity" myopia that, prevents this show from being even more amazing than it can be when it's hitting all cylinders.

We still live in a world that has an much easier time embracing say a 1983 model Annie Lennox than say an early career David Bowie. Hopefully Lythgoe's foot in mouth moments will continue to be called out for what they are every single time as he'll start to realize that serving as the poster-boy for homophobia may not be so good for the show.

I'll still be watching as sometimes the routines on the show truly feels like art. Despite The Lion King's efforts, many gay men have danced on the show and will again as it comes with the territory. May they thrive in adversity. Hopefully changes will come via strong dancers who are so strong that they are allowed more leeway in redefining the parameters of what many fear won't play in Peoria. Apparently Adam Lambert was able to come far in what I think is a much more homophobic show that, to date, had ignored sexual orientation in its entirety. Maybe there will be an Adam in tights waiting to strut his stuff in this season's show. he and the judges correctly drool when they are exposed to a dancers who stand out from the rest.

Just wonderful.