stage door demo for Ripley's FAG slur Thurs. at 10 pm — Page 5

I am sorry everyone, but I don't understand why you are targeting Alice and not the thousands of other's that are homophobic. This act of hate will not prove anything and why Alice? I realize she said something, but what about the guy that wrote that Newsweek article about gays? I thought that was much more offensive so why not protest that because I feel that deserves rallys and protests, not Alice and Next to Normal.

I love that people are willing to rally for anything now.

Where was all of this anger when George Bush was in office?

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What an exciting assemblage of strawmen we have here.

It doesn't matter if Alice Ripley is actually homophobic. I don't think she is. Sometimes it is intention that is important in language, and sometimes the language itself overrules intention. It doesn't matter if she meant to use the term offensively or not, because the term is inherently offensive. People are not just responsible for their beliefs or intentions: they are responsible for being aware of the implications of the language they use. So, as far as I'm concerned, throwing around arguments like "she's not really homophobic" or "she didn't mean it offensively" don't cut it, because the language goes beyond that. The "I have gay friends" defense is even worse, because it just means that she should know so much better.

You also don't get to weasel your way out of a sincere apology because of your kooky persona.

Unless I missed it.

"YIKES, FORGIVE MY OFFENSE"

Does not in anyway qualify as an apology. Alice, who is nearly 50 years old should know this.

An apology would consist of admitting that you've made an error AND expressing regret.

I know this is beating a dead horse, but this all could have been over and done with days ago if she had acted like an adult and not a petulant adolescent, and acknowledged the error. Now, I'm thinking she's liking the attention just a little too much, or that she actually believes using "FAG" as a perjorative is actually OK.

Which is it, Alice?

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Updated On: 6/8/10 at 08:13 AM

I agree with pretty much everyone else with any sense on here.

A protest is a waste and non-productive.

Alice needs to apologize sincerely and stop pretending that her words didn't hurt.

Alice, maybe you don't realize it but a lot of people here admire and respect you. We respect your talent. We love your performances.
But what you said stung. I realize that you don't think it was a big deal, and perhaps to you it wasn't. But you have hurt a lot of people who truly like you. People for whom the word "fag" recalls bashings and emotional trauma.
At this point I don't expect that you'll apologize, but just know that you're constant dismissal of the significance of your post is like telling your fans that their feelings simply don't matter.

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"fag" is hate speech. Ever since the Charlie Howard was thrown into the river in Brewer, Maine in 1984 this word offends the core of my sensibilities. Fag was the last thing he heard before he drowned. Alice should know better.

Well...now this brouhaha is no longer limited to BWW and FACEBOOK.

Gay Blogger Andy Towle has picked it up as well.

TOWLEROAD

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Updated On: 6/8/10 at 10:02 AM

Michael Bennet, only one person (the OP) is willing to lead a mob with pitchforks to the N2N stagedoor. The others have simply carried over the conversation from the other Alice Ripley thread.

And she didn't just insult A fan, but faNs and faGs alike.

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I hadn't actually seen the quote from her status update until I followed the Towelroad link and I have to say that was a supremely idiotic thing for her to post. I can totally see why this has some people riled up. Is there any single word a woman who makes her career in musical theatre could have picked that would have been worse?

And, MB, I don't think setting it up that she merely insulted "a fan" is quite accurate when she posted it to Facebook, in ALL CAPS, for people to see. That's where she crossed a line (along with the part about saying she wasn't going to say "fag," thereby saying "fag.") To me it's as shocking as Maggie Smith calling Michael Caine a fag in the "California Suite" movie.

"To say this is a waste of time and energy is a collasal understatement." I'm not so sure. She upset people, that built up their energy, and they want to do something. It seems to me that only those who want to make a statement about Ripley's stupid choice of words can decide if its worth the investment. The fact that it doesn't yet seem to have been co-opted into a GLAAD fundraising opportunity strikes me as something of a minor miracle.

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"While some fans are defending Ripley, many readers of the Broadway World site are not amused, and some are planning a stage door protest at 10 pm on Thursday."

Oh, fer ****'s sake.

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Alice needs a minder. Somebody to edit her the way the Jersey Shore producers never let us hear Snooki or The Situation use the word "fag."

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