02/07/2007
Top Design's John Gray to Make Announcement Rare for TV
[[SPOILER ALERT]]
Last week's premiere of Top Design also featured its first feud, as two contestants forced to work as a team struggled with conflicting personalities. Contestant John Gray, the louder of the two, had a series of emotional outbursts that he reveals on tonight's show were the product of medication he's taking because he's HIV-positive (imho a few of the outbursts toward his annoying partner were entirely justified on their own).
Says Gray to the rest of the cast: "I just want everyone to know I'm HIV-positive. I'm not making excuses or apologies." The paper notes that soon after his explanation, attitudes from the other contestants change considerably.
As USA Today notes, it's "a rare moment for reality TV" to have a cast member disclose that he is HIV-positive. They compare Gray's admission to that of Pedro Zamora from '94's The Real World when attitudes toward AIDS were tainted by fear and ignorance. Still are today, in some parts.
According to the paper, "Gray says his anger was fueled by testosterone taken to counteract lower levels induced by HIV. His dosage was boosted 400% just before the show started because he wasn't sure how long he'd be away from home. 'After the first episode, I asked myself why I was so angry, and it was a light-bulb moment...I don't want to be the new face for HIV or be on the cover of Out. I felt the cast was entitled to an explanation for my behavior."
For those who haven't seen the show yet, I've provided links to a couple clips below. I must also disclose that they're one of this website's advertisers.
Clip One [top design]
Clip Two [top design]
'Top' designer tells housemates he has HIV [usa today]
Posted 9:55 AM EST by Andy Towle in Interior Design, John Gray, News, Television | Permalink
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I should have known he was + , you NEVER see an interior designer with any kind of muscles unless he's on drug therapies. Getting those testosterone surges is what these guys dream about.
Posted by: John | Feb 7, 2007 10:05:17 AM
I'd still hit it!
I'd double bag it, but I'd still hit it! Top only.
VOTE FOR ME FOR GAY MAN OF THE YEAR:
http://www.genremagazine.com/Genremen/vote.cfm?genreman_id=86
Posted by: VOTE FOR NEIL | Feb 7, 2007 10:31:37 AM
Gee John, STEREOTYPE MUCH?? I know several designers who are buff and are not on testosterone supplementation. As a clinician in HIV/AIDS, I can tell you that these surges you talk about are a bothersome side effect -- not something 'these guys' look forward to or relish. Where are you coming from on this?
Posted by: Todd | Feb 7, 2007 10:44:51 AM
I'm sorry Gray is ill, and wish him the best. But I'm sick, too. Sick of all the gays who have a rare and privileged public platform and yet are too selfish and irrresponsible to use it to help others. [Yes, it's his "right" blah blah blah.] Lance Bass would still be in his money-stuffed closet if he had not been forced out, after which he said he didn't want to be a poster boy or a "crazy gay activist." Getting the briefest of clues of how insulting that was to the decades of people who had sacrificed and suffered to make it possible for him to prance down all those red carpets without getting killed, he promised at the infamous Human Rights Champagne fund awards to work "every day" to show that he deserved the award. Well, since it was only for "Visibility," perhaps I shouldn't be too hard on him because he certainly is still visible. Hell, yes, I should. Photo ops were NEVER enough, Sugar Pop. Fucking Reichen isn't what we mean by "gay activism." He might as well still be doing it in the closet. Oh, I forgot, they broke up.
Comparing 40-year old Gray, who doesn't "want to be the new face for HIV or be on the cover of 'Out' to Pedro Zamora ends at the fact that they were both gay males [or "homosexual" as "USA Last Century" calls him], were infected with HIV, and on reality shows. Beyond that it would be an insult to Zamora's memory. He was traveling all across the country to educate people about AIDS when he was 19, BEFORE he was on "Real World," which he only did AS a way of reaching more people. Pre protease inhibitors, he got sick while taping the series but enlisted the roommates who had become friends to not only fill in for him at some of his HIV/AIDS speaking engagements but to lie to the producers about how sick he was, for fear they'd take him off the show. He died, at 22, one day after the final episode was broadcast, having shown millions, particularly the young, both a face of AIDS and of gay men [and continues to do it after his death in reruns of the show]. Unfortunately, the "Top Design" producer, formerly with MTV, typical of people in "show biz," has no idea of how misinformed [and fearful and hostile] millions still are, both gay youth of all races specifically, and people of color generally. But, hey, Gray is making the world a better place for shag rugs.
