Vince Vaughn Wants To Keep 'Gay' Joke In Movie

Universal agreed to remove the word 'gay,' used in a derogatory sense, from a movie trailer last week under pressure from GLAAD. Now Vince Vaughn, whose character says the line, says he hopes it stays in the film.

Vince tells Deadline:

"Let me add my voice of support to the people outraged by the bullying and persecution of people for their differences, whatever those differences may be. Comedy and joking about our differences breaks tension and brings us together. Drawing dividing lines over what we can and cannot joke about does exactly that; it divides us. Most importantly, where does it stop."

In the old trailer for the Ron Howard-directed 'The Dilemma,' Vince's character said, "Ladies and gentleman, electric cars are gay."

Anderson Cooper first brought attention to the controversy when he went on 'Ellen' to talk about gay bullying.

"I just find those words, those terms, we've got to do something to make those words unacceptable cause those words are hurting kids," he said.

Watch the new trailer here.

Quick Poll

Do you think the 'gay' joke should stay in the movie?

Yes, Vince is right

No, it's damaging

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[nina rr]

01:38 PM on 10/31/2010

There's only one form of protest that will make a difference-- BOYCOTT THIS FILM

[Rooster Coburn]

12:21 PM on 11/02/2010

Is this the thread for telling gay jokes?
And I have a follow-up question if you please.
If not, why not?
Here's mine.

"How do you tell a gay masochist?
Because he's a sucker for punishment!"

[southrnlyfe]

09:13 PM on 10/30/2010

Wow, am I still in America? I missed the memo that you cant ever be offended. Its life, get over it. If something like this offends you don't see the movie. There are many things that I do not like and I choose to remove myself from the situation. You can never change how others act, only how you react to them.

[tortillaj]

10:40 AM on 10/29/2010

What if he were to say, "Electric cars are gay enough - don't drive them like a woman!"

[westcoastbum]

04:32 PM on 10/22/2010

We should just ban all adjectives and nouns. Then nobody will ever get their feelings hurt ever again. There. That was easy!

[AngryFloridian]

10:01 AM on 10/20/2010

So many people upset about one little comment. If people really want equality for all then tell TV execs to stop pushing the stereotypes. Flip some channels on your TV, Any show that features gay men has them in one of 3 situations. Either they are designing clothing, doing interior design, or telling someone else how to improve their wardrobe. The folks who are on these shows could only be more "flaming" if they caught on fire. TV producers and directors don't want gays who are normal, down to earth folks on TV, that doesn't sell, instead they have to be the limp wristed, lisping men who's main concern is abs and butt jokes who flit around a room like butterflies on meth..These are stereotypes that most people dislike and this leads to the jokes that are being made. Until gays are portrayed as more mainstream there will never be the acceptance that they want.

[westcoastbum]

04:25 PM on 10/22/2010

Excellent! #28.

[oalaeho]

12:34 PM on 10/18/2010

Sticks and stones may break my bones. But words will never hurt me. A person can only make another person feel offended if they let them.

[ar6557]

10:05 AM on 10/18/2010

It's the initial thought that MAKES the term offensive. By cracking liners like that with the intention that it has, he's basically saying it's alright to use the term loosely as describing something of an unworthy nature.

[ptfcNassoc]

11:08 PM on 10/17/2010

The joke just isn't that funny or clever. I think jokes about different races and sexual orientation are okay if its funny and clever. I'm half black and asian and if I hear a well written and executed black joke or asian joke, i laugh and i can admire the comedic art of a good joke. But if it's lame like "electric cars are g.ay" then lets take that joke out of the movie and tell the writer to think of something a lot more clever or witty.

[au contraire]

10:19 AM on 11/03/2010

Excellent thought. But Vaughn's ego is the stumbling block here.

[Jaycutza]

06:42 PM on 10/17/2010

Small boys throw stones at frogs in jest. But the frogs do not die in jest. The frogs die in earnest.

- attributed to Pliny the Elder

[LDM123]

04:28 PM on 10/17/2010

I've seen comedic acts that poke fun of pretty much every race, gender, religion, etc - including whites. And I have to admit that most of the time they are pretty funny. Is GLAAD saying that their members should NEVER laugh at a joke where another group of people is the punchline, including themselves? Wow, doesn't sound like a very funny group.

[zest]

06:43 PM on 10/17/2010

Substitute the N word for gay and see what kind of reaction you get Vince.

[WillemPieter Bloed]

06:31 AM on 10/18/2010

The N word is a example just as stupid as the G word, except that Niger really means black in latin, while the G word really gets another meaning, but what if i search for the meaning of straight, a straight seams to mean a crackpipe as well, do i feel offended ? No, couse i know i´m better than a crackpipe, why didn´t anybody complained when gay still meant happy, I HATE TO BE CALLED HAPPY

[punknoir]

10:24 AM on 10/17/2010

Once again, we're looking at a sliver of the elephant. The line exists in context. If I listen to the line only, of course it's hurtful and offensive. But when I watch the whole scene, Vaughn's character comes off as dimly insensitive and the actual brunt of his own joke. He glibly shoots off his mouth and then spends time backtracking and explaining himself(something all us normal and flawed humans do).
So, people, please watch the scene. The joke's on Vince's character(as it usually is).
I agree with Vince. As long as we shove down these differences and pretend they're not there, the differences will divide us.

[restoretheconstitution2]

10:57 PM on 10/16/2010

This topic is gay.

[S Pesticide]

09:14 PM on 10/16/2010

I was reading this article and then decided I needed to watch some Lenny Bruce http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCmfEWDU7pQ

[punknoir]

10:10 AM on 10/17/2010

touche!

[Nate Warren]

09:12 AM on 10/18/2010

I'm going to do that then follow up with some Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx..

[wilray]

09:01 PM on 10/16/2010

We could boycott the movie. Of course, I don't know what kind of statement that would make since no one is going to see this turkey (no offense to gobblers).

[WhipperSnapped]

08:35 PM on 10/16/2010

Absolutely agreed!~

AND, it is NOT in any related to gays, it's slang for lame or unfair.

[Bob Kellerman]

03:43 AM on 10/17/2010

Read the rest of the threads

Several of the dead Gay kids of recent times will tell you that "that car is gay"
has E V E R Y T H I N G to do with the nasty treatment they received before they
gave up on life

[AnotherTry]

07:36 AM on 10/17/2010

Gay = inferior, but no offense right? If it's not related to gays, why is the word 'gay' needed?

[WillemPieter Bloed]

05:40 AM on 10/18/2010

Straight = the defenition of a crackpipe as well, but do i feel offended