Will Smith Plays Gay -- But Not Well With Others

Will Smith has no real talent and he never has. All he has ever gotten by on is charm. He no longer does movie roles like Six Degrees, because he was smart enough to realize no one took him seriously as an actor (if he didn't realize that it was certainly proven by the dismal flop of Ali).

I think he said a few years ago that he regretted his decision about the kiss.

He was a young man back then so I think we can cut him a little slack especially if he regrets what he did. I haven't seen The Pursuit of Happyness, but its gotten good reviews so maybe he has more talent that Jon thinks. Wish he would do another gay role to make up for Six Degrees.

Since he is bi in real life, it would make sense that he would say no. He needs to protect his career. The rumors are loud enough (and they ARE loud.) Having him kiss a guy onscreen would be too much. If he were some gifted actor or something, I would say that he should be honest about his sexuality and that his talent would speak for itself. But since he is not, all he has is attractiveness on his side and he has to protect his livelihood. I don't blame him a bit.

Interesting previous post. On the one hand saying that he is bisexual just because of rumors, and then saying being a closet case is okay for commercial gain without addressing the point of the diary at all. Skillful besides the points.

Well, it's a bit more than just rumors. Research it if you need to know for yourself (and if you find evidence to the contrary, dispute me.) And it is okay to be in the closet. FORCING them out is as bad as forcing them in.

Will Smith said on Oprah (so it must be true!) that he regrets refusing to
do the kiss. In fact, he says the reason he kissed the guy from King of
Queens was to make up for the refusal to kiss in Six Degrees of Separation
And if he really is bisexual, I hope he keeps that to himself.

Not its not okay to be in the closet. It's cowardly. People have the right to do whatever they want, but that doesn't make what they do the correct or moral decision. And, yes, a failure to come out just to make a proof off of society's bigotry toward gays or for that matter bisexuals is moral cowardice. It's their right to be in the closet, and its right along with other queers to call them what they are- cowards. As to whether he keeps it to himself or not - hoping for seems bizzare. Do you hope that Pamela Anderson would not flaunt her sexuality. If that answer is you either say no, or if you have not thought about it that way, then you need to examine your reasoning and its impact on others.

As Ann Landers, or which advice columnist recently wrote, one is not obligated to do anything, but the idea that its a good to hide it is false without examining why. It certainly isn't for the sake of privacy because he is more than willing, as are most celebrities, to tell us what they think will help them sell their films. And as for the kiss, I am glad that he did that. That gives me more respect for him as an actor- not by much- i still think he doesn't try to go outside of certain roles. But certainly more.

And rumor- of his sexual orientation- are just that rumors. Researching it won't produce better results anymore than the Tom Cruise rumors or those about that woman from Desperate House Wives would. Sometimes people are just wrong or have their own reason to make up these stories.

A few facts - the Six Degrees of Separation movie was made in 1993, move than a decade ago. To those who lack a sense of history, the "world" was a different "place" then. Attitudes and so much more has changed since then, but some things have not changed. Then there were serious discussions about the effect of taking gay roles by major stars upon one's career. All of this was before Queer As Folk, Will and Grace, and before cell phones - basically then some gay roles were risky.

Too many people use the movies and TV screen as a place where their fears, dreams, hopes and desires can be realized. There the stars are bigger than life, as well as so many other issues. Too many people who claim the right to their sexuality and privacy will frequently openly speculate about the sex lives of male stars, creating a whole wish-fantasy fulfillment industry of online and off-line speculation. When the stars do not live up to these fantasies - too many then conclude that there's something wrong.

Will Smith is a growing actor, who has taken many challenging roles, enough said.

In 1993 - Black gay men could still find themselves "carded" for attempting to enter gay clubs and bars even in "West Hollywood and Los Angeles. How many "gay films" of the last decade included any significant fully fleshed out black gay roles? How many black gay males appeared in the regular cast of "Queer As Folk"? A couple of episodes of "Will and Grace" including Taye Diggs may seem like a kind of progress, but is it really? Have real world black gay male, and the realities of "minority" gay male realities changed?

Which is easier to moan and complain about? A scene in a movie made more than a decade ago? Which is much harder to realize? Improved relations which real world black gay men. Or an examination of what it means to be masculine male who is gay friendly? Or an examination of why movies and other media matter so much in the lives of too many gay men?

Just a few thoughts.
Mike

Good post, NiceMike. I do think some progress is being made on these issues. I recently read here that Orlando Jones was going to be playing a gay role on Men in Trees and, of course, there is Noah's Arc. ANd Carter Boatman on Spin City was great. Kinky Boots had a great black, gay male lead in a movie last year. Sadly, everything else was just minor secondary characters.

Don't forget Wesley Snipes went on to play a transvestite in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.

this movie was 14 years ago, Will has apologized and grown up. Isn't it time we accept his apology and grow up ourselves?

I am not a big fan of Will's but I did recently see Pursuit of Happyness and think he gave a phenomenal performance in it. Watch the movie before dismissing his acting talents over stuff like Independence Day and Men In Black

Hi John. I agree, that movie was 14 years ago and, in the interim, Will Smith has no doubt regretted his behavior at the time. But its not like my original post was calling for a boycott of Will Smith films or anything. I'm sure he's an okay guy and has certainly made some entertaining films over the years.

At the same time, I DO think its appropriate to hold people's feet to the fire at least a little for past homophobic behavior-- even if that behavior was typical and socially acceptable for its time. It is also worth commemorating those individuals (in this instance Wesley Snipes) who demonstrated more enlightened, gay-friendly behavior than their historical contemporaries. I think doing so reminds current public figures that there are future consequences for "being on the wrong side of history" so to speak. And benefits for being ahead of the curve on gay issues.

As far as Wesley Snipes is concerned, while I appreciate his enlightened attitude, the fact that he is also rumored he is also rumored to have been abusive to at least one ex-girlfriend, be a lousy tipper, and general all around asshole somewhat dampens my enthusiasm for him, while Will Smith was a young, up and coming actor taking the well meaning advise of an older more experienced one. I'm admittedly not an expert, but everything I've seen and heard tells me that Will Smith is the better man and the fact that Wesley is willing to kiss another man onscreen(and had he actually done it?) doesn't change that .

I think this is just a case of a young actor getting some bad advice. This was Smiths first real role and a major departure from his Fresh Prince sitcom character, he received some advice from a highly respected actor who told him not to do the kiss... should we judge him too harshly for taking the advice of someone he looked up to?

He was a young man who got some bad advice, and he has apologised for it a number of times. And this was still in a time where something as simple as a gay kiss COULD have had an affect on his career... I mean, before it came out, people were still worried about what Brokeback Mountain could do to Heath and Jake's careers... cut the man some slack

Is Will Smith is gay or Bi???