Carol Channing's publicist has responded to an interview with Carol Channing published over the weekend in the Gay People's Chronicle, saying that he and Channing were “misquoted” and that the writer was “clearly trying to bash an Icon and make a name for himself.”
In the interview, Channing reportedly said about her gay fans: “I don't think about them. I'm grateful that they seem to like me. They're terribly loyal to me. But I'm knee-deep in the Bible and you know what it says about that.”
Channing's publicist says that the writer left out a key word to make it look like the performer was anti-gay: “With reference to the Bible – she said about gay marriage ‘You know what the Bible says about it … Nothing.'”
Boll says the writer, Kaizaad Kotwal, was “quoting from a transcript which he doesnt have” and was asking questions “that were clearly traps.”
He insists that Channing's support and gratitude for her gay fans and friends is solid. Full press release after the jump.
***PRESS RELEASE from HARLAN BOLL, publicist for CAROL CHANNING***
“Is a sad statement on our community when they so quickly choose to believe bad things about people without checking the facts. Especially when they are about individuals to whom we have received nothing but support over the years. In this case the less than accurate interview done with Carol Channing comprised of a series of half quotes and twisted statements.
The reporter misquoted Tim Rowe and me and clearly misquoted Carol. Feel free to call me if you want 323-xxx-xxxx or call Tim Rowe the event director at 937-xxx-xxxx.
He says he is quoting from a transcript which he doesnt have. He was asking questions of Carol that were clearly traps. She initially thought she was doing an interview with The Springfield News. I hadnt told her I had switched the two and when the reporter started asking questions about her gay friends, she thought it was going to be one of those interviews where she would have to defend her friends, but when she realized it was a gay trade, her defenses were already up and confusion ensued.
When I spoke to the reporter afterwards he told me that Tim Rowe of the organization producing the Springfield event, had said that because of his interview, Carol wasn't going to do the event. When I immediately called Tim he said he never said anything of the sort and when Tim spoke to reporter, the reporter told him equally outlandish things that I never said. The comment about how she wasnt going to do any future interviews is crazy, because she did two more immediately following his. The guy was clearly trying to bash an Icon and make a name for himself. Sadly these people with ulterior motives exist and have since before Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper. I suppose this gentleman has a great future at the National Enquirer.
FYI – what she actually said when asked about gay marriage was that she wasnt necessarily pro gay marriage, because why would we want the government involved in our business and most of her gay friends were in agreement – this include myself. She thought civil unions and civil rights were more important, but “if this is what gay men really want then its their business and I dont care, they can take care of themselves.”
With reference to the Bible – she said about gay marriage “You know what the Bible says about it … Nothing.” The interviewer failed to add that last comment in the quote to the interview.
Her history of support speaks for its self. As a gay man myself, who has worked for her for years, she has supported my 7 year relationship from the beginning and of her other gay friends and colleagues agree. For example, longtime friend, Mr. Blackwell, says that she was one of the first to be there for he and his partner Spencer and continues to be for what will soon be their 58th anniversary.”
