What's your opinion?

[Greathands]

OK, I admit it, I like Rosie O'Donnell and record "The View" each day to listen to their "hot topics" segments. But I'm curious what your thoughts are on the latest episode.

 

For those of you unaware of what happened, here's a synopsis followed by my thoughts.

 

Last Friday, Clay Aiken filled in for Regis and was co-hosting with Kelly Ripa. Clay was unable to get a question in, so he put his hand over Kelly's mouth. Kelly wasn't happy and responded that she "didn't know where his hand had been" and then on Monday said that she felt that he had disrespected her.

 

<< My opinion: Clay was trying to be funny, knowing that Kelly has a history of being a bit of a prankster. Perhaps he wound up doing something he shouldn't have done. Haven't we all at some point? >>

 

Yesterday, Rosie weighed in by saying she felt that Kelly's remark about "not knowing where his hand had been" was a homophobic remark. Within a few minutes, Kelly called into "The View" and basically scolded Rosie for her comment, saying that her concern was about Clay's shaking hands with the audience in the middle of cold season, etc. and that it was definately not a comment on Clay's sexuality. Rosie was certainly not happy about being scolded by someone on live TV.

 

<< My opinion ... hmmm ... first of all, I think that Kelly did have a right to respond to an accusation about making a homophobic comment, however I'm not so sure it should have been done live. I'm sure Rosie is not too happy with the producer who let that happen.>>

 

But here's my basic thought and question for you all. Was Kelly Ripa's comment homophobic?

 

<< My opinion: absolutely not. Even if Kelly's comment WASN'T about colds, etc., and was a joking reference about masturbation, since when is masturbation a "gay" thing? I've heard that comment a thousand times and I've never perceived it to be a comment about GAY men. Like the old saying goes, "99% of the male population masturbate, and the other 1% are liars". In my opinion, the REAL homophobic comment came from Rosie when she accused Kelly's comment to be homophobic.>>

 

Your thoughts?

[Guest PWIT]

"Was Kelly Ripa's comment homophobic?"

 

No way.

 

Here is a different angle for thought...maybe Rosie's comments are suspect....maybe she thinks gay men's hands have all been in disgusting places. Lesbians and gays don't always have the best of relations...right? LOL..just putting this out there to show many things can be taken different ways.

 

Maybe before Rosie calls someone out on TV she should pick up the damn phone and give them a buzz to discuss.

[Greathands]

I guess what really disappointed me in the whole thing was that Rosie seemed to speak on behalf of all gay people when she said that "as a gay person, she understood Kelly's comment to be homophobic". Ugh. Though I love Rosie, she's not my spokesperson.

 

That's ONE (of the many) things I hated about Rick Santorum, our soon to be ex-Senator from Pennsylvania. I hated how he spoke on behalf of Christians, as if we all believed his crap.

[JT Brooklyn]

IMHO.."Where Has that Hand been" is a statement that has been used by many for a long time! Both Gay & Straight... Lighten Up Big Rosie!

 

Aiken is as GAY AS XMAS, as we all know, But I doubt that was Ripka's Reference anyway.

 

As usual Rosie saying "Being a Gay Person" is really getting to be Boring! We all know already! Get your Close friend TOM to "fess up" already! LOL :P

[TinyBubbles]

I dont think Rosie was speaking on behalf of all gay people. She said clearly that she, as a gay woman, found it to be homophobic. She didnt say "ALL" gay people, she said "SHE". I also dont buy Kellie's explination either. She said to Clay that she didnt know where his hands have been but then on The View tells everyone exactly where his hands had been .."He was shaking hands with all the audience members"....Why didnt she just say Dont put your hand ove my mouth after you've been shaking everyones hand. Also the look that she had on here face when she said it to Clay was really snide, not really the look for somoene who is concerned about cold and flew season.

[+ deej]

"You don't know where that's been" is a phrase parents have used with their kids for YEARS. Odds are good Rosie has used it with her own kids. To me it looked like Rippa was sending Clay to his room, metaphorically. She treats Regis the same way.

 

I think Rosie was out of line, and I give Rippa props for calling her on it. Immediately. Swat it while it's in the air. I love O'Donnell but she was wrong.

 

Face it, folks, if Rippa were homophobic there's no way in hell Aiken would have been filling in for Regis in the first place.

