Dannii Minogue Under Fire for Calling Out X-Factor Contestant's Sexuality
British media watchdog Ofcom has reportedly received nearly 4,000 complaints over an episode of X-Factor during which judge Dannii Minogue brought up contestant Danyl Johnson's sexuality.
In August, the UK Mirror reported that Johnson had told them he is a bisexual "free spirit" who dates women and men.
Minogue's X-Factor remarks came after Johnson's performance of "And I Am Telling You" in which he had changed lyrics in the song from "You’re the best man…” to “You’re the best girl…”. Remarked Minogue to boos from the audience and a shocked "what did you say?" from Simon Cowell: "If we're to believe everything we read in the paper maybe you didn't need to change the gender reference in it."
Cowell slammed Minogue: "You can forget playing any of those games with him. I'm not having that. This guy sang his heart out. Give him some credit."
Since the episode, there have been calls for Minogue to be dumped from the show. Johnson and Cowell have come to Minogue's defense, and the judge has apologized.
Watch the segment, AFTER THE JUMP...
Ooh, you know Kylie let her HAVE it.
Posted by: JeffRob | Oct 15, 2009 11:12:15 AM
It was clumsy, but she was really just behaving as if we live in a less hypocritical world -- contestants' private lives are asked about (and exploited for ratings) all the time on these shows.
Absent the specter of viewer homophobia, there's no more reason that someone's orientation should be more of a taboo subject than their parents or their marriage or whatever is giving them a "human interest" angle.
Posted by: Distingué Traces | Oct 15, 2009 11:19:15 AM
In no way did she say anything offensive. And she had a point. Everyone knows he's gay, and he's not hiding it (except by his use of "bisexual" as a euphemism) so it comes off a little awkward when he plays the pronoun game.
On the other hand, what she said was awkward and unnecessary. She didn't slur him, she embarrassed herself.
Posted by: Akbar | Oct 15, 2009 11:20:36 AM
Imagine if Minogue had said ANYTHING similar about a contestant who was black, asian, latino, jewish, etc. As a proud, avowed homosexual I do not hate myself enough to accept this.
I don't care how many times she apologizes what she did is beyond excuseable. She's gotta go in order for society to start getting it.
I am sick to death of self-reflexive, privileged heterosexuals indulging THEIR SPECIAL RIGHTS. Casually mocking The Gays. Flaunting their "SPECIAL" marriage, employment, family, tax and housing protections.
Let's face it: the careless indulgence of ILLEGITIMATE PRIVILEGE and UNINTERROGATED BIGOTRY are "SPECIAL RIGHTS" of straight people.
Fire her. Now.
Posted by: Mark | Oct 15, 2009 11:22:25 AM
The Lesser Minogue has spoken.
Posted by: Kugel | Oct 15, 2009 11:22:35 AM
Who did he think he was fooling by changing the pronoun? Hullo, he's singing "And I Am Telling You."
Posted by: crispy | Oct 15, 2009 11:25:54 AM
"Hello Dannii, your sister Kylie here. Don't alienate my biggest fan base. Ok?"
Posted by: Hotter Perry | Oct 15, 2009 11:34:53 AM
I read in another article that Dannii and the contestant were joking about this very thing BEFORE he performed. Honestly, I really don't see the problem with it. ::shrugs::
Posted by: Rhea | Oct 15, 2009 11:35:20 AM
@ Mark | Oct 15, 2009 11:22:25 AM
You are being sarcastic, right?
Posted by: Joey | Oct 15, 2009 11:36:00 AM
@ Joey | Oct 15, 2009 11:36:00 AM
Yes. Even if he doesn't realize it.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 15, 2009 11:40:04 AM
he shouldn't have changed the lyrics. she made that point, ineloquently .
Posted by: b mac | Oct 15, 2009 11:43:00 AM
"Imagine if Minogue had said ANYTHING similar about a contestant who was black, asian, latino, jewish, etc. As a proud, avowed homosexual I do not hate myself enough to accept this."
