"It is not about him being gay." Actor Michael K. Williams talks to After Elton about his role as Omar Little—the homothug and stick-up artist on the critically-acclaimed HBO series The Wire. "He makes no excuses for it,” Williams says. “It is what it is, and he is fine with his bottom line."
Williams' performance as Omar is one of the best portrayals of a black gay man ever seen on television. One moment he is ruthless and cutthroat; the next, he is sweet and tender with one of his boyfriends.
Omar is not the only gay character on The Wire—Sonja Sohn plays a lesbian detective and Seth Gilliam's ("PUNKS") character constantly engages in homoerotic banter. Williams opens up to After Elton about the backlash he received for a passionate on-screen kiss in season two. He says that it's indicative of a larger diversity issue within the black community: "We are still calling an educated brother with proper diction an Oreo cookie. What I am saying is, it is a lot deeper than the gay issue.”
The Wire's Michael K. Williams on Playing Gay (After Elton)
Previously:
Hamilton Cobb: No Big Deal Playing Gay (Rod 2.0) Jody Watley on Black Homophobia (Rod 2.0) Raz: "I'm Exploring Myself" (Rod 2.0) Busta's Homophobic VIBE (Rod 2.0) Taking the Homophobia Out of Hip-Hop (After Elton) Primetime Reports the Black HIV Epidemic (After Elton) "Why Would Any Straight Man?" (Rod 2.0) Taye Would Play Gay (Rod 2.0) Raz B Will Play Gay (Rod 2.0) John Legend and Cornel West (Rod 2.0) Ray J's One Wish (Rod 2.0) Taye Would Play Gay (Rod 2.0) A Conversation with Darryl Stephens (Rod 2.0) Rockmond Dunbar Joins "Noah" (Rod 2.0) Keith Hamilton Cobb Joins "Noah" (Rod 2.0)
Going to read that interview right now. That show is incredible and Williams character is too fierce.
Posted by: Carl | 08 September 2006 at 15:04
That show is really sexy. I love Omar's character.
Posted by: A. Ronald | 08 September 2006 at 15:24
I am so proud to read that this actor is as SMART AND INTELLIGENT as he is DARING AND GIFTED. Michael is ridiculously talented, and he always talks so eloquently about this character, his craft and our culture!
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY also gave out awards to AMAZING PERFORMANCES on television and key among them was MARY J. BLIGE'S "NO MORE DRAMA" PERFORMANCE AT THE 2003 GRAMMYS, WHERE SHE SANG THE BUILDING DOWN and MICHAEL WILLIAMS' ONGOING BRILLIANCE AS "OMAR!"
RIGHT ON TIME!
THANKS ROD!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 08 September 2006 at 15:51
I feel in love with Omar during the first season of The Wire. The character is authentic and so different then many of the portrayals of sgl people I've seen over the years. He reminds me of many of the sgl brothers I met while growing up in North Philly back in the 80s. Ah, memories! Kudos to Mr Williams for a job well done.
Posted by: charles | 08 September 2006 at 17:06
I'm shocked that Sway - a freakin MTV vj - would have the audacity to say that a gay kiss repulses him.
Posted by: Jaleel | 08 September 2006 at 17:56
Sway is a phony and not cute. I remember him from KMEL in the San Francisco Bay area. He co-hosted with Foxy Brown, the gay dude who was in the movie Soul Food. He was coming across at least gay tolerant back then. Now he is in NY he gotta show out. I was shocked when I moved to NY at how openly homophobic the Beat was.
Posted by: DFS | 09 September 2006 at 02:02
It is a shame that Williams has not been showered with Emmys. His performance, and the show as a whole, are perfect.
peace
Posted by: James | 09 September 2006 at 14:54
YESSS!! I LOVED THE WAY HE PLAYED OMAR!! HE was soo perfect for that role.. He sounds like somebody I would LOOVE to just have a conversation with!
Posted by: gdawg | 10 September 2006 at 05:44
that tenderness is hot - and the duality of the character is interesting.
Posted by: Jewlust | 10 September 2006 at 06:27
hey rod, are you still with clique magazine? havent heard you profile the latest issue of the mag, so just asking.
Posted by: lulu james | 11 September 2006 at 00:54
I'd hate to resort to petty name calling, but that scrunched up face little troll Sway does NOT have to worry about any gay come ons in the near future!
And I co-sign with the above posting and do find it a little shocking that someone who's employed as an MTV vj of all things would make such an ignorant remark.
I thought MTV made a habit of kneeling at the altar of tolerance.
Posted by: Crisp | 11 September 2006 at 12:20
BTW, where is the source of the Sway quote?
Posted by: Crisp | 11 September 2006 at 12:24
Crisp, you are right. Sway has NOTHING to worry about. He could walk through a club butt naked and not be touched. That face and nappy dreds are hideous.
Posted by: Sway is an UG-mo | 11 September 2006 at 16:31
Black people need to realize that there are gay Black men who conduct themselves as "thugs".
Posted by: Jahnelle | 12 September 2006 at 14:27
Wait till y'all see Episode 3 of the Wire on Sunday. Omar's got something swinging free for all you guys. *smirk*
Posted by: Rich | 19 September 2006 at 17:30
I just met Michael Williams this evening on a flight, and he is a cool, calm and very nice man. Glad to gave met him.
Posted by: Latanya | 08 December 2007 at 21:51
I just met Michael Williams this evening on a flight, and he is a cool, calm and very nice man. Glad to gave met him.
Posted by: Latanya | 08 December 2007 at 21:51
i really dont care that he play gay but still he look good
Posted by: roslyn taylor | 14 January 2008 at 10:48
who is the guy that plays his boyfriend?
Posted by: D | 25 April 2008 at 07:19
Which boyfriend would that be D? He has several in the Wire.
However, if you mean the one in the photos here, I think that is the character Dante, played by Ernest Waddell.
Posted by: Uber | 28 May 2008 at 13:28