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Some viewers were shocked at Heath Ledger’s apparent gay spoof at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Sunday night.
At the podium with Jake Gyllenhaal to introduce a clip from "Brokeback Mountain," Ledger kept putting his hands on his cocked hip as he read the teleprompter, acting like he was auditioning for the role of Carmen Ghia, the flamboyantly gay choreographer in “The Producers.”
“It was insulting,” said one Hollywood insider after the show. “Heath lost a lot of support from the Hollywood gay community after that bizarre performance.”
No one can figure out what Ledger could have been thinking or why he behaved so bizarrely onstage.
Which makes it a real shame that the Directors Guild Awards, held the night before, weren’t televised. Then viewers would have seen Ledger’s heartfelt and sincere expression of gratitude to director Ang Lee, who won the DGA’s top filmmaker award that night.
Paying tribute to Lee, Ledger thanked the director for “introducing us to these delicate characters. It took a delicate man to tell this story and that’s you.” To which, Lee then joked, “I don’t know about you, but that feels a little gay to me.”
Maybe Ledger’s frankly fey SAG performance simply followed Lee’s DGA gay joke lead? Maybe he thought he was being really funny? Hey, it’s a theory. What's yours?
Photo Credit: Onstage at the SAG awards with Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger's bizarre gay-mocking performance gets no awards or laughs.
(Michael Caulfield/WireImage)
To me it seemed Heath Ledger was just being his usual self, maybe with a buzz on top. Hasn't anyone paid attention to him in interviews before?
Posted by: stevie b | January 31, 2006 at 08:27 AM
He wasn't mocking gay people. I've seen him on a lot of talk shows. He is always nervous as hell and fidgits constantly. He's a great actor, but in live situations he is clearly not comfortable. He squirms throughout the entire interview. He wasn't being insulting. He's just not at ease with himself in person.
Posted by: Vicki Johnson | January 31, 2006 at 08:10 AM
I love gay Heath Ledger!!!
Posted by: Kaylya Boggs | January 31, 2006 at 07:46 AM
As a gay man, I found nothing offensive about Heath and Jakes presentation of the movie "Brokeback Mountain" at the SAG awards.
I am more offended by the people who are trying to tear down the film by trying to create controversy where there is none.
In all of the interviews with Heath and Jake, both say they are very proud of their work and have no problem playing the roles of gay men. And, if you took the time to see the movie, you will know that this is true.
Both Heath and Jake bared their souls and created a milestone of a movie in Brokeback Mountain. When you left the cinema you knew these two men had one real love in their life and that was each other. The rest of their lives was just trying to fit into society.
No other recent film has captured love with such depth and such conviction.
So, by bringing up something that you are assuming and making your own assement of the situation is wrong. Ask Heath.. ask him why... if you noticed all of the other presenters of the ensemble cast had the same problem... Heck, Sandra Bullock made hers up becuase she could not read... so don't assume he was being campy.
Never once in any article or interview has either Heath or Jake said... it was a mistake... they were wrong... the problem is in America, we tend to build people up and take pleasure in knocking them down...
Brokeback Mountain and its cast are more deserving that to be trivalized by an announcer or writer with their own personal agenda.
Time to grow up and move on.
Posted by: Larry Scantland | January 31, 2006 at 06:52 AM
I thought it was hilarious and thought that it showed a differnt side of him that he is a funny guy and that it shows how great a performance he gave in Brokeback Mountain. He really should win best actor this year over Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Posted by: tom | January 31, 2006 at 06:04 AM
Where's the gay-mocking?
Since when a hand on the hip is GAY and mockign?
I'd say that whoever wrote the ridiculous thing Ledger and Gyllenhaal had to read was mocking, not just gay people, but any one with a brain out there.
Posted by: Maria | January 31, 2006 at 06:01 AM
I think people are putting WAY too much into this.
Frankly it looked to me that he was really uncomfortable and couldn't read the prompter properly - and just put his hand on his hip. Good Lord.
Posted by: jt | January 31, 2006 at 02:50 AM
I'm sorry, even as a gay man who watched the show, I just don't see what your referring to. He seemed a little loose, a liitle silly, maybe even a little drunk, and having trouble reading the promter, as many other presenters did that night. Putting your hand on your hip, as far as I'm concerned is not a mock or insult to gay people. I think your looking for a story where there is none
Posted by: smc | January 31, 2006 at 02:37 AM
I had recorded the SAG awards on my DVR and watched them last night. Frankly, I thought Heath was quite funny. Let's be honest here. The synopsis of Brokeback Mountain the two of them had to read was absolutely absurd. There were several people in the audience laughing. Plus, maybe he's just more comfortable standing with his hand on his hip. As a gay man myself, I never once thought he was "mocking" the gay community. Why would he feel that necessary? Come on people. Get over it.
