Faithful? He must be gay, then

Wednesday May 9, 2007 04:08 PM

Amy Cooper

So Barbara Walters and her pals on US talk show The View are concerned about Our Hugh Jackman's sexuality. They reckon he could be a bit festive.
Let's ignore for a moment that it really shouldn't matter a hoot whether our spunkiest export's tastes veer towards men, women or inflatable frill-necked lizards and reflect upon the origins of the ladies' speculation, which - let's face it - we've all heard before.

Walters blames Jackman's role in the Broadway hit The Boy from Oz. People witnessing his flamboyant turn as Peter Allen, she says, believe he's really gay.

I'm sure some do. They're the ones who also believe Jackman's a wolf in real life because he keeps playing them in movies (in fact, they probably think he's a gay wolf). The rest of us merely give the bloke some credit for doing his job well.

Then there's that darker theory: Jackman's missus, according to the View's arbiters of aesthetics, doesn't score as highly as Hugh on the Hollywood hot-o-meter, and this means he must surely be more interested in men.

Remember, while most women would be only too delighted to wake up one morning looking like Deborra-Lee Furness, we're talking about the celebrity world's beauty standards, which deem only those women with the vital statistics of a fishing rod to be truly beautiful. But this isn't the point. Even if Mrs Jackman had a face like a welder's bench, no-one these days would seriously take this to mean that her husband batted for the other team.

True, there's a certain breed of male celebrity who feels compelled to advertise his heterosexuality by dangling only the most Hollywood-perfect women on his arm. But these blokes are a dying breed in a world where even the most alpha males can break celebrity mating conventions and pick older, curvier, or cleverer women without raising an eyebrow.

So why the gossip? Here's my theory: one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Jackman union is that it appears to be monogamous. There have been no kiss n' tell flings; no rumours about Hugh's sexy co-stars. He hasn't been busted in strip clubs, had a night in Paris or emerged from Cameron Diaz' crib at sunrise. This makes people suspicious. Sad but true: we still find it hard to believe in the power of real love, and so expect rich, cute, heterosexual, famous men eventually to get caught with the wrong woman. If they don't - well, they must be gay.

I think the gossip about Jackman's predilections has less to do with his choice of woman than the fact that he's actually made a choice - and stuck to it. And if he was the sort of man to care what anyone thought about his bedroom habits, just one tasty skirt-chasing rumour is all it would take to clear up the speculation once and for all.
Hugh, if you need me, my skirt is ready and willing.

COMMENTS

Anyone taken a look at Barbara Walters lately?? If Deborra-Lee doesn't make the cut, Barbara doesn't have chance!!!

by Michael on June 10, 2007 at 01:19 AM

I'm an Australian who has just returned from living in the United States for the last 4 years and can tell you all these TV hostess are interested in are ratings, now you all know who Barbara Walters is. I'm sorry to say this but this is why our society is turning into a pack of blood thirsty gossipers!!!

by Benjamin Wade on June 10, 2007 at 02:35 AM

HE"S AN AUSSIE HE DOESN"T HAVE TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF...

by LLOYD DAVIS -SLADE on June 10, 2007 at 02:45 AM

A decent, genuine human being... he has no future in Hollywood.

by BrendanA on June 10, 2007 at 06:34 AM

Everyone loves to play the "gay" game. Thing is, we, the public, have been deceived so many times by men who marry for something other than hetero love. I'm not saying that I think Hugh is gay, even though he acts rather fey at times ... and I don't care one way or another. It should only matter to Deborra. If she's happy and satisfied with marriage to Hugh, that's enough.

by Martha on June 10, 2007 at 07:33 AM

and if Hugh needs me (instead of Amy Cooper), i am ready and willing too!

cheers!
m

by michael C on June 10, 2007 at 07:38 AM

Problem with the women on The View is that they are accustomed to love and relationships Hollywood style, and not the way it is for the rest of us.

Hugh Jackman and Deborah Lee-Furness have been together for years...before his rise to fame. And from what I hear (from friends in the industry) they are still very much in love and committed to each other. It is very refreshing to see such a relationship.

Beside, Hugh is such a talented guy - being able to move from characters such as Wolverine to Peter Allen. Did anybody critise and raise questions of Russell Crowe when he went from Romper Stomper to the Sum of Us?????

by Leann on June 10, 2007 at 07:48 AM

Lets be happy that there are actors out there who don't feel the need to make headlines everyday with their law breaking antics.

by rachel harrison on June 10, 2007 at 07:55 AM

I agree. So when you're a little on a heavier side, Hollywood attacks. If you're naturally skinny, Hollywood attacks. If you woke up one morning and forgot to do your make-up, Hollywood attacks. If you're looking a little too perfect, Hollywood attacks. And now, if you're faithful to the one wife who happens to not look like Angelina Jolie, they still attack. There is just no pleasing anyone. But it was bad call on THE VIEW's part. Because as a panel of women they should have known better. Thumbs down. Besides, who cares if he is or not. Still doesn't diminish his credibility and talen as an actor. Pfftt.

by Gee on June 10, 2007 at 08:24 AM

Amy,
You are beautiful. That was such a clever and barbed piece. And ain't that just so sadly right? A lot of people, lost in the media fantasy world, have long since lost contact with that old fashioned world where monogamous love just keeps rollin' along. Of course, in the country, where I come from, it's the norm, because people actually have a worth beyond their designer frock. RM Williams gave us a great gift in that one. Keep up the great work. You have put the Barbed Walters right back in her Swamp of Envy.

