Spatwatch

Glee Creator: Boycott Newsweek!

Heather Horn May 12, 2010
It started with Ramin Setoodeh's piece in Newsweek arguing that gay actors are unconvincing in straight roles. Setoodeh called out a Glee star by name, and Kristin Chenoweth, also appearing on Glee and starring on Broadway opposite another gay actor criticized by Setoodeh, took to the comments section to berate him.

Now Glee creator Ryan Murphy has joined the fray, issuing an open letter urging people to boycott Newsweek until it apologizes for Setoodeh's article. Business Insider's Joe Pompeo is inclined to see this as a paradoxical win for the faltering weekly ("Finally, Newsweek is getting noticed for something other than being yet another money-losing publication on the block"). But the Glee creator is in earnest:
This article is as misguided as it is shocking and hurtful. It shocks me because Mr. Setoodeh is himself gay. But what is the most shocking of all is that Newsweek went ahead and published such a blatantly homophobic article in the first place...and has remained silent in the face of ongoing (and justified) criticism. Would the magazine have published an article where the author makes a thesis statement that minority actors should only be allowed and encouraged to play domestics? I think not.
Murphy calls for "an immediate boycott of Newsweek magazine until an apology is issued to Sean Hayes and other brave out actors who were cruelly singled out in this damaging, needlessly cruel, and mind-blowingly bigoted piece." He also thinks the magazine should apologize to all gay readers. He concludes by extending an invitation to Setoodeh to visit the Glee set to witness true "inclusiveness" and offers Setoodeh "a free copy of our Madonna CD, on which we cover 'Open Your Heart,' a song [he] should play in [his] house and car on repeat."

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at hhorn at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

Sources

Topics:
Related Articles   More by Heather Horn

Abba Caused 'Glee'; 'Glee' Ruins Everything

Are the Grammys Worth Complaining About Anymore?

Toy Story 3 Predicted the 2010 Elections

 

Vanessa Grigoriadis: What I Read

What the World Makes of Rick Perry

User Comments

Please type your comment and click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be prompted to log in or register

  • The Atlantic Wire on Twitter
  • The Atlantic Wire RSS Feed
  • The Atlantic Wire iPhone App