Soooo you mean if a Jewish guy sang a song about Christmas, she couldn't bring up the fact that he was Jewish? And all the Jews who don't hate themselves would be horrified she made a big deal out of Judaism?
What planet are you on?
Posted by: Billy | Oct 15, 2009 11:44:06 AM
Hey, she called him out on a classic closet move of changing the pronouns. Now, I think she was stupid because that's not what this show is about. But it's hardly offensive.
Posted by: Glenn | Oct 15, 2009 11:49:23 AM
I'm sure Dannii Minogue of all people did not mean this in any harmful way. Mark, save your drama queen antics for the runway, sweetie.
Posted by: Gregoire | Oct 15, 2009 11:56:41 AM
Hey, the guy came out himself in the papers. Why did he change the gender? I'm with Dannii. Besides, that is the world's gayest song.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 15, 2009 12:01:13 PM
He didn't need to change the pronouns. He is clearly insecure with his sexuality.
Posted by: Bill | Oct 15, 2009 12:01:35 PM
I don't think she said anything all that terrible.
Posted by: Jeff in NC | Oct 15, 2009 12:07:14 PM
@ Billy
"Soooo you mean if a Jewish guy sang a song about Christmas, she couldn't bring up the fact that he was Jewish?"
Sure she could. There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between mentioning something and MOCKING someone for that very same thing. Mocking them to the point where Simon Cowell has to step in?!
How do you NOT get that distinction?! Dumbass.
What fucking planet are YOU on?!
Posted by: Mark | Oct 15, 2009 12:09:05 PM
"Imagine if Minogue had said ANYTHING similar about a contestant who was black, asian, latino, jewish, etc. As a proud, avowed homosexual I do not hate myself enough to accept this."
I know, I get soooooo tired of hearing black contestants sing James Brown's "Say It Loud" when they change the lyrics to "I'm off-white and I'm proud."
Posted by: crispy | Oct 15, 2009 12:09:27 PM
I'm not sure what was so offensive about calling someone out for changing the lyrics to a song they're performing in order to appease the audience's homophobia.
In fact, I think Dannii's completely right about the hypocrisy of supposedly "coming out" in a magazine and then behaving in a different manner on stage in order curry favor with reality show voters.
Posted by: John | Oct 15, 2009 12:11:01 PM
And this is why she's *Dannii* Minogue.
Seriously though my in-laws/a good number of friends are in the UK and the SECOND it aired my facebook newsfeed blew up... being in CA and eight hours behind I had no idea what was happening until I googled it, but this is a big deal in the UK right now... they all simply adore him.
And rightfully so... although I much preferred his "With a Little Help From My Friends" audition song. ;)
Posted by: James | Oct 15, 2009 12:12:55 PM
Sorry to jump in but I meant to say this in my first comment...
MARK, YOU are a dumbass!
Posted by: Joey | Oct 15, 2009 12:12:57 PM
It's offensive for a straight woman on national television to out a Gay man who has not made the decision to do so (so widely) for himself.
Again an example of straight privilege. FAILING to understand how important it is to a Gay man to come out ON HIS OWN TERMS when he is ready. REGARDLESS of what the media says and REGARDLESS of what he may feel comfortable sharing with friends, Johnson had not said anything publicly in an official capacity. If and when he does so is up to him NOT Danii Minogue.
Posted by: Mark | Oct 15, 2009 12:19:33 PM
To support my argument...
Danyl already came out to the press even before the live shows started. Dannii's comment was completely valid. It was an odd enough song choice, and the pronoun shift made it even weirder.
So again, Mark YOU are a dumbass.
Dannii has a huge gay following and as Simon Cowell said, would be the last person to say anything homophobic.
Posted by: Joey | Oct 15, 2009 12:25:34 PM
So, a judge in an arts competition can't comment about a competitor changing the tone and meaning of his performance for political reasons?
Talk about demanding "special" rights.
Posted by: John | Oct 15, 2009 12:29:13 PM