Is Demetri Martin Homophobic?

Question

(Asking again because my last answer got no replies.  Not a single one!  Hey, why don't people answer my questions?).

I've been going back and forth on this topic ever since I read this great article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/08/AR2008120803777.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2008112002048&s_pos=

Then reading the comments on this post yesterday, I got all conflicted again:

http://www.towleroad.com/2009/08/demetri-martin-conan-and-shaq-freak-out-about-gay-kiss-in-taking-woodstock.html

Part of me understands what they're saying- I hate the way the media shapes our understanding of straight men who play gay roles, overemphasizing the "OMG!" factor that says that playing a gay role- with physical intimacy onscreen especially- is supposed to somehow be the most insurmountable task facing a straight actor. I hate that questions (and even what the actors just naturally divulge) tend less towards talking deeply about their characters and portraying them, and more on "But how was it like for you to- gasp!- kiss a dude?". I get that.

But on the other hand, did Demetri really say anything so wrong? He expressed surprise about playing a role different than what he had envisioned. It was not, or at least he didn't make it seem, like a "Eww! I've got to kiss a guy!" moment, but rather one where you realize you're going to have to go into uncharted acting territory (for him, at least), something for which he has no reference in his personal life to drawn on, and which is simply unfamiliar to him. He talked about how weird it was to kiss a relative unknown man with his girlfriend right there.

I'm just not reading any homophobia here (Shaq, however, is a different story). So I'm curious- how do others feel? If a straight man expresses anything other than "I loved it!" when it comes to playing a gay role and being physically intimate with men, does that make him homophobic? Is there more nuance to it that I'm missing out on?

Thanks for your input!

AverageJoe · Accepted Answer

Hi Gwennie!

I'm sorry, I don't know how I missed your post before.
Well you know at certain times of the day you don't exactly get the......brightest bulbs in the bunch to answer rather thought-provoking questions.

That being said:
I do think his reaction was a bit homophobic. He had to have his girlfriend on set to spark the mood?!?
A true actor does what he is paid to do, that is what makes him an actor. What makes a good actor is one who believes in what they do to carry it through the screens to the audience and make them believe it's true.

Whether he carried that through or not I have no idea, but to...okay this is what he did. By saying he was uncomfortable with his role he was insulting the writer's vision, the casting agent who hired him and the director who had faith in him to carry out this role.
If he was uncomfortable and tells people he was uncomfortable that is what people are going to look for when watching the film. He just shot himself in the foot to other director's and casting agents who watched that footage. If he's uncomfortable it shows he's difficult to work with and he's a new nobody who ain't worth spending the big bucks on. A new nobody who should be playing it safe and keeping his opinions to himself just like better actors do.

That's my input.

UVa guy · Answer

It sounds like Demitri was cool with it once he adjusted to the situation.  But, as you said, Shaq was another story.

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Is Demetri Martin Homophobic?

2 Answers