After asking the studio to remove the gay insult scene from the trailer, GLAAD has now launched an online petition to urge Universal to pull the joke from the final version of the film.
- October 12, 2010
AceShowbiz -
GLAAD is not finished with their protest against the use of the word "gay" in Vince Vaughn-starring movie "The Dilemma". The organization is now complaining that Universal will "neither confirm or deny that the joke will be in the final film, in spite of the rise in attention to anti-gay violence and teen suicides that have occurred as a result of anti-gay bullying," and has just released a Call to Action via an online petition to urge Universal to pull the joke from the final version of the film.
"When 'gay' is used as a pejorative in such a public way for millions to see and laugh with, it legitimizes and propels the many taunts that gay people endure," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios says in a statement released on Monday, October 11. "Amidst a rash of bullying related suicides and anti-gay hate crimes, we need to tell Universal and America that our community is tired of being used as a punch line."
Late last week, GLAAD released a statement regarding their thoughts on the use of the word "gay" in "The Dilemma" teaser trailer. Calling it "offensive" and "slur", the organization asked Universal to remove the scene from the preview video.
The studio itself agreed to the request and has launched a full trailer, which does not contain gay joke, online but said they will not be able to pull the teaser from theaters until next week when a new cycle of previews starts. To this, GLAAD demands that "Universal live up to its word and remove the [teaser] trailer from ALL theatres immediately."
The scene that caused the problem sees Vaughn's Ronny using "gay" as a reference to "electric cars" during a meeting with some execs. "Electric cars are gay. I mean, not 'homosexual' gay but 'my parents are chaperoning the dance' gay," he says.
The film, meanwhile, revolves around Ronny who is put in difficult situation as he has to decide whether or not he will tell his best friend, Kevin James' Nick, the truth after he caught his wife cheating with another man. Directed by Ron Howard, the comedy is slated to hit U.S. cinemas on January 14, 2011.
