Please, an Eli Roth-launched flesh-eating virus would be waaaay too kind for Frankie!

Frankie, Casey, and Ben up for the vote.

 

I guess, to answer your question ... No. The bromance will NOT survive a week in the country.

But it WILL be televised. 

Good call on the bottom 3, Jason!

Dude! What redneck demon just possessed you? To borrow a word from Frankie, I'm dumbfounded.

Nikki says the word "saw" like "saul". What regional accent is that?

And I swear that casting agent woman is being played by Rebecca Pigeon from The Spanish Prisoner. 

Casey. Out of those three, he deserves it more than the other two. After those comments, even if he wasn't thinking or was just joking, Ben was out of line. Sure he apologized, but still, out of line. So, Casey gets my vote.

Just sent in some votes for my boy Frankie. I love him.

 

I always vote for either Ronnie or Ben when they're up for the vote.  (Thank gawd both haven't been up at the same time yet.)  Buuuut, not after those hideous comments.  I haven't been caught off guard that much by something on the tele since Janet Jackson's boobie flew out of the tv at me.  At least Janet didn't totally offend me though, just made me throw up a little.

Props to Ronnie for confronting Ben and being so forgiving.  (Who am I kidding, he probably just has it THAT bad for Ben, willing to forgive anything.)  But the bromance is definitely bruised.  Now, I can't help but wonder how genuine Ben is being with Ronnie, and how much or how little homophobia he truly carries inside himself.

While I'm boycotting Ben this week, I do hope that he stays alive in the competition, just so I can see how their relationship carries on after this dark personality bombshell of his went off.  Plus, I'm kinda hoping to see some make up sex....

I missed my shot at voting, but I'm definitely not supporting Ben w/ my votes after that little episode. I can take a joke as much as the next guy, but that was out of line. Seemed like classic "gay panic", maybe suddenly feeling insecure about his whole Ronnie bromance getting too close + worrying how people would see it/him.

Actually, I'd rather keep Frankie in than Casey. At least Frankie had something of a presence on the catwalk. Not great + a little Miami Vice-ish, but better than Casey's Model/Zombie walk. And I didn't start to like him (Frankie) until he got his haircut. It looks good on him. To be honest, I wish Jacki hadn't gone home. I think Ben was definitely worse than she was last week + in all fairness, should have gone before her. I liked her pics + her runway, but I suppose people would rather have seen more Ben/Ronnie showmance than keep her around.

Oh well.

I will be very sad if this is the last impression America has of Ben before he goes home (which would be a legitimate possibility with or without his behavior this week) as I think what we may have seen was Ben cracking under pressure /and/ reacting in many ways to our own societal homophobia…and the way both “fans’ and haters have responded to him, his wife, and his situation.

His blog on the Bravo site mentions that this week opened with him finally getting to talk to the outside world (in the form of his wife April) after weeks. Given how sequestered the models have been, this would likely have been the first time Ben found out just how much of a pop-cultural phenomenon he and Ronnie have become, all the “will they or won’t they” speculation that has been taking place, and even the fact that the great article in EW last week closed with “the question” of should the audience be rooting for Ben and Ronnie to hook-up. I see on other boards that people have been bragging about going to his wife’s MySpace page and sending her messages doing everything from encouraging her to “let go,” “accept that her husband is gay,” or “leave him because he’s so disrespectful to you and your marriage.” I’m thinking she took part of the 20 minutes they had (his first outside contact in weeks) to bring him up to speed…

….and he proceeded to react like every other young, straight guy being called “gay” in history. Particularly young, straight, southern/small town, working class guys (who, despite Ben’s unusal fondness and acceptance of Ronnie—which may or may not have happened in Ben’s traditional, more judgemental surroundings—are not known for being all that enlightened). Ben, a guy who was more dork than stud in school and always known for having the same girlfriend anyway, suddenly found out that the world is speculating that he’s gay—not cosmopolitan and accepting straight, but repressed gay—and even communicating directly with his wife on the subject…and he reacted by upping the casual homophobia…probably without even realizing it…”see, America, I’m not gay!” Insecurity about people perceiving you as gay has led to many a straight guy (and many an actual repressed gay guy--me, once, I might add--afraid that others might know his secret) trying to act extra “macho” or “straight” for his friends/family (in this case, the cameras) to compensate. Ben was a textbook example of this. The fact that he had his first call home in weeks THIS week and it happened to be the week where his behavior changed is not a coinicidence, it’s practically predictable. Ultimately he’s still a southern boy with friends who are prison guards and a wife who is getting hassled by (some well meaning, but still) fans telling her he’s either gay or a bad husband (or both), who, as the pressure of the competition ramped up, is facing the reality that when he steps out of the house (likely after getting voted off, since only one person can win anyway) he’s going to face a country and a wife that have watched questions about his own sexuality play out on national television.

