08/18/2005
Ian Somerhalder Clearing the Air
Ian Somerhalder says his words about his onscreen kiss with James van der Beek in 2002's The Rules of Attraction were misconstrued, according to Contact Music (CM never cares to cite their sources). The actor now wants to clear things up: "It's not me who can't handle it, it's the audience. Seann William Scott didn't get all of the backlash that I received when he did just the same in American Pie 2. It was completely unjustified - fans and outraged men saying that I was making anti-gay remarks. I wasn't and those very close to me who are gay were visibly upset. I'd never make a disrespectful remark about anyone, especially in public, about one's sexual preference."
So what were those controversial statements? Somerhalder had talked to Out magazine about the kiss: "We knew that it was an opportunity to do something that was very different and fuck with people, frankly. We totally talked about it before, and the first thing we said is no tongue -- definitely no tongue. I have this crazy newfound respect for women. I don't ever plan on kissing a guy again, because it's so fucking scratchy."
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 3:36 PM EST by Andy in Film & TV | Permalink
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Well it IS scratchy kissing another guy. What's your point?
Posted by: MT | Aug 18, 2005 3:40:41 PM
I shave pretty smooth, Ian. I don't have much facial hair. I mean, if that's what it takes...
Posted by: Rob | Aug 18, 2005 3:46:48 PM
I remember being completely shocked the first time I kissed a guy because nothing had prepared me for stubble. SHOCKED.
But I didn't stop.
Posted by: david | Aug 18, 2005 3:49:50 PM
Aveda Hydrating Lotion takes care of the beard burn.
If this is the worst things he said then it is not such a big problem
Posted by: Donald | Aug 18, 2005 3:55:05 PM
The scratchy part is what I like!
Posted by: Stephen | Aug 18, 2005 4:07:06 PM
What a pussy.
Posted by: Elliott | Aug 18, 2005 4:23:09 PM
I agree -- not too much controverial there. It's no more homophobic than it would be heterophobic of all the gay men I hear talking about their aversion to "fish."
But I loves Ian -- LOVES him. My husband gets a bit annoyed at my reaction when he gets screen-time on Lost.
Posted by: The Malcontent | Aug 18, 2005 4:25:06 PM
I have no problem with Ian not liking the scratchy. I happen to love the scratchy. But maybe Ian likes to eat mushrooms. I hate mushrooms. It's a matter of taste.
Posted by: Brian | Aug 18, 2005 4:43:18 PM
Exactly. If those are indeed the remarks in question, then I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion. Even the article's headline is over the top. "Anti-gay slur"? Hardly.
Posted by: Jeff | Aug 18, 2005 4:49:39 PM
I think the "'anti-gay' slur" being referred to in the headline is that tacked ON Ian, not one he made. The slur being that he's a homophobe.
Posted by: chrisafer | Aug 18, 2005 5:05:47 PM
Ah, chrisafer, you're right. I need to read more slowly next time: "Somerhalder hits back at anti-gay slur." ;)
Posted by: Jeff | Aug 18, 2005 5:41:14 PM
I'm going to be 'politically correct' here and suggest that 'sexual preference' is a rather inaccurate term...showing Ian's unfamilarity perhaps.
Posted by: Dan | Aug 18, 2005 7:35:26 PM
Need a little attention Ian. Frankly i don't buy it. It has taken, what 3 YEARS to offer a retraction, give me a break.
What i tell my children when they make a mistake is to own up to it right away. There is no shame in making a mistake. For three years he had the opportunity to take back his remarks but what this sounds like is an attempt to try to win over his lost gay audience. Too late.
I haven't forgotten how childish he and James acted trying to use us as an excape goat. I hate when any actor who plays a gay character has to justify how straight they are by saying how discusting it was to kiss another man.
And it gets even better by having to mention his many gay friends. Sorry, you lost me at 'NO TONGUE.' This was unnecessary. It's as if you were trying to PROVE how straight you are. What you were/are is a coward, and that is even worse.
