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Post by molson5 on Aug 15, 2013 18:56:50 GMT -5
This was posted earlier, but I just saw Bret Hart's Facebook post, same as on Twitter. It's nice that Bret's being supportive of everyone, but I have to say...really? WWE's treatment of LGBT has always struck me as...awkward. Like with Pat Patterson, for example; on one hand, they would always treat him backstage without any prejudice and value him simply as a man and a wrestling mind, yet at times when he'd go onscreen, there'd constantly be an eye-roll inducing "*nudge, nudge, wink, wink* Hey, fans, did you know this guy sleeps with dudes? Ha ha! Uh, not that there's anything wrong with that..." attitude. Or Billy and Chuck. "Huh huh, they wear bright red tights and do erotic stretches with each other have a flamboyant stylist! What a couple of weirdos! But wait...we're going to make history by having the first same sex couple and wedding live on Smackdown! Yes, we're serious! We're really gonna do this...okay, we're sorry, they're not really gay. Uh, hope we didn't get anyone's hopes up or anything..." I think Vince and everyone else are well-intentioned, but stumble over prejudice and awkwardness just like anyone else. I don't think they're that much more progressive as the rest of American culture. Back stage? Probably correct. Ya, I think that's where the "is this a big deal" split is too. It's a big deal in the sense that it's on TMZ and this is something pretty new as far as public knowledge about a wrestler's sexual preference. There are only a very small handful of "out" pro athletes. Backstage, I'd bet everybody already knew or had their suspicions, and I bet there's plenty of other guys over the decades who were known backstage to be gay or bisexual. Darren Young isn't going to be ostracized by the locker room. In that sense it's not a big deal.
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Post by slappy on Aug 15, 2013 19:00:21 GMT -5
I think he was asked because RG3 was just talking about how players should come out and the guy probably recognized Young so he thought he'd ask. I doubt it was planned. Especially since he/WWE ended up canceling his appearance on TMZ Live.
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Sam Punk
Hank Scorpio
Own Nothing, Be Happy
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Post by Sam Punk on Aug 15, 2013 19:12:29 GMT -5
I think he was asked because RG3 was just talking about how players should come out and the guy probably recognized Young so he thought he'd ask. I doubt it was planned. Especially since he/WWE ended up canceling his appearance on TMZ Live. I don't know. Darren Young isn't really a big name, even among wrestling fans. I can't see someone from tmz recognizing him.
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Viva
Dennis Stamp
THAT'S MY PURSE! *kick to the groin*
You can dance if you want to.
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Post by Viva on Aug 15, 2013 19:16:40 GMT -5
The best part about this, is that this is exactly how Darren Young should have handled it.
Like nobody SHOULD give a f***. Because nobody should. And that's awesome.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 19:30:28 GMT -5
I think he was asked because RG3 was just talking about how players should come out and the guy probably recognized Young so he thought he'd ask. I doubt it was planned. Especially since he/WWE ended up canceling his appearance on TMZ Live. I don't know. Darren Young isn't really a big name, even among wrestling fans. I can't see someone from tmz recognizing him. One can work for TMZ, and be a wrestling fan.
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mrjl
Fry's dog Seymour
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Post by mrjl on Aug 15, 2013 19:30:47 GMT -5
idea for a promo on Monday
PTP being interviewed
T: Now I'd like to add a very important announcement. I... am straight. Darren's still my bro but we aren't dating, we're not gonna be the next Billy and Chuck and try to get a gravy boat from GLAAD.
D: Titus, Titus... even if you weren't straight we wouldn't be the next Billy and Chuck. You're not my type.
T: What?! You crazy, I'm everyone's type!
Interviewer interrupts: Darren, do you think this will affect how the WWE universe views you?
D: I hope not. I hope the WWE universe will still look at me and see the same thing they're seen since day 1. The Black John Cena, not the Gay John Cena
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Post by Evilution E5150 on Aug 15, 2013 19:35:47 GMT -5
has anyone made a joke about Pat Paterson yet?
