Vince Vaughn is Still Not Getting It
When I was on Anderson Cooper's show last week he mentioned seeing a trailer for the Ron Howard directed movie, "The Dilemma," that used the word "gay" in a derogatory manner. I hadn't seen the trailer but I said during the show that I hoped the people in the movie would take this opportunity to reflect on their actions.
A couple of days later I saw the video and it was a good thing that I hadn't seen it when Anderson brought it up. Because if he had asked me then, I just would have blurted out, "What in the world is wrong with Vince Vaughn, Queen Latifah and the director, Ron Howard?" The trailer isn't subtle. It transparently uses the word gay to mean something to avoid at all costs.
After Universal decided to pull the trailer, Vaughn was interviewed about the issue.
"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."
Fair enough. He believes bullying is bad. But then he reveals his thoughtlessness.
"Dividing lines over what we can and cannot joke about does exactly that; it divides us. Most importantly, where does it stop?"
Mr. Vaughn didn't use this opportunity as I had hoped—to reflect on his behavior and realize that he had made a mistake. So let me be clear. Would Vince Vaughn have ever said "black" instead of "gay" in that trailer? Of course not. Why? Because he knows that equating black people with being bad, stupid, and shameful is racist. But that is exactly how the word gay was repeatedly used in that trailer. And that is homophobic.
Let me be even more clear, Mr. Vaughn: I want you to imagine a group of 7th graders sitting in a movie theatre watching your trailer. In the group is a kid who constantly gets teased for being gay. Maybe, he is gay, maybe he's not. The kids listening to you are learning that everything about the word gay is funny and fair game to ridicule. The kids start to laugh and throw candy at the kid. His cheeks burn with embarrassment and all he wants to do is leave his seat now but he knows if he does, he'll get even more "You're so gay" comments.
Did you make those kids do those things? No. But you set up the situation. Let's use your words: "Comedy and joking about our differences breaks tension and brings us together." How exactly does this brand of comedy bring those kids together in this situation? All I can see is that it breaks them apart and gives some of those kids license from you to be cruel.
This issue is not that complicated. Humor that degrades and humiliates isn't funny. Using comedy as a cover to reinforce devaluing people is bullying. Why is this so hard to understand?
Watch Anderson Cooper and Ellen Degeneres discuss the movie trailer and bullying issues
