04/19/24
August 15, 2013
WWE Wrestler Darren Young: I'm Gay: WWE pro wrestler Darren Young was walking out of LAX airport in Los Angeles when a TMZ cameraman asked him whether the sport would accept a gay wrestler. "Absolutely," Young replied. "Look at me. I'm a WWE superstar and to be honest with you, I'll tell you right now, I'm gay."
McMahon is now drooling at the prospect of exploiting this news to his financial advantage. I'm not a wrestling fan, so I don't have the slightest clue what Young's ring persona is, but I would hate for that ring persona become a flamboyant charcature of his sexuality. The WWE reacted to the news with class, and I hope that continues, but the organization's history does not allow me to be too optimistic.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:44 PM on August 15, 2013
It would be cool if Young's storyline didn't change at all, but I can't imagine that happening. It seems more likely that McMahon had a role in the timing of this announcement and will go nuts with a story that plays it up as a huge controversy.
posted by rcade at 01:50 PM on August 15, 2013
I'm not a wrestling fan, so I don't have the slightest clue what Young's ring persona is, but I would hate for that ring persona become a flamboyant charcature of his sexuality.
Based on the commercials I've seen for RAW/Smackdown, isn't this the guy that is part of a tag team where they stand side-by-side, hip-to-hip, arms around each other's shoulders, and then sway/dance back and forth together to music (as part of their entrance/celebration)?
Anyways, flamboyant characters are the staple of wrestling, and it doesn't always imply that the persona is "gay". Early versions of Golddust, Nature Boy Rick Flair, Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels, Koko B. Ware were extremely "flamboyant", and there was no direct implication they were "gay".
posted by grum@work at 02:11 PM on August 15, 2013
It seems more likely that McMahon had a role in the timing of this announcement and will go nuts with a story that plays it up as a huge controversy.
If McMahon knew this was coming, why would he let TMZ get all the pageviews/screentime about it? If he knew this was coming, he would have had it front-and-center on RAW/Smackdown for the "shock value".
posted by grum@work at 02:13 PM on August 15, 2013
If McMahon knew this was coming, why would he let TMZ get all the pageviews/screentime about it?
To make it seem spontaneous as part of a viral marketing campaign.
Young could have done this on his own, of course, but it seems more likely to me that he'd check with WWE management and get the OK before coming out. And they would only want him doing it in such a low-key, unexpected manner if they saw value in it happening that way.
posted by rcade at 02:29 PM on August 15, 2013
So does that mean this TMZ cameraman was in on it? Or did Young go around to various TMZ hotspots and hope to get filmed?
posted by grum@work at 02:38 PM on August 15, 2013
I would hate for that ring persona become a flamboyant charcature of his sexuality
flamboyant characters are the staple of wrestling, and it doesn't always imply that the persona is "gay".
I agree with your point, but it wasn't really relevant to the one that I made. I never suggested that he or any other WWE wrestler should not be flamboyant. I said I hoped that he wouldn't become a flamboyant characature of his sexuality (except of course I butchered the spelling witha typo/brain fart). Since Gorgeous George, there have been flamboyant wrestlers, and I'd never suggest that this guy was supposed to be gay. Wrestling can have all the flamboyant personalities it wants, I just don't want this particular character to become a flaming gay stereotype.
posted by tahoemoj at 02:39 PM on August 15, 2013
So does that mean this TMZ cameraman was in on it?
I don't see why not. TMZ is a journalistic bottom feeder that pays for scoops.
But you wouldn't have to pay TMZ. Just let them know that Young is flying in so they put a cameraman there when he lands.
posted by rcade at 02:52 PM on August 15, 2013
I said I hoped that he wouldn't become a flamboyant characature of his sexuality
Yup. I missed that second part of the statement regarding sexuality. My bad.
posted by grum@work at 02:54 PM on August 15, 2013
I promise not to lose any sleep over it. You please do the same. (smiley emoticon)
It will be interesting to see whether this was (a) orchestrated by McMahon, (b) happened with his knowledge and blessing, or (c) whether the announcement took him by surprise. I'm guessing that the answer to that question will eventually be revealed, but maybe well after we've all lost interest in the question. My assumption is that the more they play up his sexuality yesterday's announcement in the coming months, the greater the likelihood that this was something McMahon and the WWE encouraged, if not orchestrated.
posted by tahoemoj at 06:02 PM on August 15, 2013
John Cena's response.