As for illness, "Vote for Neil," you are one sick motherfucker. If Charmin has a "Turd of the Year" contest, you have my vote.
Posted by: Leland | Feb 7, 2007 11:09:28 AM
I love my reality TV but from what I have seen in the pilot episode this show is the worst thing to hit the small screen in a long time. It is so boring and forced and Todd Oldham is possibly the worst host ever.
Posted by: brian | Feb 7, 2007 12:02:23 PM
I would agree with Leland on the comparing of him to Pedro Zamora. It's almost ridiculous and rather insulting to those who actually work or worked their asses off to bring awareness to the general population.
As far as the show itself goes.....it is so tired. The entire interior design concept has been done to death the past several years with all the "trading spaces" shows and the copycat shows that have followed. I only tuned into the show because I'm a big fan of Project Runway and Top Chef and I like the format of those shows. This show left me utterly bored and the host and judges have no personality whatsoever. Plus the whole "drama" focus on the Bravo contest shows is getting tired as well and really ruined the 2nd season of Top Chef when the focus of the show was the contrived drama and not the actual subject of the show...the food. I can't see this Design show being a hit.
Posted by: Patrick | Feb 7, 2007 12:09:57 PM
I HATE that show. Having only seen the first episode, I can't stand Todd Oldman who I use to love. So bad in this role.
As for this revelation, I thought something was up. Did you see his face/eyes in that first episode. He looked like a bulldog (or very rare roastbeef) with those eyes. Thought he was going to implode.
Finally, that 23 year old dweeb he was working with, I'd kick his ass so far back to Long Island (or where ever his hole is) that he'd be put into a coma. What a complete loser he is.
Posted by: Man | Feb 7, 2007 12:15:22 PM
I thought USA Today's comparison was very fair, because it's still very hard to admit one is HIV positive on national television, or else there would have many Pedro Zamora since 94. I admit I thought Pedro was a very special fella, I was watching his videos recently on youtube and I was astounded by his openess and spirit, but people are different.
John Gray may be resisting the publicity out of desire for normalcy (which can be commendable depending on how you look at it). I think we need to hear more about his story before judging him.
Posted by: Da | Feb 7, 2007 1:50:39 PM
Could also be that John Gray was concerned about turning off prospective clients. God knows, if you've ever been through a renovation the last thing you want is your designer to pass in the middle of that tricky first month.
Posted by: Burton Cooper | Feb 7, 2007 2:42:56 PM
DA wrote " ...it's still very hard to admit one is HIV positive on national television, or else there would have many Pedro Zamora since 94".
While I respect anyone who wishes to talk about their experience being HIV positive, nobody should feel they have to talk about their own personal heath issues when they are on National Television. One's heath issues are their own business. Pedro Zamora went beyond just announcing he was HIV postitive, he was an activist who devoted his adult life to educating people. While I think John Gray did nothing wrong at all and I don't think anyone is judging him at all, I just don't see any similarity to his coming out with this information and what Pedro Zamora did. I didn't need to know that John Gray was HIV positive because he didn't own me or anyone else an explanation as to why he was on medication which caused his anger.
Posted by: Bryce | Feb 7, 2007 3:35:12 PM
Im an interior designer, and im 6'5 and 240 lbs with plenty of muscles.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 7, 2007 4:22:05 PM
I'd say that "interior designers" and "real estate brokers" are the two professions I wouldn't date in the gay community. Just not sexy to me. One is a glorified house husband (in most cases) and the other is a prostitute trying to maintain some level of legit. career cred.
Posted by: Steven | Feb 7, 2007 5:04:11 PM
Don't confuse interior designers and interior decorators..They're 2 different things.
Posted by: Chris | Feb 7, 2007 5:51:05 PM
Chris-
Brilliant!
Mark
Posted by: Mark K. | Feb 7, 2007 10:05:31 PM
This article should have read "designer tells castmastes he is HIV+ and then is kicked off the show because he has absolutely no talent and his design was hideous."
I guess it doesnt have the same ring to it.
Posted by: Kit | Feb 8, 2007 1:09:27 AM