Which isn’t to say Ben didn’t get the a**hole edit either, this week. He certainly said what he said, but while we got confessionals of all those offended by what he said, we never say the confessional footage of Ben after Ronnie and Casey confronted him (I’m sure he felt like sh*t after his intial defensiveness) or footage of what was probably an awesome conversation between the two of them later that night in their bedroom where Ben, I’m sure, no doubt apologized again to his friend and Ronnie probably went further into where he was coming from. By the end of the show, Casey and Ronnie were clearly okay with Ben, but in the few snippets we saw, we didn’t really get to see why. Ben has been a decent enough guy who got both overly competitive and unintentionally (the types of things Ben was saying during the competition were about par for the course for Southern pick-up game or a prison-guard weekend football league—sad, but true. Even my friend from Georgia with a gay father calls stuff and people he doesn’t like “gay” and it drives me nuts, but he means nothing by it!, he's a huge straight ally and puts his money and time where his mouth is) offensive to someone he clearly cares deeply about. But we didn’t see any of Ben’s reaction or remorse (I guarantee you had Ben gotten in the confessional and jerkily said “I don’t care, Ronnie’s being overly sensitive,” it would have made it to air…but saying, “Man, I feel bad I hurt my friend’s feelings” doesn’t fit in with the storyline of the week which is “Ben is suddenly a jerk to Ronnie.”)

What Ben said was wrong and but consistent with how and where he grew up, but he has his gay best friend to set him straight, which Ronnie did do. Many of us have had to have that "conversation" with a straight close friend and gone on to have wonderful relationships after the initial teaching moment. If Ben goes this week it will be fair because the three on the chopping block are the three weakest models (relatively) and any are fair game, but I will be sad if this is the impression people are left with when it comes to Ben.

When I saw Jacky was out, I felt like a good competitioner had gone. Someone may have some opinions on her, so do I, but this is where any reality show sells, right? The first time I watched the show, it was more about art and profession, but now what captivated me is the incite of every models. Especially when either Ben or Ronnie was up for the vote in a series of weeks, I felt crazy. So it will be a most fabulous thing that I receive the GQ with the winner on cover some day from oversea because it is not only a professional beautiful supermodel on cover, but also a story full of topics refines from the show.

Ben really let me down this week:(  I couldn't believe the shit that was coming out of his mouth!!  I know they had a nice talk and all that, but you’re right; a little piece of the bromance is gone for good.  And here I was worried about it being over when Ben got voted off, I didn't think he'd just turn into an asshole.  And now that he's up for the vote; I have this horrible feeling that there are going to be major repercussions for him.  I still voted for him, but I don’t' know how many others did, considering I was kinda still mad at him when I voted anyway.  Well, we'll see what happens I guess-I just hope Ben hasn't lost his mind for good.  And on a good note- Ronnie looked fucking fabulous this week!!!  These past 3 weeks, every week I think more and more that he could actually win this thing!!  I really hope he does too-b/c the rest of them are kinda pricks.  Sorry so long-no one else I know watches the show so this is the only place I have to rant-because I'm pretty sure if my boyfriend hears me talk about Ben and Ronnie one more time, he may just bolt:)

 

I've been rooting for the ''bromance'' between Ben and Ronnie, so I'm very disappointed in Ben's ''trash talking'' of Ronnie and Casey. It's juvenile, and to me, not befitting of the winner of ''Supermodel.'' Even on his Model Diary, Ben barely touches on the topic; I hope he's truly contrite and has learned a lesson. At any rate, he might pay the ultimate price if he gets booted off.

I can't say enough about Ronnie. He's beautiful on the outside, and beautiful on the inside, with a big and forgiving heart. Thanks, Bravo, for showing Ronnie standing up for himself (and Casey) and explaining how the gay epithets took him ''to a dark place.'' Straight people need to realize this kind of ''trash talk'' HURTS; it has consequences when gay people are often just seen as jokes. Combine this with Ellen DeGeneres' moving statement about Lawrence King, the gay Latino kid who was killed after being tormented and teased. Whether or not Ronnie is named the top Supermodel, he's already a winner to me.

