“ How incredibly reformist and mature . I bid we could say that things have drastically improved since this time but we seem to be going backwards again now . ”
WhenBrokeback Mountainwas released in 2005, it sadly became the subject ofwidespread mockeryand anti-gay criticism from people uncomfortable with the concept of two cowboys falling in love.
Leading actorHeath Ledgerrepeatedly made it known that he wasn’t OK with people making jokes about the film, with his costarJake Gyllenhaalrevealing in 2019 that he outright shut down any kind of mockery. “Someone wanted to make a joke about the story or whatever… [Heath] was like, ‘No. This is about love.’ Like, that’s it, man. Like, no,” herecalledof Heath, who sadly died in 2008.
The following year, Jake revealed that Heath evenrefused to present at the 2006 Oscars— the same year thatBrokeback Mountainwas nominated for eight Academy awards — because an anti-gay joke was allegedly set to feature during the opening.
“ I was sort of at the time , ‘ Oh , OK … whatever . ’ I ’m always like , ‘ It ’s all in good play , ’ ” Jakesaid . “ And Heath said , ‘ It ’s not a laugh to me — I do n’t require to make any jokes about it . ’ ”
And this week, aresurfaced clipfrom a 2006 press conference shows Heath once again expertly handling criticism of the film’s gay love story.
In the clip, which was shared byPinkNews, a reporter at the Berlinale Press Conference asked Heath: “How do you respond to such people who suggest that this is, uh, disgusting?”
Heath immediately groaned and said, “I don’t know. I think it’s a real shame.” He then quickly added, “Well, I think it’s immature, for one. Really immature. But I think that it’s an incredible shame that people go out of their way to discuss disgust or to voice their disgust, I should say. Or negative opinions about the way two people wish to love another.”
“I mean, at least voice your opinions on how two people should hate and [show] violence and anger towards each other. Isn’t that more important? I think so,” he went on.
“ The pure fact of it is it transcends a label ; it ’s human . It ’s a story of two human beings , two someone that are in love . It ’s like , get over the fact that there ’s two men — that ’s the point in time ! ” Heath suppose .
“ The movie is not a tarradiddle about an epidemic or a computer virus or something that can be cured in a hospital . We ’re designate that love life between two men is just as infectious and emotional and solid and pure as it is with heterosexual love , ” he add up .
After watching the resurfaced clip,several internet usershave praised Heath’s “progressive and mature” stance.
“He handled the production and press with incredible grace,” oneReddituser wrote. “How incredibly progressive and mature. I wish we could say that things have drastically improved since this time but we seem to be going backwards again now,” someone said.
“Truly king behavior to be so bored by the question,” one user said, while another admitted that they were left super emotional by the clip, writing, “This makes me tear up.”
Meanwhile , several fans wind up up discussing how horriblyBrokeback Mountainwas treat amid its release , with the actor consistently question about its gay love portrayal and , of course , observe themselves at the middle of anti - cheery joke .
One personcitedthe 2006MTV Movie & TV Awards , where Justin Timberlake and Eva Mendes present Jake with the “ Best Kiss ” honor . When Eva record out , “ The in effect buss goes to … ” Justinsaid , “ Ooh , it ’s the fellas , ” before facetiously veer Jake on degree .
Feel free to share your thoughts down below.
