08/17/2006
Justin Timberlake Has Gay on the Mind
Justin Timberlake seemed to be picking a bizarre fight with American Idol-winner Taylor Hicks in a recent interview with Vanity Fair.
"People think he looks so normal, and he’s so sweet and he’s so earnest, but he can’t carry a tune in a bucket. If [Hicks] has any skeletons whatsoever, if God forbid, he’s gay, and if all these people in Mississippi who voted for him are like [then he takes on a thick southern accent], 'Oh my god, I voted for a queer!' It’s just too much pressure."
God forbid!
I have the same confusion about that statement as the folks over at Defamer: "As for his comments regarding the career-damaging effects of any swishy skeletons that may be cowering in Hicks' closet, we're not sure who should be more offended: his newly liberated, ex-bandmate Lance Bass, or the entire populaton of Mississippi."
After Bass' recent coming out, Timberlake's publicist issued this statement: "Lance is one of my great friends. I support him and wish him all the happiness in the world."
Packaged Pop Star Justin Timberlake Criticizes 'American Idol' Winner For Not Keeping It Real [defamer]
Timberlake Not a Taylor Hicks Fan [msnbc]
Posted 10:30 AM EST by Andy Towle in Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Music | Permalink
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JT's incessant chest beating and alpha male complex shtick is getting tired. Between the constant reminders that he popped Britney's cherry to flashing Cameron Diaz around to the brow beating and excessive brooding--it's just a bit much. It's not like we're going to forget he was ever in a boy band and most of us don't care. He's a talented guy and should just rely on that.
...not that I'm a Taylor Hicks fan either. And you forget Andy that there were quite a few "he goes both ways" rumours going around about Justin for awhile, too. In fact, maybe this statement is to keep down a resurgence of the speculation that the NSYNC boys may have been a bit "restless" at times during those lengthy tours.
Posted by: Bobby Alexander | Aug 17, 2006 10:41:02 AM
oh come on, i think the "god forbid" thing was sarcasm. he led right into making fun of mississippians (now that's a word) of being homophobic.
Posted by: Nathan | Aug 17, 2006 10:47:31 AM
Who cares if Mr. Hicks is gay? He is still ugly and cannot sing. Give Timberlake a break. These guys get interviewed ALL the time. You cannot be 'PC' all the time. BTW-queer here, and not always 'pc'.
Posted by: Andrew | Aug 17, 2006 10:50:48 AM
Why is this an important story?
Posted by: David | Aug 17, 2006 10:54:41 AM
David it really isn't an 'important story'. However, you felt it important to click 3 times to leave your message. What other stories do you hate so much to spend so much time finding 'unimportant'.
Yes, I know-run-on sentence.
Posted by: Andrew | Aug 17, 2006 10:59:14 AM
Amen Andrew. Lighten up people, he was making fun of Mississippians for being homophobic...
Posted by: Cory | Aug 17, 2006 11:01:58 AM
Maybe I'm missing something here? I actually don't find JT's comments offensive in the least bit. Given his Mississippi upbringing, he knows more than most, the staunch southern perspective of his native land.
Posted by: midnight lounge | Aug 17, 2006 11:01:58 AM
Cory, thank you for your comment. May I add one thing-not all Southerners are homophobic. Trust me. I have seen 90 year old Charlston women accept their 18 year old fag grandson. Don't buy into the stearotype.
Posted by: Andrew | Aug 17, 2006 11:07:28 AM
with an 'e'
Posted by: Andrew | Aug 17, 2006 11:09:13 AM
I am in agreement with those who don't see any homophobia in his comments. I also agree with Bobby Alexander that his macho BS is tiresome. JT, you're not a badass. We all remember that Punk'd episode when you called your mommy when you thought your stuff was getting reposessed. Give it up.
Plus, Sexyback really blows.
Posted by: Marco | Aug 17, 2006 11:16:24 AM
I guess what I meant, Andrew, is that I don't understand the point of the comment. I guess context would help. Hey I love the pop culture as much as the next 'mo...don't get me wrong.
Posted by: David | Aug 17, 2006 11:22:23 AM
Andy's right on. I live in Texas, and there are plenty of non-bigots here.
Justin doesn't like Taylor, and that's his right. But his comments are not anti-gay.
That said, Justin needs to worry about his art, his career, his journey, and leave Taylor alone. As they said in Mean Girls, calling someone else fat doesn't make you skinnier.
Now, on to "more important" stories, like Paris' latest automobile accident.
Posted by: Anon1 | Aug 17, 2006 11:24:16 AM
JT just wasn't making any sense at all and neither was the interviewer. He seems more concerned about how anybody other than him can possibly be popular.
If he was a real man himself, he would have had Janet Jackson's back when he ripped her bustier off instead of making pussified comments and disappearing and leaving her to take all the heat. Luckily for him, he has the money to hire black writers and producers.
