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Jay Leno: I'm Sorry Gays

Posted Apr 1st 2008 7:07PM by TMZ Staff

"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno has apologized for asking a visibly uncomfortable Ryan Phillippe for his "gayest look" during an interview last week. Homey don't play that!

In a statement to People, Leno said "In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong, I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize."

Jay made the remark in a lame attempt to make light of Ryan's first acting gig as a gay teen on "One Life to Live."

Unfortunately, Leno has yet to apologize for 16 years of unfunny opening monologues.

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(Page 8 of 8) Previous 15 Comments

106. Jay probably tells one or two jokes insulting to gays every night in his monologue, which do not draw complaints from anyone, but this bit with Ryan Philippe does? Imagine the same routine done with Adam Corolla, who is currently doing DWTS. Adam would have made the face, no questions asked. The problem lies with Ryan Philippe, who is an actor, and should be able to make the face on demand, with no implications to his own personal leanings. Instead, he is uncomfortable doing so, making more of a statement about himself, than about Leno.

Think back to a few weeks ago with Jimmy Kimmel and Ben Affleck. Ben rolled with the joke, and increased his own popularity in doing so. Obviously, neither of them lean that way.

Posted at 10:09PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Tonight Show Viewer

107. Come on now... Leno is a great guy and hilarious comedien. He doesn't need to apologize for anything, and I doubt any of the gays were offended. So Ryan is uncomfortably closeted... that's his fault. It's tragic that Leno is leaving the 2Nite show... he will be missed... as was Johnny Carson, Jay is 1 of a kind with big shoes to fill.

Posted at 2:44PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by myko

108. That was funny ass hell! Why the hell should he have to apologize!!????

Posted at 6:21PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by YESSS!

109. Jay's opening monologue is always funny, i don't know what TMZ's talking about.

Posted at 5:16PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by LoveJay

110. Jay Leno meant no harm, I am sure. He is a kind man.............Let it Go.

Posted at 12:00PM on Apr 3rd 2008 by Britta

111. Yikes, am I the only one that notices homophobia laden throughout these TMZ comments that are, in and of themselves, responding to homophobic comments by Leno? Confusing? Not really. Just seems to me that, the more they come, the more apologies for this type of communication gain more strength. You folks are proving the point, as you blindly think you're making your strong point.

Leno's remarks are consistently homophobic, regardless of whether he's "funny," and even with a wonderful, beautiful lesbian as a comrade in the show's band. Do we have to wait for generations to die off in order to NOT have gay folks be one of the few last, openly sanctioned minority groups against whom are discriminated?

These types of ongoing conversations remind me how US culture, when viewed across the world, is often seen as filled with jokes, slams, and insults that, for others, are considered both homophobic and a waste of time/energy/"brain" space/breath.

Posted at 11:54AM on Apr 4th 2008 by Keith

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