College Times

Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Blogs

Media Credit: Dennard Vinson

So apparently the latest celebrity rumor is that Hugh Jackman is gay.

Come on now, let's be serious. Just because the man can sing and dance doesn't mean he's gay. And apparently the fact that the guy's married to Australian actress Deborra-Lee Furness doesn't matter either.

But, in response to the recent attacks Jackman responded, "I'd be happy to go and deny it, because I'm not. But by denying it, I'm saying there is something shameful about it, and there isn't anything shameful."
"The questions about sexuality I find more here in America than anywhere else, because it's a big hang-up and defines what people think about themselves and others. It's not a big issue in Australia."
Okay, so he admitted he's not gay. But I suppose I can sort of understand the suspicion with the stream of shows that he has performed on Broadway. And, of course, most recently, his little musical act that he did as the host for the 2008 Oscars.

But to argue the other side, couldn't we just as easily claim Matthew Broderick to be gay? I mean, he's performed in several musicals, he can sing, he can dance and he's married. It seems to me that he fits into the same category as Jackman. And yet, I haven't heard any recent questions about his sexuality.

So why does Hollywood insist on making up these ridiculous rumors?

Whatever it may be, it never once crossed my mind that Jackman was gay. In fact, I had the opportunity to see Jackman at the world premiere of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" in Tempe, and gay was far from my list of descriptions.

But, I suppose these ridiculous rumors are what keeps the tabloids in business and, unfortunately, keeps America reading. I mean, I too fell into the trap and admittedly clicked on the article with the headline - "Hugh Jackman, Gay?"

So, with that being said, I think it just has become blatantly clear that Americans are completely obsessed with celebrities and gossip, and these two things seem to go hand in hand. And the media will continue to do whatever it takes to get people interested in a story, even if it turns out to be not much of a story after all.

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