Posted by: Dawson | Aug 18, 2005 8:11:35 PM
If you ask me, Ians a big homo.
:)
Posted by: Damon | Aug 18, 2005 8:58:37 PM
I tried watching his commentary for "Rules of Attraction" but I just couldn't do it. He really came off as a prick, trying really hard to make sure that no one thought he was gay. He mentions his girlfriend in practically every sentence, and while I don't remember him saying anything overtly homophobic, it still left that impression.
Posted by: Bob | Aug 18, 2005 11:19:44 PM
Oh, I forgot to mention that he still comes across closeted in the commentary. Self-hating homos are SO not hot.
Posted by: Bob | Aug 18, 2005 11:24:03 PM
Now compare what Ian said and is saying now with Heath Ledger's comments.
Posted by: Steve | Aug 19, 2005 1:26:24 AM
hey Ian try kissing an asian next time - most of us are genetically smooth :)
Posted by: eli | Aug 19, 2005 4:47:10 AM
Who cares. There's nothing homophobic about his stmt. So, he's straight and set boundaries with his co-star. That's pretty damn common in the industry. A lot actresses and actors fake french kissing.
Also, it's really lame to slam him with whole closet crap. How isn't that a slur? Jeez, not every cute guy is gay. Heck, there are a lot of normal looking or ugly guys who are gay.
BTW, what the hell ever happened to James Van Der Beek? Did the guy fall off the radar or what.
Posted by: Jase | Aug 19, 2005 3:13:32 PM
This is a Hollywood actor talking! Why do people expect to hear truth out the mouths of people who by the nature of the business must constantly lie - CONSTANTLY - in order to keep their jobs? Even if he was the gayest guy around, he'd still say it was "like kissing a dog" (an actual quote from a closeted actor when asked about a same sex kiss a while back) to keep his PR peeps happy.
Posted by: Dan Mac | Aug 21, 2005 2:26:44 PM
Ian got written up by 365Gay.com in April (the first time) The called him a gay hater because he said 1. "Playing gay was the worst thing I have ever don in my life" and 2. "Two guys kissing is disgusting".
He has made the matter worse by ignoring the gay press an is comming across as arrogant Extreme!.
Nicky Hilton semi-outed Ian when she denied she was dating him 2 days after she got married. Ian's PR just about had a heart attack.
He owe the gay community for starting his career - he has played in 4 gay production, Young Americans, Matt Sheppard story, SVU (gay brother) and ROA. I know everbody has to lie to get work, but this guy has way, way skick sand in the face of Gays and he doesn't care.
Posted by: Jase | Aug 22, 2005 9:39:03 PM
He owes gays nothing, its his acting ability, gay people are not that bad I have no problems with them. He has the right to oppinion and so do you but your blowing this way out of proportion, you chose to what you are now stop complaing about the sexy hunk he is, come on you have seen him!
Posted by: Hess | Aug 30, 2005 11:49:08 AM
Ian is afraid of loosing his recent success, and I'm sure he'd like to play more important rols than the "beautiful eyes cute gay" I guess that's why he said that, not to offend gay people but to show the producers listening he can act as a good dramatic and complete star, even if he didn't say the right words to mean it. Not all the actors are good speakers!
Posted by: Jose | Sep 16, 2005 7:01:22 PM
Ian is afraid of loosing his recent success, and I'm sure he'd like to play more important rols than the "beautiful eyes cute gay" I guess that's why he said that, not to offend gay people but to show the producers listening he can act as a good dramatic and complete star, even if he didn't say the right words to mean it. Not all the actors are good speakers!
Posted by: Jose | Sep 16, 2005 7:02:32 PM
I think there´s nothing wrong with his statements. I mean, everyone have got their opinion, so, Ian´s is that he, personally, would never kiss a man, although... his sexuality is very questionable.
Posted by: Tellan | Oct 5, 2005 10:42:28 PM