Rod 2.0:Beta

Lee Daniels in "OUT 100"

Filmmaker Lee Daniels, director of the critically-acclaimed Precious,  was photographed by Jason Bell for the Out 100:

"If Daniels wins best director at this year’s Oscars for the devastatingly beautiful Precious—as he almost certainly will—he will be the first gay African-American to take the honor. The producer of not-so-lightweight films like Monster’s Ball and The Woodsman, Daniels is on his way to collecting a trophy case full of awards (the film has already won top prizes at the Sundance and Toronto film festivals) and securing himself a spot alongside directors like Alexander Payne and Ang Lee as a distinctive voice of his generation."

On a related note, Lee Daniels talks to the Chicago Free Press about the challenge of being an openly gay black director in Hollywood. 

For me, I think the gay part is not an issue. But more the black gay part is a bigger issue. As a gay man, gay men, there so many of them in Hollywood and (they’re) decision makers and it’s a cult, I think. I don’t have to worry about prejudices right now, anymore. I fought so long all my life—prejudices about being gay, about being victimized because I was gay, being victimized because I was black, being victimized because I was gay and black. I’m so happy at 50 years old, that I’m being embraced for my spirit and for me. And it’s so overwhelming. It’s just so beautiful that people can accept me for me and being open. I don’t have to lie. 

Precious, which is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, opened Friday in limited release and earned some $1.8 million at the box office. The film is showing at only 18 theaters nationwide. Its $100,000 per screen average is an industry record.

Terrell Carter Explains His Absence: "Been Working on My New Album"

Terrell Carter takes a two-week hiatus from Twitter and now returns to "explain" his absence: "Sorry I haven't Twittered much lately ... been busy with the album! How is everyone doin'"

We're all fine Terrell. The question is: How you doin'?

Those Tweets from a fan—and many others—asking Terrell Carter to explain "the gay pics" and address his previous denials are ignored by @TerrellMusic. The few Tweets answered are an alternate virtual reality. Only compliments and questions about the new album. Nothing about the events of the last two weeks. Not even a song about "gossip".

AFTER THE JUMP, just a few of many Tweets ignored by @TerrellMusic. Oh and while you're reading the messages from fans, make sure you listen to Terrell Carter's new single "I Don't Give a Damn", where he sings about cheating on his "girlfriend" with another ... woman. I don't give a damn .. if she walks in ... she can even join in. Really?

After Days of Silence, Terrell Carter (Somewhat) Addresses "Gossip"

Five days after being "outed" across Twitter, the internets, and the gay-baiting black gossip blogs by his ex-boyfriend, singer/actor Terrell Carter finally emerges from his safe and undisclosed location to respond to ... the "gossip."

On Saturday, Carter, the uber-talented performer who co-starred in a number of Tyler Perry's "Madea" productions, was the top-billing in "The Lost Son." This was a gospel play at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center in Decatur, outside Atlanta. In a stirring rendition of "Never Would Have Made It", Terrell Carter improvises and sings he "never would have made it through the last five days and the gossip" without Jesus.

Okay. That's about the "gossip". What about the "truth"? Or is Carter still insisting in public he is very! straight!, while semi-publicly involved with men and a regular at gay clubs like The Abbey (comments)? Or does this pass for an an apology on the gospel musical circuit?

Radio Facts, the urban music industry blog, notes the irony: "[Carter] is going to the same people who make him hide ... for salvation? Perhaps they will do a gay exorcism on him now."

WHEN YOU JUMP, via AndresFlava, watch Terrell Carter's incredible and undeniable talent. It's too bad he cannot tell the audience, "It's true, but it doesn't change who I am. I still love Jesus and God loves me." Now THAT would change the conversation in the black church. Oh and while we're at it, maybe there will also be an explanation (or a song) for why Terrell Carter posed as homothug Raheim on the cover of the B-Boy Blues novels—finally confirms author James Earl Hardy—after he initially denying that too? 

"Madea" Actor/Singer Terrell Carter Outed by Ex-Boyfriend

Terrell Carter, the talented singer and actor who starred in a number of Tyler Perry's "Madea" productions, becomes the second black male celebrity outed in the last two weeks. 

Carter starred in Tyler Perry’s Class Reunion and Meet the Browns, as well as the screen adaptation of TP's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Carter was also in the "What's Done in the Dark" plays. The six foot five, dark and lovely actor with the phenomenal voice also has quite the phenomenal physique, which made him all the more popular among female audiences.