[RockHard]

Aiken broke the golden rule of stardom: NEVER touch the face of an actress on-camera, unless the director calls for it and it has the approval of the actress. I'll bet Kelly's make-up artist was more furious than Kelly and a make-up artist's wrath is like no other. This is what you get when you hire an amateur to co-host a veteran show.

 

You're not going to hear much about this golden rule because it screams too loudly of vanity. But in show business, vanity is usually tied to the bottom line. Second is ego. The germ issue is also relevant but you never want to say publicly that your audience is full of germs (unless you're Bette Midler).

 

I'm sure there was nothing suspicious behind Ripa's quip. She's talented enough to pull something clever from thin air to diffuse a VERY awkward and unprofessional move like Aiken's.

 

Rosie is a ratings who-ore so she'll say anything to get her pussy-chatter show in the press. Ripa was smart to counter publicly because Rosie has the power to do much damage with her fat pussy flaps. Rosie enjoys pissing people off and she's good at it.

 

In this instance, Rosie and Clay are looking pretty stupid.

[Guest msclonly]

Is this what you call 'trigger happy'?

 

Shoot (your mouth off) before you think!

 

So many people are out to make everything possible a rotten boring debate or slight! Some people are pushing their agenda SO HARD, that they think everything relates to their negative feelings projected all over the place.

 

I am really tired of listening to people claim they were insulted, which only exits in their minds, and demanding an apology! You hear it every day, somewhere in the news. Then people are NOT gracious enough to accept the apology to continue their ranting.

Is this a sign of a modern society, that can't be civil or get along?

 

 

}(

[RockHard]

I see Yahoo is headlining this story and, to be perfectly candid, stories like this feed TV/entertainment news agendas: get people to watch. This will be a blip in a short period of time.

 

I read Regis is trying to show compassion for Clay because Clay is somewhat of an innocent. Clay probably didn't know better, he probably thought he was being funny, and I'll bet he'll never make this mistake again. I hope he has the good sense to sincerely apologize to Ripa because a good man will take responsibility for his fuck-ups, regardless of intention. Expect the producer who authorized booking Clay to be quietly reassigned.

 

Unfortunately, our too-fat, lesbo sistainia has the biggest pie in her face and she doesn't do homos any good by playing false homophobe cards, especially when it concerns a popular daytime blonde like Ripa. As Walters already knows, no one can control Rosie (or any lesbian) and you often get what you ask for. Rosie should aplogize to Ripa, too, but that (also huge) ego may prevent her from doing the "good man" thing.

[+ purplekow]

As far as I know, Clay is still in the closet, so Kelly's remarks should be taken as a joke and Rosie is now responsible for the conversation regarding Clay's sexuality. Clay was kidding. Ripa may not have been but she certainly can claim she was. Rosie was just plain stupid. She knows Clay is not out. She also has worked with Ripa before and could have called first to get a comment even if both shows were live, there was an hour in between. Rosie, try using the edit button in your head once and again.

[Luv2play]

As in everything, how you pitch the incident will influence how people react. I have read the views below and they are all against Rosie. But you didn't quote everything she said, just the first part. She said she considered the remarks homophobic and she ADDED, "if he had been a good-looking, hetersexual man, would Kelly have reacted the same way"? And I thought, yeah, if that had been Brad Pitt, would Kelly have said that about HIS hand. I bet not. As far as i'm concerned Rosie was right on the money.

 

And next time, if you are going to set up a debate, at least be fair and portray what both sides said completely and honestly, not just one side.

[Luv2play]

that should read "heterosexual", I'm just so out of touch with them...:o

[RockHard]

RE: Brad Pitt? Are you kidding me?

 

Comparing Clay Aiken to Brad Pitt is silly. Brad is a veteran actor with many signed contracts behind him and he knows entertainment union rules. You'd be hard-pressed to find any professional actor, straight or gay, who would have done what Clay did.

 

On the other hand, imagine being in Ripa's position and not having the power to dictate who co-hosts with her. An actor can't like everybody he/she's contracted to work with. I can easily see Ripa saying the same thing to a vain, egotistical straight actor, who pinched her ass before they went on the set to host the show, and pulled the same unprofessional stunt as Aiken.

[Luv2play]

RE: Brad Pitt? Are you kidding me?

 

When I wrote that post I was going to say "Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise" but then thought better of including Tom's name as we can see how "professional" actors can sometimes act on these talk shows. I wasn't comparing Clay Atkin to Brad Pitt. As Rosie said, what would Kelly have said if a good looking het guy had touched her mouth. I just supplied the name of Brad as someone who straight girls consider "good looking". I sure as hell don't.

