Comedienne Joan Rivers has backed down
a bit on her advice that gay stars should remain closeted.
The 2009 Celebrity Apprentice
winner insisted last year that gay celebrities should not reveal
their sexuality because it could damage their career.
“If you're going
to be a romantic idol and try to get every teenage girl to love you,
then you'd be an ass to come out and say you're gay,” the outspoken
comedienne told gay glossy The Advocate last year.
Rivers called Ricky
Martin's decision to come out gay after making his wealth “so
smart.”
“He did what he
did, made his millions, and then he said, 'Guess what, everybody?
I'm gay, I'm having this life, and here are my children.' It didn't
matter anymore because he didn't have to bring in 16-year-old girls,”
she said.
In
a new interview with the same publication, Rivers backed down a
bit.
“Yes. You are
supposed to be a heartthrob, and you want the little teenage girls'
hearts to go pitter-patter. That's what brings in the money. You
know what? Let them stay in the closet and send big checks to AIDS
research. Let them come out like Ricky Martin did, when you want to
come out.”
“However,” she
added, “if it isn't going to affect your career and if you're not
the heartthrob, then shame on you for not coming out.”
Recently,
Glee star Jane Lynch, who is openly lesbian, agreed with
Rivers.