Chenoweth addresses the 700 Club appearance and BWW debate about it- Page 2

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:46pm

But, keggs---she DIDN'T say that stuff in the quote ON the 700 Club. If she HAD, this debate WOULDN'T be happening.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:49pm

But in all fairness jrb, if Kristin said on the 700 Club that she was gay-friendly, I highly doubt they would air that (they don't do this show live do they? I've only watched one episode, but it was really late at night). And if they do air it live, I'm sure that Patterson would shut that out, would he not?

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:50pm

I guess I just don't understand what people wanted her to do on the show. Should she have worn a shirt that said "Gay Friendly"? Should she have walked out and said: "Hi, I'm Kristin and I'm gay-friendly!"? I just don't understand the argument. Why does she need to justify anything to anyone?

[bunchamuncha]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:50pm

When did you want her to bring it up in the interview?
The interviewer didn't bring it up and I'm sure they were well aware of her charitable work in the gay community.
Maybe because it was a non-issue.

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:52pm

"But in all fairness jrb, if Kristin said on the 700 Club that she was gay-friendly, I highly doubt they would air that (they don't do this show live do they? I've only watched one episode, but it was really late at night). And if they do air it live, I'm sure that Patterson would shut that out, would he not?"

Exactly my point.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:53pm

I personally think it would have been weird if she had taken the interveiw from Terry and said "I wanna talk about homosexuality!", and then proceded to sound off. It would have seemed a little too aggressive and she would have immediately alienated the watchin audience. Things can change but they've got to be done gradually and non hostile-ly (that's not a word). I think words are cheap actually. Everyone's big talk. The example is how you live your life. If I'm singing with Gay Men's Choruses, doign work for BCEFA, doing AIDS funds, have a best frien who's gay, and STILL believe with every ounce of my being that my God is real to me, then that's it. The proof is in the pudding, not in the baking instructions

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:57pm

Exactly, Jazzy. The way she lives her life is the proof.

[NCGuy]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:16pm

Regardless of Kristin’s motives for the appearance and how effective it was, I’m just glad she addressed the issue and made an effort to explain herself.

This argument that keeps popping up (that she owes nothing but a good performance and doesn’t have to justify anything as long as she’s doing her job well) is bullsh*t. She owes her fans respect (and she does give the overall impression that she respects and appreciates her fans).

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:21pm

well that's just called being human. I think we all should respect people whether they're fans or just strangers. I don't think she owes her fans anything beyond basic human rights. I mean you do something...people are either going to like it or hate it (generally), and ya know what? You can't please everybody.

[JLfrom NYC]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:36pm

I agree wholeheartedly with the poster who said "the proof is in the pudding, and not the baking instructions."

I think it's obvious that by saying she hopes Christians will be more "open-minded" that this is someone who is open-minded herself. It's not like she's going to launch into a political or moral debate on a show like that--they'd never allow it to air. Words have to be chosen carefully in that situation, but even when they ARE chosen carefully, they still address the same message if you're willing to look past the fact that she's on a show like that, and realize the reason WHY she might be doing it.

Also, I think that by going on a program like the 700 CLUB, and singing, and getting viewers of that show to enjoy her work and want to learn more about her--that this really helps accomplish what I believe she set out to do, which was to spread a message of tolerance to people who might not be so open-minded about it, and would probably not seek out an arena where they'd be exposed to it. But in this case, if you liked Kristin Chenoweth's music on the show, you'll likely want to read about her upcoming projects and kind of person she is, and the kind of work that she does. You'll probably end up reading about this debate in particular, and about Kristin's thoughts concerning it. And maybe that will make less open-minded people think about their own beliefs. Maybe it won't change their minds so fast, but it will at least make them think. And that's a start. I mean, *I* think it's a start.

I just think it's a shame that (especially the people here,)--being so enthusiastic about theater, and knowing the great things that MOST ALL Broadway performers do for the gay community--that there would be such willingness to jump to a negative conclusion about this. Maybe you don't care for her music, but you know her background. Maybe we're ALL acting a little bit close-minded?

[Peter]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:42pm

Let me get this straight. She says that she wanted to appear on the 700 club and send a message that "Christians should not be judgemental, but open-minded and open-hearted to people of other races, religions and sexual orientations." But as the writer says "Chenoweth did not talk about anything other than her career and her faith". Are the 700 club viewers supposed to have psychic abilities to gather that she believes Christians should be open minded to people of other sexual orientations, since she NEVER said this in the interview?

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:43pm

Peter, I think they meant she said it other places. The interview with the 700 Club was only to promote her CD, not to talk politics, but of her career and faith, and as many people might now, how she feels about the way faith affected her career.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:54pm

You folks just miss the point. Not addressing the issue is the problem. It would be EXACTLY as if she had gone on a show that often promotes hatred against blacks. But you just don't GET IT. This argument is completely lost of some of you.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:59pm

But even if she DID say that she is pro-gay on the 700 Club, they wouldn't have shown it because we can all agree that's the kind of people that they are.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:00pm

well, if that's the kind of people they are, why go on their show? You just backed up my position.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:14pm

...woah...

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:14pm

I always KNEW you were Keanu Reeves!!!!

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:17pm

Congrats jrb- you've won this one. But only because you don't hold hatred for Kristin, otherwise I would keep argueing. :-P

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:18pm

I ADORE her!!!!

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:18pm

::nods:: good jrb

[temms]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:29pm

Yeah, I've done a 180 on this, myself. I've become quite the strident liberal lately (bless my friends for putting up with me, but dammit, it's time to start taking action against what's going on all over the world) so I initially fell into the camp of "700 Club? I'm so done with that insensitive [expletive deleted]."

I am very encouraged that she has spoken out, though, and I am forced to eat my words. I've said time and time again that the problem with the religious fundamentalists is that they call themselves Christian and then presume that it means they can do whatever they want, no matter how hateful or bigoted or un-Christlike it may be. So it sounds like she's on exactly the same page as me, and unlike me, is not preaching to the converted.

I agree that her interview on the 700 Club was not the right forum to discuss her liberal politics, and I am pleased that she has set the record straight on her motives in a different forum. I hope she continues to work for this cause.

Yet another example of me being happy to discover that I've had my head up my ass.

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:46pm

"This argument that keeps popping up (that she owes nothing but a good performance and doesn’t have to justify anything as long as she’s doing her job well) is bullsh*t. She owes her fans respect (and she does give the overall impression that she respects and appreciates her fans)."

You know what? You can't please everybody and her career should NOT be about making career choices for other people. It is impossible and unrealistic to please everyone. I guarantee that you don't please everyone in your life all the time, so why would you hold her to that standard? Because she is semi-famous?

"You folks just miss the point. Not addressing the issue is the problem."

Again I ask you, what would you have suggested she say on the show that would have made you happy, "Hi I'm Kristin and I'm gay friendly!"? Worn a shirt that said "Gay Friendly". She went on the show to promote her album and talk about her faith, a political argument would have done nothing but ensure that the show would not have aired which would have done nothing for either side of this discussion. I am not trying to be a smart-a**, I just want to know what you wanted her to do/say that would make you happy.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:49pm

keggs- I agree with you completely, but jrb set me straight on what she should say, jrb's point of the matter apparantly is that she shouldn't have done the show in the first place.
unless it's not, and in that case please correct my jrb.


BUT I do agree keggss

[keggss23]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:50pm

It's still totally lost on me, so I guess we'll have to agree to disagree! =)

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:51pm

::nods:: accepted. But I totally get where you're coming from.