While promoting his new movie Sherlock Holmes, Robert Downey Jr. appeared on David Letterman and there's been a small controversy over his use of the word "homo".
Honestly, that's the first thing I thought of when I saw the trailer for Sherlock Holmes, but I'm not saying it on a national television… nor am I a straight man. He was joined by Paul Shaffer referring to gay men as "screamers". I hadn't heard that one before…
So what do you guys think, offensive or are we being too sensitive?
– Andy
Robert seems to have used it just as a matter-of-fact word, which I’m okay with. It’s much easier to get to the root of a thing instead of try to dance around it with politically correct language. Paul’s comment is baffling, because on the one hand he might be implying that all homosexuals are shrill and obnoxious, but on the other that’s the same word Steve Jobs used to say that a line of iMacs was very fast.
Maybe Paul thinks we all move really fast.
Robert reminds me of Nathan Lane, in the Birdcage. “One does want a hint of color…”
“Homos” is a far less offensive a term than “faggot,” “queer,” and the likes. I choose not to be offended by any of them. His further comments were almost a boarderline compliment, although typical of a terrified HETRO! I’d still do him, yellow socks and all.
As far as “screamers,” that is RICH coming from Paul. Hardly the butchest thing himself, Paul just comes off as obnoxious.
Get a grip. Do you have only one acceptable way to refer to people who like people of the same gender (basically homos)?
Paul’s idiocy aside, I think intention is everything. I do not get the feeling that RDJ was intending to be offensive, just funny (which I think he was).
More funny was Letterman’s reaction… You can almost see his thought bubble now: “Oh, dear lord, here goes another controversy with my name attached….”
Not offended at all … perhaps more acceptable would have been to simply say they were mo’s instead of homo’s … but seriously, everyone is in way too far of a rush to become offended these days.
I agree, I think he was trying to be straightforward as a straight man and I’m sure he would be surprised at any flack … or perhaps he should have used the entire word to be more precise.
But yes, David’s reaction is great … I found Paul’s comment to be funny as well … trying to fit in … and hell, I’ve known some screamers! Hell, I bet Paul’s a screamer himself! 🙂
With RDJ’s past I wouldn’t call him totally straight…In a lot of his interviews he gives off a I’ll try anything on the menu as long as it taste good vibe. In spite of him being married. I do like him as an actor and he seems like as nice guy as well. I didn’t think it was offensive at all.
Omg. Is “homo” now a derogatory word?
Omg. Is “homo” now a derogatory word?
The intent, not the word, is what we should base our remarks on… I don’t believe that he was using it in a offensive or derogatory way. For example, queer was originally meant to be a word describing something odd or unusual, it only became offensive when people turned it around to mean that gays were “odd or unusual”. As you can see, the word is often times not what’s offensive, it’s the meaning, intent or intonation that is used along with the word.
HOWEVER, I don’t believe that we should be shortening words such as homosexuality to homo simply for ease of use. “Homo” is a not a word in itself but is a prefix used on several words to mean “same”. This is the same as with “hetero”, which means “different”.
I think we all need to not make such a big deal of it. People should look at it this way, what happens when you use the “n” word!? People who are of colour get all pissed off. Why?! Because the “n” word usually carried a negative or disdainful intonation and the intent was to insult. Isn’t it simpler if we just don’t worry about the word and then it won’t matter?! I honestly don’t understand why a word can be such a political topic.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. Cheers!
I thought it was a funny exchange. Everyone is too sensitive these days. Stop being so Mary.
I love RDJ. He’s funny and he’s real. Sure, he could have been more “correct” and stretched the word out, but I don’t believe he had any negative intent. He looked absolutely adorable, he laughed, and then he added that he has some very butch gay friends. Let it go…
I love RDJ. He’s funny and he’s real. Sure, he could have been more “correct” and stretched the word out, but I don’t believe he had any negative intent. He looked absolutely adorable, he laughed, and then he added that he has some very butch gay friends. Let it go…
calling them screamers is just an amusing insight to his knowledge of the gayz.
With a recent history of truly offensive things, I think it is easy for “homos” to over react… hopefully as time goes on and people see us as less of an oddity we will be less eager to scream foul.
I thought it was hilarious. It was the perfect word to use in that instance. I quite doubt he is in any way homophobic. I use the word ‘homo’. Lots of homos say homo!
I thought it was hilarious. It was the perfect word to use in that instance. I quite doubt he is in any way homophobic. I use the word ‘homo’. Lots of homos say homo!