Leno Apologizes for "Dumb" Gay Remark to Phillippe
Ryan Phillippe and Jay Leno by Dave Bjerke/NBC
Following criticism from GLAAD, gay activists and others,
Jay Leno apologized Tuesday for questionable remarks he made to
Ryan Phillippe during a recent
Tonight Show interview.
During Phillippe's appearance, Leno brought up the actor's first role, which was as a gay teen on
One Life to Live, and then asked him to give his "gayest look." A visibly uncomfortable Phillippe declined the request, saying, "That is so something I don't want to do," and pretended to walk off the stage.
Leno has since come under fire for it, but acknowledged the inappropriateness and apologized. "In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong," he said in a statement. "I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize."
In response to Leno's mea culpa, playwright Jeff Whitty - one of the first people who called Leno out for his derogatory comments, this time, as well as in a previous incident - says on his website that he buys the host's apology. The question is, do you? (The full segment is available
here)
- Anna Dimond