PErsonally I am not really holding this against Ben. It was offensive but I think it is because of where he grew up. He grew up with kids saying this all of the time, guys playing around and calling eachother girls and fags. In his mind that is acceptable and you see that if you go to certain areas in the world, it is just the culture there. Hell it even goes on in areas where homosexuality is acceptable to an agree in the area.

This was really a lesson and eye opener, in my opinion, for Ben and I somewhat admire him for apologizing and realizing what he did was wrong after ROnnie sat him down and explained it to him. Thats the thing, guys are taught from a young age to hide their emotions and 'take it like a man' and I have the feeling that is what Ben thinks every man should do. He doesn't realize what he said hurt anyone and that he was just doing it in the spirit of competition.

I just think we are judging him too harshly. Its not like he just said these things out of the blue, he said them when they were competeing and I think if you guys take a step back and consider where Ben grew up and where he works you will realize he didn't mean any of it.

I also have to say I have great respect for Ronnie for how he handled it. Most gay men I think would just hate on Ben and not talk to him again but onnie really raised above that and really explained to Ben why what he did was wrong and I admire him for it. That is how I like to be in life so I just rexpect the hell out of him for reacting to the situation the way he did. I think he realised what I did about Ben and thats why he so easily forgave him.

Still, I don't think that ben is gay. The whole time it was a one sided crush on ROnnie's side and Ben has just been a true friend to him on the show. Its us gay guys that want them to go farther with their relationship but I doubt it will. If it does it will surprise me.

All in all I want Frankie gone. He does that same damn smile every time he has to smile for a photo that is just so ugly. If he leaves this week I will be happy with the final six. Sadly if Frankie leaves I have a feeling Bena nd Casey ar enot far behind. The final four will definitely be Ronnie, Perry, Shannon and Holly.

Unfortunately, Ben's ''trash talk'' and anti-gay epithets are so common. Ronnie addresses the topic on his Model Diary at Bravotv.com, and Ben acknowledges the ''misunderstandings'' in 2 sentences in his Model Diary. But none of the others, who were witnesses, have anything to say about it on their Model Diaries, including Casey.

By contrast, check out Tyson's blog at Bravotv.com. He devotes 3 paragraphs to anti-gay insults and says he has ''no tolerance for that. That's almost like calling a black a n*gger. ... I so wanted to run up in his ass about it because it's not cool.'' Tyson also says he has cousins who are gay and has had to stand up for them and ''literally knock dudes out.'' Good for Tyson!

By the way, Tyson also blogs: ''Holly may have won, but Ronnie blew us away.'' 

 

By now everyone should realize that the voting is a popularity contest. I would say the majority of us are not fashion or model experts. Holly won because she was the best. You don't have to be an expert to see that Holly is stunning and already looks like a pro. Ronnie fit the clothes well, had a great photo shoot and a confident runway walk. Gay or not he makes an impression. Perry seemed a lot less arrogant and a lot more professional. At the photo shoot he was actually listening instead of assuming he already had it won. He was good but just not better then Ronnie. His runway walk was okay but I think he needs a little of that arrogance back. What can you say about Shannon. She may not be as good as Holly but she is definitely a pro. I can't imagine working like she did when she was half-dead. Casey was talking a week or so ago about love and how he doesn't need it etc and then the meditation stuff and finally the Ronnnie/Ben talk where he sat there with no emotion one way or the othe other. I think this lack of emotion is coming across in his assignments. His runway walk was terrible. When he got on the spinning wheel of fortune the camera focused on his feet. He was awkward and looked like he was going to fall and he only did 2 of the 3 required poses. He does get props for taking the hits from the judges and not trying to blame anyone but himself. Frankie was a mess. His photos were bad and he couldn't take direction to keep his mouth closed when he smiled. His runway I don't know about. He looked okay to me but he wasn't as good as the others. He lost a lot of points by blaming the photographer for not giving him direction. Total lie. Finally Ben. I don't think he is a very good model. The judges are right he really only has two expressions and neither of them are great. Runway walk, again I don't know he looked okay to me. As for his childish schoolyard behavior I think Ronnie was right it brought back bad memories for me too. First of all it was a lousy setup for a contest. Both tasks were based on strength so of course the guys won. On top of everything else Shannon was sick. But there is no excuse for the way Ben acted. Wherever he is from etc. he was a very poor sport to say the least. When he bulldozed through the stupid snow "phallic symbol" I was embarrased for him. When Ronnie called him on it I think Ronnie proved who the real man was. Ben did not look contrite to me. He was saying he was sorry but acting like he couldn't understand what he did was wrong. Editing or not he said what he said and did what he did. Since the voting is a popularity contest I think Ben just got himself voted off the show.

