Aug.17.2007 This is not a headline you want when you die
Merv Griffin died earlier this week. That’s to be expected. But he’s always dodged one particular issue that The Hollywood Reporter will now make sure you know.
Merv Griffin died a closeted homosexual
Merv Griffin was gay.
Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? Why is it so difficult to write? Why are we still so jittery even about raising the issue in purportedly liberal-minded Hollywood, in 2007?
Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. Perhaps he figured it was preferable to remain the object of gossip rather than live openly as “one of them.”
Nice. This guy lived 80 years as one of the preeminent purveyors of entertainment as a total closeted homosexual and then, literally days after his death, there’s an article that basically implies he’s a coward whose death was the only way of avoiding his homosexuality. I’m sure he’d really appreciate that.
The only thing that would be worse is if he weren’t actually a closeted homosexual and this really was an out-of-control rumor. That’s the excuse I’m using if a similar story comes out about me after my death, at least.
yeah … like we had NOOO idea he was gay … puhlease…
Yeah, but the principle of it is all wrong. Gay as he might be, outing him in a major publication a couple days after he dies doesn’t sit right with me. Regardless of how much pole he smoked.