Ross the Intern meets the Tyrasaurus

In yesterday's Queerview we said it might be worth checking in with Tyra Banks to see how her interview with the cast of the new Celebrity Fatty Fatty Fattypants Fit Club. Turns out there were a few interesting moments to be had.

First, former professional mallrat (and actually seemingly totally cool) Tiffany revealed that she has lots of gay fans, and that they're harder on her about her weight than anyone else. Really? Who is she hanging out with, Karl Lagerfeld?

But the interesting part came when Tyra got to Ross Mathews, better known as Ross the Intern from The Tonight Show. You know, the very effeminate guy who is the butt of countless jokes made by Jay Leno, Jesse James, etc. (they once made him a driving suit that was pink and read "Jesse's Girl" on the back -- how progressive!).

It started out innocently enough, but then it got ugly real fast:

Tyra: Is that your real voice, Ross?

Ross: (shocked) Is that your real hair, Tyra?

Two snaps for Ross, but two snaps that come with a price: he had roused a beast.

Tyra admitted that no, it isn't her real hair, and then Ross said he's waiting for puberty and insisted, "I wouldn't fake this, trust me".

But undeterred, Tyra bared her claws and dug in, asking Ross if he was dating anyone. You know, "anyone", leaving it wide open and out there in case Ross wanted to commit to a gender preference. Ross hemmed and hawed a little, said he was in love with is dog, and then claimed that he was in love with co-star Maureen McCormack (Marsha Brady -- and come on, who isn't?).

Tyra, not to be declawed so easily, put on her Quizzical Face and said something like, "really? Do you want to kiss her?", implying that Ross was a total fag who could never actually have any lustful feelings toward a woman.

And you know what? Maybe he can't (he kissed her anyway). And maybe he can. And until he decides to share that, it's really none of anyone's business. It's hard to ignore how insanely gay-seeming this man is, but hey -- until he says otherwise, his actual sexuality isn't for anyone else to squeeze out of him. Is this Tyra's attempt at hard news? Getting the most insanely effeminate man on television to come out on her show?

It's interesting, because Tyra is usually a big friend of the gays. I guess the lesson here is not to insult her wig on her own turf? Part of the scene -- minus the gay-baiting -- is available over at the show's website (but it's not embeddable, dammit!), if you want to see more. Interestingly, none of the bit about his dog being a fan of Tyra was broadcast -- instead we got the full Tyrasaurus.