Posted by: Farhan | January 30, 2006 at 11:08 PM
Re: Ledger's bit at the SAG Awards
I didn't see anybody doing a low-rent imitation of a poof. I saw a guy, who never knows what to do with his hands in the best of circumstances, trying to read absurd lines off a teleprompter with too much light in his eyes. He got this incredulous expression, peered at the prompter with his hand on his hip, tried not to giggle, and kept on reading. Ledger is always squirmy when he's not acting -- arms all over the place, or sometimes he actually has to sit on his hands to keep 'em still. Hyperactive and lacking in polish.
Ledger has by this time been interviewed ad nauseam about the "controversial" aspect of the Ennis Del Mar role. After hearing him talk, I believe he has no problem with gay people. I have trouble believing he's a gay-baiter. Perhaps those who took offense have a low startle point.
Posted by: Steve Gaspar | January 30, 2006 at 10:16 PM
Is this "Hollywood Insider" like so many others, afraid to come out of the closet in Hollywood, but willing to snipe at someone like Heath Ledger who has done more by taking this role and portraying it so sensitively than these closeted insiders ever will? Makes me think of a certain sitcom star's snide remarks last night regarding Brokeback Mountain....The boys were adorable on stage, especially Heath. Someone needs to chill out, definitely.
Posted by: Kevin Scarlett | January 30, 2006 at 09:42 PM
You know Hell *is* other people. A gay spoof? Really? From the same man who defended the intrinsic beauty of the love show against bold journalists and even Oprah? Heath Ledger - in ever interview I've seen him in - flails about like a spaz because he really gets uncomfortable doing interviews and being in front ot big audiences. Do you think the man who brought to life "Ennis DelMar" could bring himself to spoof gays at an awards show? Why in the world would he do that? This is the problem with the LGBT community. Always looking for someone to diss us we see imaginary slights at every turn.
Posted by: Crystal | January 30, 2006 at 09:37 PM
I have considered that Ledger was doing some sort of misguided gay spoof and if he was, shame on him. Or maybe it was just another of his uncomfortable personal appearances. Whatever the case, I choose to simply forget it and concentrate on his performance as Ennis Del Mar, one of the finest screen performances I have ever seen.
Posted by: Robert Harmon | January 30, 2006 at 09:37 PM
What a bizarre take on Heath's behaviour! The man can't stand still - he's always in constant motion - twitching, hopping, rubbing his nose - that's all it is - extreme A.D.D. In no way was he "mocking" by purposfully putting his hand on his hip. I've seen him interviewed by Leno, Letterman, Oprah and various Australian tv shows. The man is a perpetual motion machine. It's a nervous habit. After seeing him interviewed by so many people, it's a wonder to me that he manages to stay still when he's doing a scene.
I think both he and Jake wer giddy with nerves and having to read that god awful blurb for Brokeback Mountain just gave them the giggles.
These two have consistently given thoughtful, enjoyable, passionate interviews and I think should be accorded the respect they deserve.
Posted by: PS Mitchell | January 30, 2006 at 09:18 PM
Hogwash.
I'm a Hollywood Actor and I don't know anyone who was "offended" by Heath's Ledger's behavior. I would love to know who this "Hollywood Insider" is that the author refers to who won't speak on the record, but is willing to slur Ledger.
Heath is clearly uncomfotable speaking in fronts of large groups of people, and his behavior might have been odd, but I don't believe he was actually mocking anyone.
This "Hollywood Insider" clearly hasn't read or seen any of Heath Ledger's other interviews. Ledger repeatedly speaks affectionately of his gay uncle and support for the gay community. There isn't a homophobic bone in Heath's body.
On another note entirely, if there was a real scandal from last night, It was Brokeback Mountain getting skunked by SAG.