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Aug 15, 2013 19:36:08 GMT -5
I don't know. Darren Young isn't really a big name, even among wrestling fans. I can't see someone from tmz recognizing him. One can work for TMZ, and be a wrestling fan. One of the people on their TV show probably is, since I saw him in the Daniel Bryan "Everybody Taps" shirt once on there.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 19:40:03 GMT -5
I don't know. Darren Young isn't really a big name, even among wrestling fans. I can't see someone from tmz recognizing him. One can work for TMZ, and be a wrestling fan. Also, they're in LA for SummerSlam (assuming that's where this was shot), so obviously the TMZ crew would be on the lookout for WWE superstars.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 19:41:18 GMT -5
idea for a promo on Monday PTP being interviewed T: Now I'd like to add a very important announcement. I... am straight. Darren's still my bro but we aren't dating, we're not gonna be the next Billy and Chuck and try to get a gravy boat from GLAAD. D: Titus, Titus... even if you weren't straight we wouldn't be the next Billy and Chuck. You're not my type. T: What?! You crazy, I'm everyone's type! Interviewer interrupts: Darren, do you think this will affect how the WWE universe views you? D: I hope not. I hope the WWE universe will still look at me and see the same thing they're seen since day 1. The Black John Cena, not the Gay John Cena That needs to happen.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 19:44:49 GMT -5
For anyone that thinks it's scripted or a work or whatever, what would even be the benefit of having Darren Young of all people pretend to be gay? There are better ways to push the Be A Star program. I mean as non-chalant as he was about it, it's not like they're going to give him some sort of gay gimmick to get heat because there is no way in hell that they would put him up to that for a random TMZ piece IMO.
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Post by Hit Girl on Aug 15, 2013 19:53:54 GMT -5
As carny as WWE are, they know that making this a work would only have negative consequences.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 19:54:31 GMT -5
For anyone that thinks it's scripted or a work or whatever, what would even be the benefit of having Darren Young of all people pretend to be gay? There are better ways to push the Be A Star program. I mean as non-chalant as he was about it, it's not like they're going to give him some sort of gay gimmick to get heat because there is no way in hell that they would put him up to that for a random TMZ piece IMO. I thought people meant that D. Young scripted his coming out to be off-the-cuff and nonchalant, not that they were doing an angle. I had the thought that he just said it to mess with the reporters, not realizing what a big deal it would be. And now he's like....shit, I guess I gotta go with it now!
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Post by Hit Girl on Aug 15, 2013 19:57:09 GMT -5
I like the idea that of all the wrestlers in history and throughout the world to be the first to come out openly, it's Darren Young.
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Urethra Franklin
King Koopa
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Post by Urethra Franklin on Aug 15, 2013 19:59:47 GMT -5
I do think the interview seemed a little staged because Darren Young isn't a huge name. It'd be funny if it went like this:
TMZ: Do you think the WWE would be ready for a gay wrestler?
Young: Yeah. I mean, look at me. I'm gay and I'm happy.
TMZ: Fine, but what about a WWE wrestler?
Young: I am a WWE wrestler.
TMZ Headline: WWE SHOCKER!!! John Cena caught in blackface!
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Post by bigalbass86 AKA Smokin Vokoun on Aug 15, 2013 20:19:02 GMT -5
Of all the idiotic threads we have come through this site, this is the one that doesn't deserve to exist. Okay... Being gay is not a big deal. It really shouldn't be a big deal. I'm coming out heterosexual. Where's my thread? I agree that it shouldn't be a big deal. But it is. He is the first active WWE wrestler to come out, as far as I know. Now, hopefully, if there are others that have yet to come out, and will come out in the future, then it won't be such a big deal. But as it stands right now, this is historic IMO.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 20:25:36 GMT -5
Seriously don't mean to be rude or offend anyone but i have a feeling and damn near guarantee a certain 3 letter F word will end up on a sign now...I support and love him for nonchalantly just speaking his word but this is why entertainment via sports or tv/movies in general has such a problem with their performers kayfabing their sexuality...
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Post by Confused Mark Wahlberg on Aug 15, 2013 20:33:03 GMT -5
Good for Darren, but let's not forget
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Post by Red Impact on Aug 15, 2013 20:48:29 GMT -5
I think he was asked because RG3 was just talking about how players should come out and the guy probably recognized Young so he thought he'd ask. I doubt it was planned. Especially since he/WWE ended up canceling his appearance on TMZ Live. I don't know. Darren Young isn't really a big name, even among wrestling fans. I can't see someone from tmz recognizing him. Nah, they recognize just about every minor celebrity in existence and they do WWE stuff often enough that a guy like Young is probably recognizable.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 20:49:22 GMT -5
Seriously don't mean to be rude or offend anyone but i have a feeling and damn near guarantee a certain 3 letter F word will end up on a sign now...I support and love him for nonchalantly just speaking his word but this is why entertainment via sports or tv/movies in general has such a problem with their performers kayfabing their sexuality... Eh, that'll be the minority and I'm sure WWE will take care of anyone they find with homophobic signs.
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