Alex Cortez, the apparent ex-boyfriend seen above and below, posted the pictures across the intenets, starting with the hugely popular Lipstick Alley mesageboard, then moving onto his MySpace and Twitter accounts to blast his ex. Cortez (@Model is Cute) Tweets: "Hell yeah i’m angry!…there are fucked up ppl out there no matter how nice they seem to be & it’s their fault, ppl they harm are bitter!"

The black gossip blogs are in their usual feeding freezy over rumors. MediaTakoeut.com has 450 comments, mostly negative. Popular black celebrity blogger Sandra Rose reported on Carter's rumored sexuality last year, stating the handsome singer was involved with Noah's Arc actor Christian Vincent. "All I can say is there are photos for sale. And I will leave it at that." Rose was also one of the first to break this story and wryly observed what is surely an open secret in black Hollywood: "Just because Terrell once starred in a Tyler Perry film means nothing. Only 99% of the actors in Tyler’s movies are gay. Terrell might be in that tiny 1% minority who isn’t gay."

Terrell Carter is the second black male celebrity outed in the last ten days. Reality star Dorion Standberry (BET's College Hill)  was blasted ten days across the internets, also by an ex-boyfriend seeking revenge. Although Rod 2.0 had advance knowledge of both stories, we chose not to report the first one, and, took our time posting the Carter outing. Look at the picture above with the couple kissing and it's obvious Terrell Carter trusted this man. I'm all for gay men, especially black gay men, to come out of the closet. But if you're outed kicking and screaming, or by a jealous or scorned lover, it probably does more harm than good.

WHEN YOU JUMP, via Black Celebrity Men, Terrell Carter seen on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, partying with the boyz during Pride. If you've got it, flaunt it.

UPDATE: There may be much more to this story. Some damaging personal allegations have been made. Let's not discuss until some confirmation.

Thanks LOWKEY SHAWTY and JEFFERY

Tyler Perry Will Buy Private Island for 40th Birthday

Perennial bachelor and very! straight! g-fab movie director Tyler Perry will celebrate his 40th birthday this September by purchasing a private island.

"I'm a loner by nature, so when I'm out there on these islands, I just feel like the only person in the world," says Perry, whose latest film, Madea Goes to Jail, grossed a whopping $41 million its opening weekend.

After recently spending a week vacationing on a private island in the Great Exumas in the Bahamas, he admits it's not all relaxation: "Renting an island is the best place for me to work uninterrupted." [...]

But he will put one rule into full effect: "There will be no paparazzi on my island!" he declares.

Of course there won't be any paparazzi on Tyler Perry's private getaway. But it's not like there is any special person in his life. "I'm just looking for the right woman," the nearly 40-year-old man told Essence, addressing those perennial gay rumors and explaining why he has never been linked with a woman.

You keep telling yourself that, Tyler. Oh and enjoy the privacy of your island.

Tyler Perry Plans Private Island Purchase [People]

Michael Jai White Goes Shirtless (Twice!) in New Tyler Perry Trailer

Most of you know that we're not the biggest Tyler Perry or Madea fans—the improvisation-based humor of his stage plays has never translated onto the big screen, among other reasons—but you have to give the man credit for marketing. His newest project, Why Did I Get Married is a Big Chill-themed reunion film. The cast should broadly appeal to women and black gay men—besides himself, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Malik Yoba and Rod 2.0 fave Michael Jai White, etc. are forced to emote during their annual seven-day reunion in the "picturesque snowcapped mountains of Colorado."

The two-minute trailer is quite interesting. Super-hottie Michael Jai White does what he does best: He appears shirtless in two scenes.

Perry's knack for casting Michael Jai White, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons, Shemar Moore, Terrell Carter et. al. in shirtless and tank top scenes—in addition to the history of the Madea character—have raised more than a few eyebrows. The director addresses those persistent gay rumors in the current Essence: "It used to bother me a whole lot in the beginning—it really, really did. But what it's done is give me a firm seating in my manhood. And if some people can't separate the character from the man that I am, then that's their issue, not mine."

Perry says he is looking for the "right" woman—but just hasn't found her yet.