Philip Seymour Hoffman gave any amazing performance in a really good movie, Capote, but a year from now, no one will be talking about that movie or Hoffman's performance. On the other hand, Brokeback Mountain is a cultural landmark, like the movies Rebel Without a Cause, Taxi Driver and In the Heat of the Night. People will be referring to this movie and Heath Ledger's amazing performance in it for several years and possibly decades to come. While I don't wish to take anything away from Hoffman's amazing performance, it would be nice to spread the wealth around this year so that Heath Ledger wins at least one major acting prize, in addition to the critics awards he has received, in the year when he actually deserves it.. Instead, it seems likely that Heath Ledger, like James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden and Marlon Brandon in A Streetcar Named Desire, won't get the recognition he deserves in the year he gives his career defining performance. Too bad Hoffman and Ledger couldn't have split the prizes more evenly.
Absolutely nothing against Hoffman here, because it is a shame that these two actors who have probably done the seminal work of their careers are forced to compete against each other. It makes me more convinced for ever that there should be enough love and admiration in our hearts to come up with a way of honoring great creative work without forcing artists to "compete" for it.
Posted by: Dan Wentzel | January 30, 2006 at 09:13 PM
Come on- he always acts like that. He is awkward and can never sit or stand still. He is like a flopping neuron- just everywhere all of the time.
Posted by: Laura | January 30, 2006 at 08:37 PM
In my opinion, Heath looked nervous. I know when I have to speak in front of a crowd, I twist my hands in back of me and pull my hair. It looks odd but it's just what I do when I'm nervous. I really didn't find him to be offensive in the least.
Did anyone ask him about it yet?
Posted by: CD Miller | January 30, 2006 at 08:10 PM
My "theory" is that people are exaggerating what happened and reading into nothing. He looked nervous up there and you can check out all of his televised interviews to know that he's a naturally fidgety person and to me, it just looked like he didn't know what else to do with his hands. Plus it looked like he was struggling to see the teleprompter.
Posted by: Brian | January 30, 2006 at 07:12 PM
I think everyone should take a chill pill. He looked nervous, a bit happy, and he was reading utter tripe on the teleprompt. I think it's a huge stretch to go from there to saying he was making fun of gay people. Can we cut the guy a break? He's been in one of the most significant films of a generation and portrayed a difficult character with heart and passion. The film has had an effect of thousands and thousands of people. We should be thanking him.
Posted by: Ires | January 30, 2006 at 06:05 PM
I've been a Heath fan for a LONG time and I know that he actually gets quite nervous at live events. On most occassions he can control it or at least play it down but sometimes he can't. He seems to get very jittery and moves quite a bit. Him putting his hand on his waist didn't seem like a joke or a spoof. He was laughing but it seemed to be out of nervousness. I wish we wouldn't crucify the poor guy. NOT EVERYONE IN THE GAY COMMUNITY TOOK OFFENSE TO THIS.
Posted by: Helga | January 30, 2006 at 05:54 PM
I'm not going to mince words here, Mr. Caulfield is an idiot. Ledger wasn't mocking gays in the least. He may have been drunk and unimpressed with what he was supposed to be reading off the teleprompter, but that's it. Assuming and then publishing that he was mocking gay people because of the way he put his hand on his hip is not only ridiculous, but probably a result of the author's stereotypical view of what "gay" is. To me, THAT is what is insulting.
Posted by: Paige | January 30, 2006 at 05:51 PM
Hey, give him a break. They (Jake & Heath) have put up with a ton of jokes most of us would have not endured as well. I didn't see the incident, but I don't think a mistake in judgment should be held against someone forever. Be cool.....
Posted by: steve | January 30, 2006 at 05:49 PM
Are you kidding me? Philip Seymour Hoffman laughed during his intro of Capote and nobody bats an eyelash. Has anyone ever seen Heath in public, talk shows and such? He is always twitching and making weird movements with his body. The guy, despite his press-shyness, has been nothing but completely supportive of the film and its meaning to the community at large, gay or straight. He often speaks about his gay uncle, who went through years of pain before finding happiness in Los Angeles. Maybe his body positioning seemed strange, but to insinuate that this was some sort of staged, deliberate "fey performance" on his part amounts to an unfair character assasination of a performer who has done nothing but champion this film.
Posted by: Amy | January 30, 2006 at 05:30 PM
I was appalled, and have been watching all day to see if any websites would pick up on the story. Was he drunk? Is he an idiot? I felt stupid for having gone to see the movie a second time.
Posted by: Jack Johnston | January 30, 2006 at 04:44 PM
Perhaps Heath was making a point, that Hollywood only likes flaming gay men. Afterall, who wins the awards? Sean Hayes' flaming Jack and Philip Seymour Hoffman's Capote.
What does that say about the way liberal Hollywood TRULY sees gay men.
Posted by: exlogcabin | January 30, 2006 at 04:41 PM