Ask the Flying Monkey: Is Matthew Bomer Wearing a Wedding Ring?

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Q: In the last few weeks, Matt Bomer has appeared on the red carpet and a late night talk show wearing a gold band on his left ring finger. Officially, he’s unattached and doesn’t talk about his personal life. But a band on one’s left hand almost always has meaning – even if the person isn’t married or civil-unioned. Is it appropriate to ask him about the ring? I say yes. – Brian, Des Moines, Iowa

A: Isn’t this is an appropriate question for Valentine’s Day? It’s true: Bomer is now wearing the ring to public and press events. Is it okay for us to ask him about that?

We actually hemmed and hawed on this one. Obviously, there are widespread internet rumors about Bomer’s sexuality. But the actor has made it clear he doesn’t talk about his romantic life with the press (though he does talk about many other aspects of his personal life). He has also declined several of our requests for an in-depth interview – although we did recently speak to him briefly in a group at a press event (yes, he’s dreamy).

So did asking him about his ring constitute an invasion of his clearly-stated wish for privacy and discretion on matters romantic? But isn’t the wearing of the ring itself to press and other events a “public” act of sorts – a public declaration that, at the very minimum, solicits the perfectly acceptable question, “Oh, when did you get married?”

As you can see, writing for AfterElton.com can sometimes makes your head hurt.

In the end, it didn’t matter. We asked his publicist and did not receive a response to our request for clarity.

Editor's update: I just heard from Bomer's publicist and apparently she did respond to our request for a clarification, but we never received the email. Here is her response:

“While you know I never talk about my clients personal lives, I can tell you that Matt is very happy in his personal and family life.”

Q: I just finished reading A Terrible Splendor. This is a non-fiction book about tennis that I think has a chance to be a really, really good movie. It seems to have everything a book (or movie) could want: a gripping sports rivalry, geopolitical upheaval in a march toward war, and even secret love affairs and closeted homosexuality. So the movie would be a sports movie where lives are really on the line. I was wondering if anyone has tried to pitch it for a movie? – Jui

A: I’m told there has been a lot of interest in the movie rights lately, and at one point a film option seemed imminent. But it fell through, and the rights are currently still available, so nothing is currently in the works.

But the book would make a terrific movie. It tells the story of the 1937 Davis Cup tennis match involving three of the top tennis players of all time, Don Budge, the handsome and charismatic Baron Gottfried von Cramm, and von Cramm’s vain, attention-hogging coach Bill Tilden, the last two of which were closeted men. And it all has geo-political ramifications to boot.

Who knows? Maybe some straight actor can play one of the gay roles and win an Oscar!

(Sorry, it's Oscar season, so it's hard not to be a little bitter.)

Have a question about gay male entertainment? Contact me here (and be sure and include your city and state and/or country!)