Did you read the idiotic comments from people on Tyson's blog. They really slam into him about his prejudice against Ben from the start of the show because he is from the south. A couple defend Ben because he was reacting like any straight guy would when some gay guy is hitting on him. There is so much crap defending Ben and against Tyson and Ronnie it is incredible.

You can understand Ben's comments and hold him accountable at the same time.  From the start of American history women were not allowed to vote because they were considered inferior to men.  Eventually some women said this isn't right and society and individuals are responsible whether they have an active role in keeping women from voting or were passively going along.  If we went along with BreckRoy and Angelmonster's views there would be no rationale for the gay rights movement because society has been anti-gay for thousands of years.  Humans are learning animals, we learn from elders during childhood and people we respect during adulthood.  So Ben comments were learned.  We understand that.  Now hold him accountable for perpetuating those comments.

I am glad Ronnie had the intelligence to hold Ben accountable for his comments.

While I appreciate Tyson's strong stand against overt homophobia in his blog and (as a Ben defender myself--see above) think some of the comments in response on the blog are assinine, I have no love for Tyson in this matter. Tyson has been, along with Corey, at the forefront of needling Ronnie and Ben about their bromance. He has called them out on it on the Runway and embarassed Ronnie and Ben multiple times with his subtle digs and jokes, not to mention his reactions to the Casey/Perry photos...all subtle forms of homophobia, too. Remember Corey's infamous "Prison Buddies" comment was in response to Tyson, in mock horror baiting Ben with "What will your wife say?" after forcing Ronnie to admit to crushing on Ben during catwalk evaluations (?!?...). He's lapped up the lesbian stuff like a horny teen, shook his head in humorous disapproval over Perry and Casey's photos, and made both sheep and "sucking the energy" comments that thankfully were not joined on to by the other panelists. If the homophobia stuff bothered him SO much, why didn't he mention it on the catwalk on TV...that's where he felt it important enough to have made fun of Ronnie and Ben and attacked Perry and Jacki for attitude...but it only arises in overblown indignation in his blog. I say "overblown" because he blasts Ben for saying things that are "just like calling someone a n-gg-r"...say WHAT? Ben was wrong and immature and neeeded a sensitivity lesson (which he lovingly got from his gay best friend who is the ONLY one here not playing a angle or assigning more importance to this than it may deserve), but he didn't melt down and start calling Ronnie and Casey "f-gg-t." (I guarantee you Ronnie would not have bounced back from that...nor would I have written a ost defending him)... he acted like a redneck 22 year-old throwing a tantrum, not a racist spewing verbal hate towards black people...or even the harrassers Tyson claims to have had to fight to defend his gay family. I admire the sentiment but it only reinforces my feeling that "Ben as homophobe" is the Bravo sanctioned storyline for this week and Tyson's blog is just one element of the storyline and the intention to get America to go "Katy" (man, did the producers, editors, and Tyson/Corey--surprise--work week after week to get America to hate her) on Ben's ass. [Let's not forget that Tyson and the producers never thought America's choices Ben and Katy belonged there and since Katy's gone and the bromance has goosed ratings all it's going to, they are more tha happy to hang Ben on this rope he, admittedly, gave to them. But please, a little perspective please. Ben is not like a racist or a raing homophobe. He was misguided and wrong and still young and sensitive enough to change. For Tyson to paint him like that seems manipulative and perhaps opportunistic...look at all the praise Tyson is getting for his blog...]

Gimme a break. Ben has no one to blame but himself for making his stupid anti-gay  comments. Those words came out of his mouth. And if you make homophobic comments, yes, I consider you a homophobe. Ben is young and immature, but I've yet to see any sign of real contrition. Did we even hear the words ''I'm sorry'' or ''I apologize'' out of Ben's mouth or see them on his Model Diary? His excuse: ''Being the competitive person I am, I talked trash without knowing it offended Ronnie and Casey.'' I hope Ben has learned his lesson that being ''competitive'' is NOT an excuse for hate speech. He's gotten a ton of comments on his Model Diary, many from folks still willing to vote for him, but also many from folks who WON'T. If Ben goes home, I'll bet that this ugly incident, rather than his catwalk, is what sends him packing.