Carol Channing Misquoted?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:44pm

At least according to her publicist:

"Carol Channing's publicist has responded to an interview with Carol Channing published over the weekend in the Gay People's Chronicle, saying that he and Channing were "misquoted" and that the writer was "clearly trying to bash an Icon and make a name for himself."

In the interview, Channing reportedly said about her gay fans: "I don’t think about them. I’m grateful that they seem to like me. They’re terribly loyal to me. But I’m knee-deep in the Bible and you know what it says about that."

Channing's publicist says that the writer left out a key word to make it look like the performer was anti-gay: "With reference to the Bible - she said about gay marriage 'You know what the Bible says about it ... Nothing.'"

Boll says the writer, Kaizaad Kotwal, was "quoting from a transcript which he doesnt have" and was asking questions "that were clearly traps."

He insists that Channing's support and gratitude for her gay fans and friends is solid."

The full statement:

"***PRESS RELEASE from HARLAN BOLL, publicist for CAROL CHANNING***

"Is a sad statement on our community when they so quickly choose to believe bad things about people without checking the facts. Especially when they are about individuals to whom we have received nothing but support over the years. In this case the less than accurate interview done with Carol Channing comprised of a series of half quotes and twisted statements.

The reporter misquoted Tim Rowe and me and clearly misquoted Carol. Feel free to call me if you want 323-X-Xx or call Tim Rowe the event director at 937-X-Xx.

He says he is quoting from a transcript which he doesnt have. He was asking questions of Carol that were clearly traps. She initially thought she was doing an interview with The Springfield News. I hadnt told her I had switched the two and when the reporter started asking questions about her gay friends, she thought it was going to be one of those interviews where she would have to defend her friends, but when she realized it was a gay trade, her defenses were already up and confusion ensued.

When I spoke to the reporter afterwards he told me that Tim Rowe of the organization producing the Springfield event, had said that because of his interview, Carol wasn't going to do the event. When I immediately called Tim he said he never said anything of the sort and when Tim spoke to reporter, the reporter told him equally outlandish things that I never said. The comment about how she wasnt going to do any future interviews is crazy, because she did two more immediately following his. The guy was clearly trying to bash an Icon and make a name for himself. Sadly these people with ulterior motives exist and have since before Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper. I suppose this gentleman has a great future at the National Enquirer.

FYI - what she actually said when asked about gay marriage was that she wasnt necessarily pro gay marriage, because why would we want the government involved in our business and most of her gay friends were in agreement - this include myself. She thought civil unions and civil rights were more important, but "if this is what gay men really want then its their business and I dont care, they can take care of themselves."

With reference to the Bible - she said about gay marriage "You know what the Bible says about it ... Nothing." The interviewer failed to add that last comment in the quote to the interview.

Her history of support speaks for its self. As a gay man myself, who has worked for her for years, she has supported my 7 year relationship from the beginning and of her other gay friends and colleagues agree. For example, longtime friend, Mr. Blackwell, says that she was one of the first to be there for he and his partner Spencer and continues to be for what will soon be their 58th anniversary."



Publicist: Carol Channing Loves Her Gay Fans and Friends

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:48pm

Yes, it IS too bad people immediatly jumped on the negative bandwagon.


Good Lord, she's hosted so many gay pride parades in the past. Do they really think she doesn't like us?

Sad

[DAME]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:51pm

I agree Diva.

[matthius202]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 6:52pm

It never ceases to amaze me that people will immediately believe something so OUT OF CHARACTER about another person. Of course, I was disappointed in the PROSPECT that she would have said something like this. But it didn't anger me...and I was waiting for her to make a statement in her defense. But it happens to us all...everyone wants to believe the bad.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 8:21pm

He may be spinning a bit, but I'm satisfied.

After all, it's Carol Channing, not a hypocritical Republican congressman or a closeted fundamentalist minister.

Let's use our power to fight the REAL enemies, not Carol Channing.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 8:24pm

She's old, practically deaf (When I met her and told her my name she said, "It's nice to meet you EVA." I said, "Thanks, but it's DIVA." Her reply, "Yes EVA, it's nice to meet you." and that was at a gay pride parade) and she's easily confused.

Give her a break folks.

Posted: 11/16/06 at 8:24pm

i think its sad that someone whos given so much has to go thru this crap at this time in her life.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 8:33pm

Give her 10 minutes, she won't remember a thing.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 8:38pm

i talked to her after this whole thing came out and she was aghast, telling me, "who knew they could read?"

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/16/06 at 11:20pm

The rest of you can read? I hire one day laborer to do the reading for me and another one to type my responses.

[MatthewAddison]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 12:17am

My Carol Channing ventriloquist doll ABSOLUTELY never said anything of the sort.

She said (and I quote) "Gay marriage? Raspberries! Everyone knows marriage is the gayest thing since the automobile! Why, I've even had a few myself! Now, could you please tell me where I live and what my name is?"

(And I DO own Carol...I bought her from JC Penny for $40 bucks and some change. Who knew she'd be so cheap?!?)

[DG]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 12:34am

papa gets my vote for post of the day - perhaps the week/month/year, depending on your sensibilities.

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 9:08am

papa HAS been on a roll lately--or is he just rolling?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 9:17am

"But it happens to us all...everyone wants to believe the bad."

Ehh, I don't know about that. I think it's good to stop and think about things before you take a position on something, but it's not like you can really expect everyone to wait and see if there's going to be a clarification or correction about something in an article before they comment on it.

Updated On: 11/17/06 at 09:17 AM

[Kringas]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 9:40am

MrMidwest has a point. And while I agree that it was probably wrong for everyone (me included) to jump on the negative bandwagon, perhaps everyone shouldn't necessarily believe that the words of a publicist are gospel truth, either.

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 9:45am

My only real problem with the whole mess is the implication that she gives two sets of answers to her questions--one for gay readers and one for the hets.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 10:54am

i still love her if she does or doesn't like the gays. hell, sometimes i don't like my people either.

it's friggin' Carol Channing! i mean, c'mon! she's amazing
Updated On: 11/17/06 at 10:54 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 11:06am

lildogs--she poops in her panties while the parade passes by.

What do you expoect from her? Logic?

[DG]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 11:08am

"everyone wants to believe the bad"

Can't say I agree with that.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 11:30am

Channing is a vegetable, she doesn't even know what she says, or if the event she is hosting is gay, or not.

[kjklo]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 1:51am

But a publicist has spoken, so don't be skeptical, just accept whatever he says. It was all a misunderstanding, of course.

I realize this story is from more than two days ago and involves an elderly person, so it doesn't really matter. Forgive me for bumping it up.
Updated On: 11/18/06 at 01:51 AM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 2:01am

You bastard.

[kjklo]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 2:02am

I know.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 2:09am

EDIT: Hello Dolly ROCKS! lol

Updated On: 11/18/06 at 02:09 AM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/18/06 at 2:14am

Yes, it belongs to Cheezdoodle.

And it's very disturbing because the statement is in quotes and is NOT EVER CLOSE TO WHAT SHE SAID.

It's very rude.

Instead of realizing a mistake was made, it's going to drag it on and on.