So You Think You Can Dance 2009: Apology from Nigel Lythgoe
Filed Under: Celebrity | By: Tina Chubb
May 26, 2009 | Comments 5
We have recently seen the new season of “So You Think You Can Dance” kick off and it seems like judge Nigel Lythgoe got himself into hot water with GLAAD in the process. According to tvovermind.com, it was for supposedly promoting homophobia on the reality TV show.
GLAAD stands for Gay / Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and apparently they asked for an apology from Lythgoe when he supposedly made comments to a male dance team that consisted of a gay man and a straight man. Nigel did oblige and apologize.
Nigel was believed to have said “I think you probably alienate a lot of our audience. I mean, we’ve always had the guys dance together on the show, but I’ve, they’ve never really done it in each other’s arms before.” The GLAAD president said this was unacceptable.
The “So You Think You Can Dance” judge said in his apology letter that he regrets the choice of words he used and the comments and claims he is not in any sense homophobic. He also claimed that it was very upsetting to be classed as that.
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I think the Gays and Lesbians need to stop being sooooo sensitive and jerking their knees everytime anybody says ANYTHING. The whining is getting old.
I love Nigel and the way he conducts this show. I always look forward to his comments which are chosen wisely and magnanimously. I believe that in 2009, we all can transcend the preciousness of singling ourselves out due to our orientation, appearance or disabilities and get on with it. Traditional roles have a place in dance. Without them we would not experience divergence from them, nor absurdity and comedy. Kudos to those two men for trying it out. However, their effort to challenge the tradition in a serious manner, does not have to be met with wild applause. It was awkward and mediocre. That awkwardness was alienating.
Nigel’s comments were simply a point of view describing what this show is about and while I am sorry when anyone,s feelings are hurt I don’t believe they reflected any homophobia.
Let’s be frank. The dancers involved just didn’t sell it. If they had, he might have had to take a different tack.
However, there is no doubt Mia Michaels is going out of her way to attack and belittle one of the best male dancers and has passed way beyond the bounds of legitimate critique. Her comments, tone and facial expression are so aggressively hostile, it is disturbing to watch. It can only mean that she is deranged or that this is some fabricated story line and we are all supposed so be so happy when the dancer in question ” wins her over”. Since I don’t think Lil C (also not a fan of this particular dancer ) would participate in that kind of sham, I’m betting on deranged.
I went through Parris Island and I like watching these kids ( gay or straight ) try so hard. I can tell you, Mia that any Drill Instructor who looked and acted like he personally hated a recruit would be immediately be sent for a psych evaluation. I any case, your show is off my “must see” list.
Good luck, kids!
Joseph
I as a gay guy and knowing a few people that have been a part of GLADD’s inner workings have to say that sometimes they take things too far. I agree that the comment was in some ways a little off color but in the context of the show and as far as these two guys showing off what they could do… They just didn’t cut it! The comment that got me that came from Nigel was the assumption that both guys were gay. However it didn’t seem to bother the straight guy so… I digress. The fact of the matter is it was an opinion and I have to say that I for one do not believe that Nigel was wrong. I think it would have cripled the show because we do still have people that find it “unnatural” to have a capacity to love someone of the same gender.
Once again,the gay agenda leaps upon someone who disagrees them. #1 Free speech is enshrined in the Constitution and all he was doing was expressing his opinion. #2 The dance was creepy in every way. I don’t even agree with male/female couples groping each other on the dance floor but for two guys to do it? Those who disapprove of a gay lifestyle should be allowed to disapprove without being labelled as hateful. However, we’ve all become accustomed to homosexual militancy and nobody is allowed to even suggest what they do is immoral.