[RockHard]

RE: Forgiven

 

"A good looking hot guy" is a much better way to say good-looking hot guy. Using any veteran, superstar actor in a comparative with Clay Aiken will never be fair. Which is why I said what I did in my last post. Just because some guy is known for being "hot," doesn't guarantee that Kelly Ripa will think so or will have chemistry with him and like him. Let's also not forget (as hard as I try), there are plenty of girls and a few gay men who think Clay Aiken qualifies as "a good looking het guy." :-)

 

Also, jumping up and down on a couch is not the same as placing your hand on a female anchor's made-up face. Had Tom Cruise touched Orpah's mouth, a fury would have risen from hell. Their are union rules regarding what/who you can touch on a network television stage and actor's faces are off limits, unless you're a union make-up artist with permission. Clay was out of his league on this one and Ripa has every right to be pissed.

[Luv2play]

RE: Forgiven

 

>"A good looking hot guy" is a much better way to say

>good-looking hot guy.

 

Whatever do you mean by this???

[+ Lucky]

Kelly does the same thing herself!

 

http://www.gawker.com/assets/resources/2006/11/kripa.jpg

[+ glutes]

Where has her hand been?

[RockHard]

RE: Repeating

 

>"A good looking hot guy" is a much better way to say

>good-looking hot guy.

 

Whatever do you mean by this???

 

Geez, could I be more clear? "Using any veteran, superstar actor in a comparative with Clay Aiken will never be fair." In other words, if you mean to say "a good-looking hot guy" then say it, and don't use Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt to paint an unfair picture.

 

I see someone dug up an old clip of Ripa putting her hand to cover Regis' mouth. Interesting. You could still argue that Regis and Ripa have an established relationship. Clay was still wrong and Rosie was just being Rosie.

 

Funny, it doesn't seem all that long ago when Rosie's producer was making the social rounds in certain gay men's NYC homes, telling the gay male guests, who were calling for Rosie to "come out," that Rosie, "doesn't wish to be a spokesperson for the gay community." My how things change.

[D.A.C.]

LMFAO,you guys REALLY watch this lame shit?

[RockHard]

RE: Lame shit?

 

"LMFAO,you guys REALLY watch this lame shit?"

Well, don't laugh too hard...at least, not at me. I've never seen Regis & Kelly from start to finish and I didn't catch today's show. I didn't bother with the YouTube clip, either, although I'm not opposed to sneaking a peek at some point. Like Chauncey Gardener, I like to watch.

 

I do agree that this is "lame shit" but Regis & Kelly is an important stop for many celebrities on promotion tours. I could talk about how many times I've been backstage at Regis & Kelly but certain members might interpret such rambling as bragging. So, for now, I'll refrain. :-)

[Guest zipperzone]

>Face it, folks, if Rippa were homophobic there's no way in

>hell Aiken would have been filling in for Regis in the first

>place.

 

She is probably NOT homophobic. But she is a CUNT. My take on the situation is thay she did not like sharing the spotlight with Clay as she considered him to be beneath her - not important enough to co-host with the Great Rippa. Does anyone get the drift that I can't stand her?

 

The voice - imagine waking up next to that for the rest of your life!

[Guest zipperzone]

>"if he had been a good-looking, hetersexual

>man, would Kelly have reacted the same way"? And I thought,

>yeah, if that had been Brad Pitt, would Kelly have said that

>about HIS hand. I bet not. As far as i'm concerned Rosie was

>right on the money.

 

Good point!

[Luv2play]

RE: Forgiven

 

How thick are you? I didn't compare Clay with Pitt. I have already explained that yet you continue to say I made that comparison. Go back and read CAREFULLY what I wrote. I used Pitt as an example of what many would consider "a good looking het guy". Rosie just made the point without naming an example of a goodlooking het guy and I can't blame her for that.

 

Now it turns out Kelly and Regis have both touched each other's faces on air. So what about this much-vaunted (by you) union rule against touching actors' faces. What a crock!

[Samai139]

I agree, I don't think Ripa was being homophobic, just "bent out of shape" that as the "star" or anchor-woman, or whatever, someone was trying to control her and keep her quiet. What was her motivation in saying what she did? Ego, pure and simple, which is what drives most of those you seen on tv, including Rosie O'Donnell. I used to watch The View, but don't anymore--it's not The View, it's Rosie O'Donnell and three other bitches.