Brett Ratner Gay Slur: 'Tower Heist' Director Apologizes Over Q&A 'Fag' Gaffe

Brett Ratner has never been one to mince words, but some say the "Tower Heist" director's latest admission is downright deplorable.

After being asked whether he rehearses with his actors before shooting a scene, Ratner replied, "Rehearsing is for fags," according to New York Magazine's Vulture blog.

The gaffe, made during a Q&A session following a "Tower Heist" screening, seemed questionable even for the sharp-tongued Ratner, who is the producer of this year’s Oscar telecast and is said to be in talks to direct an adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked." One audience member is said to have been so upset by the reference that they immediately left the session.

The statement was quickly condemned by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) via Twitter. Entertainment Weekly writer Mark Harris felt similarly, saying that Ratner should step down from his Oscar producing duties as a result: "If he had used an equivalent racial or religious slur, the discussion would go something like, 'You're fired.' Apology or not. The same rule applies here. You don't get a mulligan on homophobia. Not in 2011."

Ratner, who also directed "X-Men: The Last Stand" and and the "Rush Hour" trilogy, quickly apologized in a statement via the Wrap. "It was a dumb way of expressing myself," he wrote. "Everyone who knows me knows that I don't have a prejudiced bone in my body. But as a storyteller I should have been much more thoughtful about the power of language and my choice of words."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article identified Ratner as the director of the "X-Men" trilogy. Ratner directed "X-Men: The Last Stand," the third film in the series.

Watch video of Ratner's Q&A below (offensive remark takes place at about 2:40)

Comments

[BernieKeating]

01:40 PM on 11/11/2011

Frankly, I'm not shocked Brett Ratner is anti-gay. I'm shocked he is anti-rehearsal.

[ALoayza]

06:29 PM on 11/09/2011

Is he a junior high?

[LibertarianCentrist]

03:12 PM on 11/09/2011

Maybe he meant Rehearsals were for British cigarettes??

[LibertarianCentrist]

03:07 PM on 11/09/2011

First of all, if you've ever listened to him speak, he's a joker, and an impressionist, and just spews whatever he's thinking. He's not bigoted in the least, he just likes to talk.

[bcassidyt]

12:33 AM on 11/10/2011

That may all be well and true, but it is inappropriate to use hate speak at the expense of anyone. People can joke and spew and be impressionists, but if it hurts one person, is it worth it? I don't think so.

He also is clearly insensitive to his audience. What a shame. I'm glad he stepped down.

[klroutt]

10:25 AM on 11/10/2011

um... after hearing his recounting of his own sexual conquests on Howard Stern in an interview after this kerfuffle, I'd be inclined to believe yes, he does like to talk.

But that doesn't mean he's not bigoted in the least. I don't know how bigoted he is (based on this one incident). I don't know whether he just feels superior to gays (implied through the rehearsal statement) or whether he would encourage all out gay bashing.

However, it has been my experience that those who "spew whatever they think" are in fact thinking what they spew.

Either they don't care what others think of their comments or they are not self-aware enough to edit themselves. But they leave no doubt they are thinking what they say. Perhaps Mr. Rattner is immature; or perhaps he lacks the imagination to come up with a more PC way of conveying why he dislikes rehearsals. (As an aside, I don't believe he must be PC. But if he wants to avoid backlash like this, it's worth considering).

Bigotry exists most especially when one has friends who are gay or black or Arab or whatever, and yet one still broadly maligns those categories when speaking in other contexts.

[ehmaybe]

02:48 PM on 11/09/2011

Brett Ratner is a crappy director. e.g. X-Men Last Stand.

[Flynn Ghost]

01:39 PM on 11/09/2011

Never heard of him. Will forget him after I close this window.

[rlpl02]

09:58 AM on 11/09/2011

Doesn't rehearsal go hand in hand with acting? That's like saying a heart surgeon shouldn't go to medical school, he should just jump right in and get it done!

[ZenSufi]

04:37 PM on 11/09/2011

Git'erdun.

[Linda Stare]

02:08 AM on 11/09/2011

H's rather gay himself. Closeted gays are the worst.

[klroutt]

10:26 AM on 11/10/2011

me thinks the lady doth protest too much...?

[King C]

12:52 AM on 11/09/2011

Who does this dweeb think watches the Oscars! A lot of gays that's who ... and to think he was up to direct "Wicked." He just lost a decade of work ...

[Contact1972]

07:18 PM on 11/08/2011

Dear Brett-maybe if you rehersed more most of your movies wouldn't be as awful as they are.

p.s. 'Xmen 3' was a disaster.

[klroutt]

10:28 AM on 11/10/2011

since he comments like a junior high student, perhaps he likes that junior high feeling to his movies (over-acting, stiffly delivered lines, but writing...)

[swoosie1]

06:56 PM on 11/08/2011

Just another oblivious person using their Hollywood stature as an excuse for not having reasonable respect for others. I say he is toast and that isn't so bad.

[Bruce Negron]

06:44 PM on 11/08/2011

I'm gay and I use the saying...get over it. No one is saying with malice, relax and leave this guy alone. Over sensitivity leads to over reactions that leads to a lot of wasted time, energy money and peace of mind. When someone is attacking you calling you that then maybe I would get upset. Let's not censor the world it would be rather boring.

[Ameera Mack]

09:29 PM on 11/08/2011

Have to agree.

[Gay Iberian]

10:06 PM on 11/08/2011

"Words have meaning and they have consequences." You may not think it offensive, but others do, gay and str8, and that is what counts.

[Gordon Goede]

09:43 AM on 11/09/2011

"Sticks and stones....." people! Move on. With that attitude, one day he will trip himself up and take himself down all by himself! Trust me on that.

[LibertarianCentrist]

03:09 PM on 11/09/2011

People who find it offensive are too sensitive to be living in the 21st century. It's not like the guy said anything mean, or derogatory, he said it jokingly.

[whitakerpoc1]

06:12 PM on 11/08/2011

Hmmm..
well most guys who make comments like Ratner sooner or later come out themselfs
Just do it Brett

[shirt3335]

03:39 PM on 11/08/2011

homosexuals should grow up.

[lacrosselamore]

04:12 PM on 11/08/2011

Bigots who can't express a thought without resorting to junior high school insults should grow up.

You should grow up too.

[Rasheed Kalifani Knowles]

04:12 PM on 11/08/2011

You should go to H.e.l.l.

[oscarp]

02:14 PM on 11/08/2011

you should rehearse more then ! perhaps he is in the closet and is too afraid to get caught rehearsing his coming out scene?