Ewan McGregor Doesn’t Think Homophobia Is Funny

[Behind the Aegis]

Great Scot Ewan McGregor was a guest on Good Morning America to talk about his upcoming releases — Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer and I Love You Phillip Morris.

While McGregor seems taxed by GMA’s George Stephanopoulos throughout, he takes particular offense at Stephanopoulos’s casually homophobic snickering over a photo of McGregor kissing costar Jim Carrey after their French knighting ceremony.


"What is that about?" the GMA correspondent and former political adviser asked incredulously.


The increasingly turned-off McGregor replied blankly, "Well, that's just two men kissing,” and then struggled to comprehend the blatant small-mindedness of the supposed television professional. “It's, uh, in this age, in 2010,” he stammered, before continuing, “it's extraordinary that it's still an object of humor."

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[seeinfweggos]

1. thank you ewan nt

[Onceuponalife]

2. Good for Ewan

It's interesting that he's making this movie with Jim Carrey, whose film Ace Ventura Pet Detective included a scene where Ace inadvertently kisses a man, then screws his face up in disgust and uses a plunger on his mouth to try to expunge all vestiges of the man from his mouth, I guess. Carrey later explained to the media that he wanted to come up with the most homophobic reaction he could think of. Looks like Carrey has come a long way, eh?

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Or maybe he hasn't come all that far and has always been here?

"Carrey later explained to the media that he wanted to come up with the most homophobic reaction he could think of."

I just watched this on TBS a few days back and saw that and rolled my eyes. However, it was a comedy. There is also the possibility he made it so "over the top" Jim Carrey-style as to mock those who are homophobic (i.e. "See how stupid you look!") I don't really know. I never saw his interviews about that scene nor heard any comments from him about homosexuality or homophobia.

[Onceuponalife]

7. You could very well be right.

At the time I took his comments to be offensive and careless. He seems like a decent guy so I'm betting you're right. I just don't see why that scene was necessary in an otherwise hilarious movie.

btw, I remember a TV movie he did way back when called "Doing Time On Maple Drive" or something like that in which he played the brother of a gay man who commits suicide and it was a pretty sensitive performance.

[DarkTirade]

8. I think making fun of homophobes by showing how ridiculous they are

is okay. :) I did a short-lived online comic where I did something similar with an over-the-top wannabe-macho character.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. It's just a theory. :)

He played an alcoholic in that movie. The brother didn't commit suicide, he attempted. I am pretty sure it was Carrey's character that pointed out it was because he was gay and didn't see what the problem was. I watched that movie over and over as it was one of the few gay movies out at the time which I could access. It was a really good movie. I remember the dad slowly coming to the realization he could have a dead "straight" son, or live gay one and that Alexander the Great was gay. LOL. Odd the the things that stick in our minds over time.

[soleft]

11. Just a clarification about the film Doing Time on Maple Drive

The brother attempts suicide but recovers (not a spoiler, it's at the beginning of the movie). It's actually a pretty uplifting film.

[GodlessBiker]

3. Thanks, Ewan!!!!

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Score. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

6. Love Ewan

George S. always struck me as permanently stuck at age 12.

[Morning Dew]

10. Insert gratuitous Stephanopoulos "Greek" joke here. n/m

[iwearshoesinky]

12. Homophobia is really disastrous to male friendships

In a lot of other cultures there's so much more freedom for men to show fraternal solidarity and affection that has no sexual aspect to it. It's a shame that in this country you can't give your buddy a hug in public because it can be perceived as gay. Wasn't there a hate crime a while back against a man who was thought to be gay when he was hugging his brother at the airport? It's a shame.