Heather Matarazzo got engaged to her long time girlfriend Carolyn Murphy. When the news was announced today, Heather was then splashed all over the tabloids. Why? Heather really hasn't done much lately that anyone would really know. Her last "big" role was in Princess Diaries. Now, as you know if you have been reading the blog for any amount of time is that I am a big fan of Heather and Carolyn although I must say that Carolyn seems a bit clingy like Heather is going to run away and leave her. I also give them a lot of crap for always pawing at each other on the red carpet. See, that's the thing. I give straight or gay couples the same amount of crap for doing the same things. I like Heather and so she has been in the photos probably four or five times. When is the last time prior to today you had ever seen her in a magazine or on a website? Hmmm?
If Heather had got engaged to a guy, do you think it would have made the tabloids? Do you think US Weekly would have cared? Maybe, just maybe, People would have written three lines and thrown it into their engaged section online.
So why the big deal? I'll tell you why. It's because Heather is gay. The only reason any of the tabloids posted anything is because she's gay. What were their reasons for doing so? Newsworthy because she's gay or newsworthy because they want to stir up some crap and then sell some magazines with interviews and wedding coverage?
If the magazines cared so much about Heather before how come they never mentioned her? Ever. Do this. Go to people.com and in their little search thing, type in Heather Matarazzo. See how many articles and photos pop up. None, except for the engagement story. None. In case you are curious, their search engine goes back about two years.
How about US Weekly? They are screaming about this and just patting each other on the back like Heather is their best friend. How many articles and photos in the past two years? Two. Both of them from today.
I'm thrilled for Heather. She knows I love her, and I'm happy she i getting some attention and publicity, but at the same time, part of me thinks that she should be treated like every other celebrity of equal stature and as such should have got no mentions and no blurbs. To me, it is kind of exploiting the fact she is gay. For equality to mean something you should be able to say, "So? Who gives a crap? I don't know her so why should we print anything." To me at least, that is equality.
Oh well. Looks like Anne Hathaway missed the boat then!
ReplyDeleteWell, I kinda agree, except it IS still news that any gay people can get married. I think lots of gay people are excited to see it when celebs are out and in love.
ReplyDeleteI get People every week. Yes, I apy for it. And, as a matter of fact, they DID have an article about her and her career less than a year ago. Not that I am defending Kneepads, but maybe we should check our facts before we come off as smug and self-congratulatory, hmmm? Also heard a radio interview with her about a month ago. She is not completely off the radar.
ReplyDeleteThat is, I PAY for it.
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps the opposite. I think that the magazine editors probably have exposure to the trying reality of getting gay rights equal and are trying to expose the minivan majority to it as much as possible. I doubt it's a 'pssst, can you believe they're engaged? I mean, they're GAY' thing.
ReplyDeleteActually, I have no clue what the motive is but since when have we ever cared what the f&ck People said???
What Sara said.
ReplyDeleteyou pay for a tabloid????
ReplyDeletegod you're better off taking your $5 and lighting it with a bic.
"you pay for a tabloid????"
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to "OK" because all the kissing when new pics of Owen come out wasn't good for my monitor.
And how! I completely agree. But then again, that might be why she got engaged. INOP--in need of press.
ReplyDeleteI guess Lindsey is a trail blazer for not keeping her relationship with Samro under wraps. Maybe more celebs will choose to come out.
ReplyDeleteI think the press coverage has largely to do with the fact that people want to share her joy in being able to get married, now. I know it was for me, when I posted it on my blog this morning. And straight, out of the spotlight couples who get engaged get free press coverage, too, you know.
ReplyDeleteActually, Heather's most recent publicity would have been for Hostel 2, which was just last year, right?
ReplyDeleteAnd while it's a little exploiting, I would agree with big sur that it's more about "hey everyone, look. it's okay that gay people are getting married."
Sounds like a great gal but never heard of her....I live in a closet....pun intended...
ReplyDeleteI was a bit confused as to why People calls Carolyn Heather's "girlfriend," and yet Sam is Lindsay's "Gal Pal." Also, notice how many other entertainment sites have taken up the term "gal pal" to describe Samantha Ronson? Why does this annoy me so much???
ReplyDeleteIt's Saturday - I need a margarita.
I'm mixed about the whole thing, but generally I agree. I just can't shake the whole skeezy feeling that it's treating an engagement as a novelty, as if a gay marriage isn't as serious as any other marriage. It's like "ooo, they're gay! Let's get pictures! It's taboo!" But as Sara said, it's exciting that gay people can get married. I get excited whenever any celeb decides to come out. So this is all probably just a stepping stone.
ReplyDelete