Tyler's Not Gay [Post-Gazette]

Did You Read .. ?
MJW Stalkerazzi [R20]
Michael Jai Part Deaux [R10]
Terrell Carter [R20]
Madea's Oprah Reunion [R20]
Boris Kodjoe: "The Gospel" [R20]
Henry Simmons in "Madea's Family Reunion" [R20]
Ne-Yo on Persistent Gay Rumors: "I'm NOT Gay!" [R20]
Ne-Yo: "You're Nobody Until They Say You're Gay" [R20]
Shemar Moore: "I'm Not Gay" [R20]
Rodney Chester of "Noah's Arc": "I'm Still NOT Gay" [R20]
R&B Singer Tyrese Will Ban ALL MEN [R20]
Kanye Responds to Gay Rumors [R20]
Has-Been Rapper Beanie Sigel Demands Kanye and Pharrell "Come Out" of the Closet [R20]

Henry Simmons in "Madea's Family Reunion"

Just think of it as an opportunity to see Henry Simmons on the big screen...

Another last weekend in February, another number one showing for a mediocre and ghetto fab Tyler Perry movie. Jasmyne Cannick reflects on the latest success of Madea's Family Reunion whose screen "adaptation" is (thankfully) free of the cheap gay jokes that have been standard operating procedure in the stage plays. "What if Tyler Perry were gay? Would Madea continue to be as popular among Black churchgoers? Probably not. At least with his assumed heterosexuality, Christians can rest at ease that they are not supporting anything gay because after all, it is just a role." Sure it's just a role. The irony, of course, is that Tyler Perry's "Madea" character was totally stolen from Atlanta trans performer Miss Sophia McIntosh. We're sure you were looking for the obligatory Madea drag shot but you can find those here or here. Give us a break; it's Henry Simmons.

Madea's Oprah Reunion

Tyler Perry—creator of the hugely popular Madea series of plays and, now, movies—is the latest guest on the Oprah sofa. The interview was fairly lackluster, but a later comedy routine with his alter ego of Madea Simmons was truly hilarious and The Malcontent offers a full video clip. Tyler was on the show to promote his latest movie Madea's Family Reunion.

It's more than somewhat ironic that Tyler Perry has based his act on a legendary Atlanta female impersonator (Ms. Sophia McIntosh, profiled here), performs as Madea in a dress and wig, yet, the scripts often take potshots at gays. Hopefully the film adaptation will lack the gay jokes that have become standard operating procedure in plays such as Family Reunion. ("Is your son still playing with Barbie dolls? Or has he graduated to playing with Ken?") For the most part, the musicals are inspirational, family-oriented and based in the traditions of the black church. But, as many of us have learned from experience, that can also mean that the humor can be judgmental and elitist.

Tyler's segment was neatly divided into two parts. The first part contained the intro, clips and the predictable interview. The second part was much more interesting; with Tyler Perry supposedly sitting on the set, Madea Simmons appeared "Live via Satellite" from her home in Atlanta. (Actually, we all know that Tyler lives in an Alpharetta mansion, but why quibble.) The talk back with Oprah, the audience, and "Tyler" was hilarious—especially when Tyler asked his alter ego for advice on dating a woman. Almost anyone from Atlanta will that ... let's just say amusing.

The stage version of Madea's Family Reunion is one of our fave Madea plays; Terrell Carter's solo is spectacular, plus he looks almost as good, if not better, than his voice. (Which is, well, spectacular.) Of course, Tamela and David Mann, as Cora and Mr. Brown, are remarkable. Unfortunately, none of these people will be incorporated into the film adaptation. The movie version of Family Reunion will boast a galaxy of gay-familiar names—Lynn Whitfield, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons, Jenifer Lewis, Cicely Tyson and Maya Aneglou. The soul and the music will be out, the stars will be in. Nothing new there.

In more ways than one, this was a gay show. Before Tyler-slash-Madea appeared in wig and make-up to offer dating advice, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal sat on the sofa to talk Brokeback Mountain and The Malcontent offers has another great clip of the segment. Readers familiar to these pages will recall Oprah segments where we have called her to task for being gay-friendly but not gay-literate. We've always thought that perhaps Oprah was much more comfortable around gay men and gay topics that were not black-oriented—especially steering clear of black men who were closeted. But it seems that we aren't the only ones who've noticed this. The mainstream (okay, white) gay audiences are not necessarily singing her praises after the Brokeback interview: Lady O seemed to be pre-occupied with their same-sex kiss and worries that the actors wouldn't be typecast. The comments section at Towleroad and The Malcontent—who has the video clip—are heated with debate on the interview.

A big muah and thanks to The Malcontent for video and screen caps!

Chinese censors ban Brokeback but okay Memoirs of a Geisha. Just last week, director Ang Lee—born in Taiwan—was hoping for approval, saying that Asian audiences were possibly more receptive to gay themes.