So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe has issued an apology for remarking during this week’s season premiere that same-sex ballroom couple Misha Belfer and Mitch Kiber "probably alienate a lot of our audience." During his critique, he’d also told them, ”I’d like to see you both dancing with a girl… You never know, you might enjoy it, too.” After GLAAD took notice, Lythgoe said he regrets the "poor word choices," adding, "I am not homophobic and it was extremely upsetting for me to beclassed as such." His statement goes on to say:
"I have been forthright and consistent with myopinion, as a judge, that professional male dancers should move withstrength and agility — like Gene Kelly and Rudolph Nureyev. I nowrealize how this could be misconstrued.
"I have been a dancer, and involved in the danceworld, for nearly 50 years. Professionally and personally, I believethe sexual orientation of an auditioner or contestant is irrelevant.All that said, the fact that I have unintentionally upset people isdistressing to me and it is obvious I have made mistakes that I mustlearn from. I trust that my humor will be more sensitive and mindfulmoving forward."
He’s a closet case, I cant even watch the show because of him and all the juges.
You know… part of me would like to believe him, but poor word choice or not, Nigel’s negative intention was clear. His body language, facial expressions, and his meaning read clearly that he was uncomfortable and thought the male-male paring was a bad idea, both for most of “the audience” and those who are used to their “guys being guys.” It appeared that many of the other auditioners were gay, but by being blatant (albeit a bit silly), these two men drew attention to it in a way that Nigel found off-putting. It seems like Idol and SYTYCD are not-so-subtly communicating the same thing: if the audience wants to infer a contestant’s sexuality, that’s fine; stating/showing that outright is just offensive and unacceptable. (Which in 2009 is just annoyingly uninformed thinking.) And it’s not about “who cares” in this case, since — have you watched past seasons? I wonder if a few of those contestants would have done better if they had not been so uncomfortable with their opposite-sex partners.
This is nothing more than PR damage control. Hetero male dancers have a consistent history of over-compensating for the dreaded presumption they might be (or probably are) gay. Lythgoe has demonstrated his distaste for gays since day 1 of this show. His assertion that “strength and agility” are somehow the only earmarks for “masculinity” only proves how benighted he is. All the more surprising that he’s a Brit, where men can be both effeminate and hetero and people merely think of them as “eccentric.”
This is nothing more than PR damage control. Hetero male dancers have a consistent history of over-compensating for the dreaded presumption they might be (or probably are) gay. Lythgoe has demonstrated his distaste for gays since day 1 of this show. His assertion that “strength and agility” are somehow the only earmarks for “masculinity” only proves how benighted he is. All the more surprising that he’s a Brit, where men can be both effeminate and hetero and people merely think of them as “eccentric.”
This is nothing more than PR damage control. Hetero male dancers have a consistent history of over-compensating for the dreaded presumption they might be (or probably are) gay. Lythgoe has demonstrated his distaste for gays since day 1 of this show. His assertion that “strength and agility” are somehow the only earmarks for “masculinity” only proves how benighted he is. All the more surprising that he’s a Brit, where men can be both effeminate and hetero and people merely think of them as “eccentric.”
This is nothing more than PR damage control. Hetero male dancers have a consistent history of over-compensating for the dreaded presumption they might be (or probably are) gay. Lythgoe has demonstrated his distaste for gays since day 1 of this show. His assertion that “strength and agility” are somehow the only earmarks for “masculinity” only proves how benighted he is. All the more surprising that he’s a Brit, where men can be both effeminate and hetero and people merely think of them as “eccentric.”
Interesting how EW will not let me post a comment critical of Lythgoe’s statements despite its containing no inappropriate language or content. Nice job on the censorship, guys!
Thank You Nigel. It’s time.
There was nothing “homophobic” about Lithgow’s comment. It was an esthetic one. One of the two dancers wasn’t even gay! He’d make the same comment to any two dancers who look “awkward” in thier partnership. I, for one, chose to turn the channel off. Not “homophobic” (which would mean I’m afraid of gays)just tired of being told what my personal values should be concerning a lifestyle choice. I have been around gays all of my life (but could count the number on one hand)but most did not parade their choice as some kind of “badge of honor”. It was just a choice they made and they did not impose their views on others. Certainly, they were not in the closet. They wanted to be known for their accomplishments…and that is what I remember the most about them!
Lol they chose to be gay? That’s no more true than you “chose” to be straight. Just as you were born straight, they were born gay. I’ve heard other straight people make the same claim as you, and it’s out of pure ignorance. You think that you know, but how could you possibly know that? As a gay man, I know that my sexuality was not a “choice”.
This is nothing more than PR damage control. Hetero male dancers have a consistent history of over-compensating for the dreaded presumption they might be (or probably are) gay. Lythgoe has demonstrated his distaste for gays since day 1 of this show. His assertion that “strength and agility” are somehow the only earmarks for “masculinity” only proves how benighted he is. All the more surprising that he’s a Brit, where men can be both effeminate and hetero and people merely think of them as “eccentric.”
Lythgoe has been making this type of comment for a long time–is this the first time it was noticed? I always suspected that he was the one who thought the “gay bashing” jokes between Simon and Ryan were funny.
Speech is wrong under the new regime. Let’s all watch we say all the time like a bunch of douches.
It would not be acceptable to admonish people for their race, so why do you find it acceptable to do so based on people’s sexuality?
Sorry, Nigel, but you ARE a homophobe. For seasons you have been harping on how “masculine” male dancers should be. But if a woman dances with strength and grounded-ness, he sings their praises. There are many male dancers out there who dance with grace and elegance and it doesn’t for a moment make them less of a dancer than “macho” guys.
how is it possible for nigel to be annoying just reading his words?
No biggie, Nigel.
you can’t be homophobic when your whole world is dance, it is the people who don’t listen and assume someone is being mean, when they are the one with problems ,hell i don’t like gay people but i still watch them dance on the show