After being called out by the Gay &
Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) last week, dance judge
Nigel Lythgoe says he's sorry for remarks labeled homophobic by the
group.
Lythgoe, a judge and executive producer
on FOX's dance reality competition show So You Think You Can
Dance, riled the watchdog group with remarks he made during the
show's premiere episode.
He told gay dancer Misha Belfer and his
straight partner Mitchel Kibel, “It was a bit like watching ...
Blades of Glory,” after their performance. A reference to
the camp comedy movie staring Will Ferrell as a skating underdog.
“I think you probably alienate a lot
of our audience,” he added. “I mean, we've always had the guys
dance together on the show, but I've – they've never really done it
in each other's arms before.”
“Do you know what?” he continued.
“I'd like to see you both dancing with a girl.”
Lythgoe later Twitted, “I'm not a fan
of 'Brokeback' Ballroom.”
“It's unacceptable for this kind of
blatant homophobia to occur,” GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano said
in a statement. “Fox Entertainment and Nigel Lythgoe owe Misha,
Mitchel and the whole LGBT community an apology.”
In a statement released by the alliance
over the weekend, Lythgoe apologized for his remarks.
“I sincerely regret the fact that I
have upset people with the poor word choices and comments I made both
during the taping of the So You
Think You Can Dance audition and on my personal status
update.”
“I am not homophobic and it was
extremely upsetting for me to be classed as such,” Lythgoe added.
“Professionally and personally, I
believe the sexual orientation of an auditioner or contestant is
irrelevant. All that said, the fact that I have unintentionally
upset people is distressing to me and it is obvious I have made
mistakes that I must learn from.”
Gay Entertainment Report is a feature
of On Top Magazine and can be reached at
ontopmag@ontopmag.com.