Andy Cohen's Blog

The New/Old F Word

January 23, 2007

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There's a new F word and it's probably not what you think. When Isaiah Washington said "faggot" on the set of "Grey's Anatomy," he unwittingly brought a new consciousness to a damning hate word that's been thrown around playgrounds and locker rooms for years. There is massive buzz about Washington's bullying and disruption of a workplace environment with his hatetalk; he might get fired.

Tonight that word is used on "The Real Housewives of Orange County" when Shane calls his younger brother Colton a "faggot" for pouring water on him. It's a scene that happens every day in schoolyards, in living rooms, and in fights between brothers, friends and bullies.

It's a very real moment of brothers expressing themselves. It's also an ugly moment, a quick fight. When I first saw the incident, I thought it was gross. I never like hearing that word.

We had a quick discussion about whether to leave the word in the show or not. I thought we should keep it in because it, and the scene, speaks for itself. I don't think seeing it gives license to anyone to use the word or makes it look "cool" to use the word. If we change the word or bleep it, we make the person saying it different (better?) than he is -- and draw attention to the word, perhaps drawing attention to it than it deserves.

That this is airing tonight is ironic because, believe it or not, it's NO NAME CALLING WEEK! That's right, there's even a website called nonamecallingweek.com that you can go to and learn more about this week of events devoted to the idea of not using bullying names.

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Comments

Condoblogger wrote:

Should you have left the word in? How real is your reality show?

posted on January 23, 2007 at 6:29 PM

Steve wrote:

Until a few months ago I myself was more tolerant of such transgressions. It offended me, but I made no outward objections, I would remind myself that not everyone thought that way.

But it was the recent film of "A Girl Like Me" which opened my eyes to the real harm of such things.

A 4-5 yr old black child prefers to play with a white doll over a black one. This is learned from society ...No child is born disliking themselves...it's learned.

I think it maybe time gay people aren't such "good sports" about the hateful language , the jokes , the gossiping.

All which "teach" that being gay means your a freak. To be shunned and ridiculed, and at worse dehumanized and hated. When you don't see gay people as human, is it any wonder that there is even murder?

If all the gay people at the Oscars got up and left their seats, when the Brokeback Mountain jokes started. Would America have taken the point?

The latest, is my niece who uses the term so many of her peers do, to describe something lame and dumb ..."that's gay"

If that's realism, perhaps we shouldn't advertise promote it and teach it? Even as showing a bad example?

Thanks for listening,
Steve

posted on January 25, 2007 at 10:51 PM

Kevin wrote:

I think it speaks highly of Bravo...to just let it happen. I have heard the use of the word, and believe that it would take away from the show and give it even more power if bleeped out.

posted on February 8, 2007 at 2:41 PM

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