03/14/2005
American Idol favorite Mario Vasquez is out of the competition, of his own volition. So what's behind it all? Reality Blurred reports that dozens of postings in the forums of Idol's officially website questioning Vasquez's sexuality have been deleted. But is it a gay thing, a crime thing, or something entirely different?
Survivor winner Richard Hatch says he thought the taxes on the $1 million he won had been withheld by CBS. You mean he didn't bother to look at the amount on that check?
Posted 9:15 AM EST by Andy Towle in Film & TV | Permalink
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Once again, Andy goes off questioning the sexuality of someone who has never said he's gay and hasn't asked for such drama. This isn't someone in office denouncing gays. This is a guy trying to win a competition, yet Andy feels its time for him to pry into his personal life.
I'm embarrassed that other gays can just go off and publicly question something like this.
He is likely leaving the Idol competition because of the ridiculous contract he'd have to sign if he won the competition.
Posted by: jason | Mar 14, 2005 9:33:25 AM
Actually, I wouldn't have said anything about his sexuality if it hadn't been reported elsewhere, and that's pretty much a policy here.
If I had wanted to start digging crap up like that on my own, I would have done it weeks ago when the show started.
Posted by: andy | Mar 14, 2005 9:40:22 AM
1) And probably the pressure on him was great, since the pimping (aka rimjobs) he gets everytime he performs, are undeserved due to his very disapointing performances.
2) Richard Hatch never asked anyone about the tax? Really? And you have to be wary about what he says, this is the guy who is the gold standard for the deception, backstabbing and general loathesomeness that happens each season in Survivor.
Posted by: Glenn | Mar 14, 2005 10:38:36 AM
Jason, the reason Mario dropped out has nothing to do with the "ridiculous contract he'd have to sign if he won" since all contestants already had to sign their contracts weeks ago. Even dropping out now, Mario is tied to this contract and cannot venture on his owm.
Posted by: Steve | Mar 14, 2005 11:01:39 AM
1) LOLOL Hatch is actually using Steve Martin's tax advice on how to make a million dollars, and never pay taxes? I hope his trial is on Court TV.
2)who's Mario?
Posted by: greg.org | Mar 14, 2005 11:11:20 AM
Mr. Hatch ought to come up with something better than that. If you win a million dollars, and they give you a check for $550,000, you can assume they took taxes out.
Posted by: Jimmy Rou | Mar 14, 2005 12:17:55 PM
I dunno..the American Idol site seems relatively fair about people being able to pose the question..its a mystery (though on the AI site it was reported it was because he was about to become a daddy!) as to why anyone would leave a competition when they are doing so well....personally, if someone is gay, it doesn't seem very hard to prove it...people would be coming out of the woodwork, images would surface, it just seems like in this day in age, you can't really hide.
He's very sexy, thats all i know.
Posted by: randy | Mar 14, 2005 12:58:13 PM
As I opined in the thread below about the boys just wanna have fun in the sauna pictures of Rock Hudson, et al., the surprising fact, IMHO, is that, in this day and age, one can still very much hide. Only rags like "Star" and "The Enquirer" ever gossip about celebrities's sexuality and they do it so much to so many that I don't think anyone, even those smarter than its main trailer trash demographic, takes it seriously unless it involves someone they already dislike--like Hillary Clinton--or who is so outre he even makes my hair curl like Whacko Jacko. One of them, around the time Kevin Spacey was in his High Denial phase, dragging his assistant to the Oscars where cameras caught the totally perplexed look on her face when he referenced his affection for her, followed him into Griffith (?) Park where he was shown in several photos lounging rather suggestively with a pretty young male thing, but it all eventually evaporated like the morning fog. One could take solace in mainstream media's conspiracy of silence if one thought it truly represented a "it doesn't matter" attitude rather than "labelling gay is a level to which even we, parasites that we are, will not stoop." It's strange, sad, and when politicians and most celebrities still don't let themselves even be photographed smoking, I believe true.
Posted by: Tagg | Mar 14, 2005 2:26:00 PM
Steve: I disagree.
My understanding was that only finalists are locked into the contract with 19 Management and J Records. It would be prohibitive and economically unfeasible to sign every contestant on the show. My bet: another management company or offered Mario a deal. I'd take it, wouldn't you? I'd rather be assured of a deal today than wait 12 weeks for possibly something. Probably, it will "materialize" weeks down the road, and the story will be that Geffen or MCA took pity on him, yada yada. That's why he's all over the television smiling--all the way to the bank.
Also, the success of the 19 and J Records with their AI proteges has been lukewarm. Clay Faken--Aiken, sorry--stands out, and that was a marketing coup. Kelly, Ruben, Justin et al have seen limited success. Fantasia's CD just recently dropped, although she was on the show some time ago. These are insta-celebs; you have to grab them while they are hot.
It's unlikely that Mario's quitting has anything to do with his being gay. He knew going on that his life or lifestyle could be scrutinized. It's not like anyone cares; obviously, the show and the recording industry don't have a probelm with flames.
The gay angle is probably not an issue. Mario is a straight as Justin or Clay.
Rod
brotha2Brotha
Posted by: rod | Mar 14, 2005 6:28:23 PM
Mario Vasquez is a famewhore, plain and simple. He left the show because of personal reasons that he'd rather keep private. That's all fine and good.
But it loses credibility when you go on every tv and radio show you can find to publicly state that the reasons for his quitting will remain private. Asshat.
Posted by: Glenn | Mar 16, 2005 4:39:14 AM