by Bear on June 10, 2007 at 08:27 AM

Well what can i say,after all B Walters is an American isnt she?whatever opinions they have can and should be taken with a pinch of salt.Hugh is a GREAT actor in all senses of the word,and as for his wife DLF i actually think she is HOT,and she has some meat on her bones which i find very refreshing these days

by hoova on June 10, 2007 at 09:13 AM

Oh thankyou, a word from someone sane. It restores my faith that the superficial hollywood bubble isn't as pervasive as I thought.

by Glenn White on June 10, 2007 at 09:38 AM

Amy, you were doing real well until your last line `my skirt is ready and willing'. Personally, I don't care whose team Mr Jackman bats for. I like him as an actor and he seems like a right decent fella. He's also seems like a married decent fella, so give him a little credit. The only skirt he needs is his wife's.

by brinjak on June 10, 2007 at 09:41 AM

Who Cares? Respect him for his acting ability and other than that, it's nobody's business.....especially some old broads in the U.S.

by JamesG on June 10, 2007 at 10:10 AM

Sad but true: we still find it hard to believe in the power of real love, and so expect rich, cute, heterosexual, famous men eventually to get caught with the wrong woman. If they don't - well, they must be gay.

Great!

Now I have to go upstairs and tell my beautiful wife that I am gay too?

Dente

by dente on June 10, 2007 at 10:24 AM

The "gay rumours" pre-date his marriage, and originally came about because of Hugh's prediliction for musical theatre.

by fester on June 10, 2007 at 10:35 AM

Well I guess if you were Hugh Jackman and married to Debra Furness you'd be faithfull too. Go you glorious ozzies go. Show the world that you can lead a almost normal life in the crazy world of entertainment. Maybe others can learn from these great role models.

by tc on June 10, 2007 at 11:48 AM

Couldn't have said it better myself.

by Pauline on June 10, 2007 at 01:08 PM

Well said. How tragic that our gossip-fuelled lives have been reduced to being so alarmed by normality, that we must foist sordid speculation on what is too often the minority. Face it you desperado Hollywood type facile slaves to image: Hugh Jackman and DLF love each other. It's not something botox will ever get you.

by noodle on June 10, 2007 at 01:10 PM

real men love real women, hugh chose well .deborra-lee is an icon off australian film and stage which obviously the view twits are not aware of.

by bronte bourke on June 10, 2007 at 01:17 PM

I think Hugh's incredibly awesome and probably just great at what he does! Love your article, spot on! I've often found myself envious of Deborra-Lee Furness, but once it was only due to her acting talent.

I'm glad wonderful men out there still notice women who are more than mere hollywood stencils of a stereotype!

by Alice R on June 10, 2007 at 02:07 PM

Maybe Barbara got a knock back from our gorgeous boy from oz?

by maybe she got a knock back on June 10, 2007 at 02:16 PM

I once had a girlfriend-to-be come over and marvel so much at how clean and neat I kept my small apartment that she actually said: "it's spotless, you must be gay". Fair enough then, so gay men happen to generally be very neat, but why should cleaniness be the domain of only gay men? I was insulted at the insinuation that hetro guys HAD to be dirty. I didn't have her over again because women that shallow are a complete turnoff.

by Mr TooCleanForMyFriend on June 10, 2007 at 03:09 PM

I think the whole "Hugh is gay" thing probably comes from someone, somewhere, having heard that when he was at school he had to wear a kilt. And let's face it, any man who wears a skirt has to be batting for the other side.

Eh, Sir Sean?

by Jennie on June 10, 2007 at 03:42 PM

Great little blog, providing a disdainful look at this overdiscussed subject, which is almost as boring as Ian Thorpe's sexuality. When will TV "journalists" realise that they're prurience does them no justice?

by Jabber on June 10, 2007 at 04:02 PM

I thought it was just very small children and pimply 14yr olds (of either gender) who had trouble distinguishing the actor from the role. Obviously the same blindness inflicts self hyped 'serious' female journalists of a certain age.

Jealousy is no doubt a major reason for their comments. Because it's clear they will never get a chance with our Hugh. Deb Furness is a lovely talented woman and yes, damn it, I'll admit my own moments of green eyed envy. Her husband is gorgeous, talented, charming, likeable, a fearless performer, and wonder of wonders, he can sing and dance! She is a very fortunate woman. Then again, he's a very lucky man.

by sam on June 10, 2007 at 05:32 PM

SO a guy who is faithfull to his wife and his profession as a movie star or an actor on the stage is considered gay.

Give me a break.

I guess it's too true to believe and that's the problem with these people.

They believe so whole heartdly that to be a movie star you have to be unfaithfull because ever woman out their is after him and most movie stars have done just that. ie. unfaithfull.

I would say that maybe he's a fantastic guy true to his wife and profession.

I would also say his wife should be commended for her support of him and their success as a couple.

by Eric on June 10, 2007 at 10:43 PM

I have met Deborah Lee and Hugh recently at a charity luncheon in Sydney. They are both gorgeous ! She is very slim and has a fabulous complexion which you don't really see on the screen. He only had eyes for her when she spoke about their support for orphans in Africa. And every woman in that room (all 200) only had eyes for him. And he invited his mum and dad too. What a great guy.

by LadyLunch on June 18, 2007 at 02:39 PM

The Sun-Herald

Amy Cooper

Faithful? He must be gay, then

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