Friday, February 19, 2010

'They Don't Leave Anything in the Closet Either, Do They?'

I guess a little cheeky humor about the flamboyant men's figure skaters at the Olympics is forbidden. People are just supposed to watch an not offer any comment.
A pair of Australian TV sports commentators are in hot water after making allegedly homophobic remarks about male ice skaters at the Winter Olympics.

Eddie McGuire and Mick Molloy's comments include describing routines as 'Brokeback Mountain' exercises and even joked about organisers being shocked at discovering one skater was not gay.

They then added the non-gay skater was unlikely to be controversial and flamboyant U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir - because he wore a black and pink outfit while holding a heart-shaped cushion.

The comments have sparked a massive backlash in Australia where the Channel Nine regulars have gained a reputation for their own brand of schoolboy humour.

Dozens have complained directly to the TV station while others have started a Facebook page called 'Eddie McGuire is ruining the 2010 Winter Olympics coverage.'

The men's figure skating in the Vancouver event has been particularly colourful with competitors bidding to outdo each other in the costume stakes.

As they watched a procession of skaters appear in ever more outrageous outfits, Molloy remarked: 'They don't leave anything in the locker room these blokes, do they?'

To which McGuire responded: 'They don't leave anything in the closet either, do they?'
Gee, they have dozens of complaints and this is news? Dozens of complaints represent a massive backlash?
The previous day Molloy had made a joke that organisers had been shocked to discover that one of the male skaters in the competition was not gay.

He later made a joke out of his apology by saying: 'I suggested that there was a disaster happening at the ice skating rink because organisers had found out one of the male ice dancers wasn't gay.
It's obvious to anyone with two eyes that Weir and others participating are gay and frankly, nobody cares. Those complaining should be proud these athletes represent the gay community with pride and don't feel ashamed of themselves or their appearance. Why all this sensitivity over some commentators being a little humorous?

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