Posted by: bambambam | Aug 17, 2006 11:25:39 AM
As a Queer from Mississippi I think I am especially qualified to comment on this story. I believe that I have shown, in numerous past comments, that I am the first to call out a person on their homophobia and bigotry. I can honestly say that, in this case, I didn't find JT's comment to be, in any way, offensive to either my queerness or my Mississippianarianism (now THAT'S a mouthful!). I know an offensive comment when I hear one. I can also see/hear things within context and I can recognize humor when I see/hear it, even when it’s less than PC. A person can be unPC without necessarily being offensive.
Justin's comment, when put into the context of what happened to Clay Akin (who had tons of talent) after his gay "skeleton" was revealed, makes perfect sense. Some whacko fundamentalist Christian “Claymate” fans, who earlier thought Clay was God, actually burned his CD's and attempted to sue him for misrepresenting himself. How would they react to someone with questionable talent if the same “skeleton” was revealed about him.
Justin, as I, sees these nutcases as a manifestation of the ignorant rednecks that we were surrounded with growing up in Mississippi/Memphis. So he took on a Mississippi redneck persona and said, in THEIR words, just what they would say if they were to find out that "heaven forbid" their Alabama hero Hicks is a "queer".
He made fun of Hicks and hicks. It was funny and it was accurate.
Timberlake is not a homophobe. I happen to know this for a fact. Let's stop looking for the boogy man under every rock and let's stop looking for enemies among our allies.
Posted by: Zeke | Aug 17, 2006 11:43:20 AM
Kudos, Zeke. And I just loooooove
Mississippianarianism
Posted by: Anon1 | Aug 17, 2006 11:49:44 AM
Zeke: What, pray tell, comment did I make that requires any defense? I’m seeing my name all over the place and I’m so confused.
I think the only problem with the written word is the lack of inflection. It is possible, if not probable, that Mr. Timberlake made some hand-to-the-mouth mockingly in-shock vocalism when he said “God forbid.”
Oh, and Mississippianarianism needs to be in the dictionary right now!
Posted by: JT | Aug 17, 2006 12:01:52 PM
I was born and raised in Georgia and I find nothing offensive about JT's comments. He was making fun of a certain type of southerner, not all southerners in general. And he wasn't saying that it's not okay to be gay. He was saying that those certain southerners he was making fun of think that being gay is the worst thing in the world.
Posted by: peterparker | Aug 17, 2006 12:07:40 PM
JT, I KNEW that was coming! Face it bubba, you are one controversial homo! You're like me; you can find yourself at the center of a bruhaha even when you're minding your own damn business. ;)
Posted by: Zeke | Aug 17, 2006 12:33:23 PM
And if you think typin Mississippianarianism is hard, try SAYIN it with only two teeth and a lip full of Skoal while kissin your sister!
TRUST me, it ain't easy! :)
Posted by: Zeke | Aug 17, 2006 12:51:19 PM
JT is a hater... plain and simple.
Who cares what he thinks about Hicks, I surly think we can all agree he is not the master of talent in music...
But hate is hate - if its gay bashing or south bashing... I mean seriously respect is a virture that is not something our pop stars know or understand.
I am so tired of celebs thinking we give a shit of what they think... Oh gosh what does JT think of the state of music... PLEASE -
Everyone needs to make headlines now and then... wait doesn't he have an album coming out soon... are we all so blind not to realize what is really going on????
Posted by: Michael | Aug 17, 2006 1:01:34 PM
Michael what is going on is people trying to make money. The magazines that publish this shit, the record companies who give talentless people (which include anyone who has been on American Idol and Ashley Simpson) and Justin, who is selling his new disc.
Zeke as always you were on mark, save the coment about Akin having tons of talent, really?
Posted by: patrick nyc | Aug 17, 2006 1:41:05 PM
What I find funny is his comment about Hicks not being "real". As in getting his start from a TV show, rather than the old fashioned way? Wasn't N'Sync put together by some music mogul, as opposed to these guys paying their dues in clubs before getting a record deal?
Posted by: Lady Heather | Aug 17, 2006 2:06:10 PM
"Me thinkst he doth protest to much." What OVERCOMPENSATION. This dude is an outing waiting to happen.
Posted by: Will | Aug 17, 2006 2:29:40 PM
Well, one thing is for sure...he did NOT bring sexy back!
Posted by: Dave | Aug 17, 2006 3:14:27 PM
Maybe there should have been italics when he said "god forbid" because that's how I read it, and I'm pretty sure thats how he meant it, as in, GOD FORBID!!!! I don't think JT is asking God to forbid Taylor Hicks gayness, but rather hyperbolizing the seriousness with which Mississippi would handle the idea of it.
And it's nice to hear someone say Taylor Hicks sucks, because he does, and somehow America didn't want to believe it. Soul patrol!
Posted by: Mafu | Aug 17, 2006 3:40:08 PM