Update: Vince Vaughn Wants "Gay" Joke to Stay in Film
Credit: Mike Flokis/WireImage
Vince Vaughn wants the "gay" joke he makes in his upcoming comedy, The Dilemma, to stay in the film.
PHOTOS: Stars who've been bullied
An outraged Anderson Cooper was among the first to complain about the scene, which features Vaughn, 40, stating, "Ladies and gentlemen, electric cars ... are gay." He says the phrase carries negative connotations -- and GLAAD, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, agreed and got the movie's studio, Universal, to replace the movie's trailer.
PHOTOS: 2010's biggest blockbusters
But in a statement to Deadline, Vaughn says: "Let me add my voice of support to the people outraged by the bullying and persecution of people for their differences, whatever those differences may be. Comedy and joking about our differences breaks tension and brings us together. Drawing dividing lines over what we can and cannot joke about does exactly that; it divides us. Most importantly, where does it stop."
PHOTOS: Unforgettable celebrity feuds
Universal has yet to announce if the line will make it into the film, which hits screens Jan. 14.
Responding to Vaughn's remarks, GLAAD has released the following statement: “When ‘gay’ is used as a pejorative, it frequently sends a message — particularly to youth and their bullies — that being gay is wrong and something to laugh at. We invite Vince Vaughn to work with us and help ensure that gay youth and those perceived to be gay aren’t put in harm’s way by such jokes.”
Tell Us What You Think
41Hey what is it ok for black people to put white people down on every show they are on, when they the whites that is are in a black movie they are made to look stupid and the heros are black what a bunch of crap I am sick of it, white people it is not right to be put down while the other races get offended for no reason at all cause white people cannot say anything without the naacp breathing down our necks Racism started with the blacks they are always crying racism and they get everything handed to them for free look at dopey oprey what has she done for anyone and why is she even a star beats me for sure.
@Denny, of course you can say what you want to say, that's the whole point! Stop whining about free speech, NO ONE IS TAKING IT AWAY. Vince can (and did) say what he wanted to say, and so did GLAAD, and eventually so will the bigshots behind the movie. And while there are a myriad of things worse than this line in the movie, don't pretend like it's not important. This is the ignorance I keep talking about... it does hurt people, period. You can pretend that it doesn't all you like, but it doesn't make it true. For the what, fourth time, either you (general you) are too ignorant to see that it's damaging in a damning way, or you're too big of a douc|-|e to care. Which one is it?
Damn he's put on some weight!
Amen Carlos!! I demand Nabisco stops using the word "cracker". LMAO!
So lets see.. if the word GAY is becoming twisted by clueless idiots.. then what's gonna happen next time a "line in a movie" has the word "cracker" .. or say "honkey" .. or any other such frightening words! ?? Huh?? Just think of the scores of words that will now be taboo because it "offends someone". What a load of crap this world has become!
@Rebecca Absolutely!!! Encore!!! "This country has become a big cluster-fu@k of babies. I agree with Vince 100%! What separates us is the fear that anything we say, any joke we make, will offend someone. Therefore, we are much more comfortable and only associate socially with "our own". How about this country does something new . . . OK, prepare yourselves now . . .my idea is kinda crazy here . . . HOW ABOUT WE START BLAMING THIS SELF-ABSORBED, LAZY, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND IN-DENIAL GENERATION OF PARENTS! "
@Dan.... if you don't like what others have to say...don't come back to read them. We are all entitled to say and think whatever we want...there are bigger issues in this world than a line from a movie.
How damning is it the only pro-Vince responses have already been heavily refuted in the comments, and yet, they keep coming...
Let me add that my heart breaks every time I hear of someone being bullied. Let's focus on the real problem, which is parents not monitoring their children nor teaching them moral values. And what about these schools turning their cheeks when they are too lazy to deal with real problems?
This country has become a big cluster-fu@k of babies. I agree with Vince 100%! What separates us is the fear that anything we say, any joke we make, will offend someone. Therefore, we are much more comfortable and only associate socially with "our own". How about this country does something new . . . OK, prepare yourselves now . . .my idea is kinda crazy here . . . HOW ABOUT WE START BLAMING THIS SELF-ABSORBED, LAZY, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND IN-DENIAL GENERATION OF PARENTS!
stupid out of touch ass.
If you look up the definition of "gay" you'll see the first thing that comes up is "having or showing a merry, lively mood" ..and sometimes when we act too happy we do seem idiotic. All in all .. why make such a big deal out of something like this. If you're gay and want to be seen as an equal why start so much crap to separate yourself? Be proud of who you are as a human being, if you're a good person people will love you for you and not the person you love.
...if ONE more person calls me WHITE I am going to start a support group and file a lawsuit! :P
Iam so sick of everyone being politically correct for fear of admonishment. Yes, it is a gay joke but give me a break. I can't believe that anyone would seriously become upset or confused by such a simple comment. Whatever happened to free speech? Before long, we will have censors monitoring our every word to be assured it does not offend any race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, sexist, bigotry. Everybody needs to chill out a little!!!!
"You are helpless and ignorant." Oh the irony. Kyiia, even if what you say is true, you cannot deny that Vince Vaughn sends a negative message to a world audience about the gay community. And what are you basing your assertion on that "gay" has been used to mean "idiotic" since before it was a "slam towards homosexuals?" Your gut? Looking at the etymology of "gay" at an dictionary*com you don't even find mention of the usage meaning "idiotic" let alone when it was first used. Can you cite something to the contrary? Or are you just spouting lies to support a baseless argument? Perhaps you are the one who should show some due diligence before "you shoot off at the mouth" and sound stupid.
Kylia, I believe that you have some gay friends who are OK with it, but I don't believe that the majority of gay people are fine with it at all--not only because in MY experience I have seen only strong distaste to its use, but because there is no way in hell GLAAD would be complaining if the majority of gay people don't take offense. Nor do I think it at all rational to pretend as if the word is used in any non-negative way. Language changes yo, it doesn't matter how it was used 150 years ago, or 50 years ago, or how Matt & Trey think the word 'f*g' is used now. And even if most people use it without any prejudice (there's a high chance most don't), what matters most isn't what causes people to use it, it's how it's perceived after the fact. AND IT HURTS. How complicated is that? As I've said too many times already, either you're too ignorant to see that, or not compassionate enough to care.
Oh Daniel. You are helpless and ignorant. The word "gay" has meant happy and later "idiotic, stupid, etc" since before it was used as a "slam" towards homosexuals. Learn the history of things before you shoot off at the mouth and sound "gay....stupid". I'm just saying...lol
Using the word "gay" to mean "stupid" reinforces the ostracization of the GLBTQ community and further stigmatizes it. When Vince Vaughn uses it in a movie, he sends a message to audiences--whether or not he intends to--that it is okay to make fun of and torment people for being or appearing to be gay. We all know that freedom of speech protects and allows Vince Vaughn to say it, but he should realize the consequences of his actions before he opens his mouth. In other words, what Vince Vaughn said is F'ED up, and people are killing themselves over this.
And for the record...the word gay has been around long before people who like to sleep with the same sex had the word used against them in derogatory form. Gay means "happy". Then it was used as a "slang" term to mean "that's stupid, dumb, idiotic" etc. The word in the film/trailer is meant as it originally was meant to mean (Stupid, dumb, idiotic etc). If Anderson was quick to jump on the defensive then maybe he is doing something he is feeling guilty about.
Dan, I'm not a homosexual. But I have many homosexual friends who all don't feel that was used in a derogatory manner. Only people taking offense to it are the people who are acting "gay" i.e. dumb, stupid, idiotic etc.