Top 30 Celebs Who Shot Down Homophobic Interview Questions

Barbara Walters is known for asking the tough, sometimes way-too-personal questionsbut this time, shes the one playing defense. While chatting with Bill OReilly about her most fascinating celebs, things get tense fast. First, she claps back at his rude comments about Lady Gaga. Then, when they bring up Adam Lambert, OReilly shrugs him off as that gay guy. Walters isnt having it. She pushes back, praising Lamberts talent and performance choices, while OReilly talks about his sexuality like its just some kind of gimmick. Its great seeing Walters stand up to himuntil she admits she once tried to out Lambert. So close, and yet, yikes.

This ones a little differentits not that Betty White was asked a homophobic question, but more how shed handle the haters. While The Golden Girls had its flaws, the show had long been a supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. White showed in this interview that the support wasnt just for show. We love that shes more focused on grammar than giving any space to hate. You can tell part of her feels like this should go without saying, but she also gets how important it isespecially from someone in her positionto take a stand. Its another moment that shows why Betty White was such an incredible ally and icon.

While interviewing for the French talk show Quotidien, Harry Styles was asked for his thoughts on Brexit, because if you were British and anywhere outside the UK, you could see that question coming a mile away. Styles gracefully sidesteps the subject, wanting to keep politics and his music separate. But that opens the door for the host to pivot hard, bringing up Styles support for gender and LGBTQIA+ equality. Bit of a leap, going from Brexit to basic human rightsbut thats the curse of being a famous Brit back then. Styles handles it perfectly, saying he doesnt see equality as political. It just should be. Simple as that. End of story.

To any reporters out there, might we suggest not interrogating actors about their co-stars nether regions? At this BAFTA interview, a BBC reporter got way too curious about Andrew Scotts thoughts on that Saltburn scene. First offyes, we agree with the voice in the corner saying no spoilers. Seriously, how unprofessional. But worse was the reporter ignoring Scotts obvious discomfort and pressing on anyway, leaving Scott no choice but to walk away. Naturally, the clip blew up online, with the BBC receiving complaints over how insensitive it felt. They responded, saying the reporter wasnt trying to be malicious, but admitted the question was misjudged. Ya think?

Mariahs ice cream cart stunt has gone down in infamy and is one she would address later in her career. Anyway, you can tell TRL host Carson Daly was totally blindsided by it all. So well chalk his awkward reaction up to sheer confusion. When she tries to gift him a Loverboy t-shirt, he hesitates, brushing it off as essentially not for men. Carey coolly shuts that down fast, saying the shirts for everyone and that she doesnt discriminate. The whole segment is a chaotic swirl of glitter, ice cream, and confusion. Yet that moment still makes us wince all these years later.

Daniel Radcliffe has long been known as an LGBTQIA+ ally, even more so since transphobia has clouded the Harry Potter legacy like a Dark Mark. In Kill Your Darlings, he played poet Allen Ginsberg, who happens to be gay, and the film included a few intimate scenes. Speaking to HuffPostUK, Radcliffe noted how often hes asked about those scenes, saying people seem really shocked by it, but [he doesnt] think its shocking. He called it an example of the acceptable face of homophobia, describing the reactions as downright childish.

Weve already talked about Barbara Walters invasive questionsand trust us, were not done yet. In 1991, she interviewed Richard Gere, who had previously starred in the play Bent. He was apparently so convincing that some people questioned whether he was actually gay, rather than, you know, just a good actor. Walters asked him to address the rumors, and Gere gave a short, direct answer. But she wasnt done. She waited for him to elaborate, and he calmly responded that he doesnt care if people think hes gay because theres nothing wrong with that. What did she expect him to say? Eventually, Walters realized she wasnt getting more and moved right along.

Adam Lambert sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment industry when, at the 2009 AMAsand were hoping youre sitting down for thishe got a bit spicy during his performance. We know, we know. Pearl-clutching stuff, right? It seemed like everyone was talking about it. It was almost as if the 2003 VMAs never even happened. Apparently, it wasnt something hed rehearsed, but it just felt right in the moment. In a quote from Showbiz Tonight, Lambert called out the unfairness around the reaction. He pointed out that if he were a woman, he doesnt believe it would have caused this much backlash, calling it a form of discrimination and a double standard.

Howard Stern is another of those interviewers who never holds back when he thinks theres tea to be spilled. In this interview with former Beatle Ringo Starr, he digs into rumors about John Lennons sexuality and whether he was ever intimate with their manager, Brian Epstein. Were sure Ringo gets that people will always ask about the Beatles, but come ontheres got to be a line. Stern starts by questioning Starrs sexuality before pivoting to Lennon. To his credit, Ringos response is brilliant: polite, cool, collected, and very finalor at least, it shouldve been. Everyone but Stern could tell this topic of conversation was a total dead end.

In 1996, Nathan Lane and Robin Williams starred in The Birdcage, playing a couple. Lane, who wasnt yet ready to discuss his sexuality publicly, confided in Williams just before they were set to be interviewed by Oprah that he was nervous the topic might come up. Now, we should say that Lane doesnt believe Oprah was trying to out him, but we all know someones coming out journey is deeply personaland not something to be handled on national TV, and definitely not without consent. Luckily, Williams was right there and steered the conversation away with his usual wit and charm. Years later, Lane said he felt protected by Williams, calling him a saint.

You might remember this as the interview where Grande called out the hosts when they asked her a super sexist question. But, it wasnt her only clapback in the conversation. During an exchange about the newest emoji updates, Grande singled out the unicorn as one of her favorites. One of the hosts wasted no time implying that the unicorn is beloved only by girls and boyeez whatever thats supposed to mean. The singer was even faster to fire back and suggested that the Power 106 FM hosts brush up on their equality. We commend her for just how calm and easygoing she remained, because we were seething the whole way through.

In a slight deviation from our other entries, this interview sees Ellen discussing Caitlyn Jenner's conservative views with Howard Stern. The former daytime talk show host vented her frustrations over how Jenner sought acceptance for herself after coming out as transgender but drew the line at marriage equality. When Stern asked if the pair danced together, Ellen said they had not, but she wasn't sure whether that was because the former Olympian wasn't much of a dancer or because of DeGeneres' sexual orientation. Sure, Jenner wasn't present for this interview, but if she had been, we have no doubt she'd have been called out by everyone present.

In 2010, "True Bloods" Anna Paquin came out as bisexual. Apparently, this confused talk show host Larry King, since she's married to Stephen Moyer, a man. Paquin looked taken aback initially, but calmly and politely explained why his assumptions were illogical. The actress did an excellent job of clarifying that one's relationship status isn't necessarily indicative of their sexuality. She also discussed the importance of education and exposure to knock out ignorance. It's hard to tell if she convinced the host since he swiftly changed the subject, but we were cheering her on the entire time.

When the Heroes singer came out in the 70s, it seemed like everyone and their mother had an opinion. Publications tried to define his sexuality, and he dealt with some pretty invasive questions. He later told Playboy that he was bisexual and eventually backtracked, calling himself a closet heterosexual. Still, Bowies journey of self-discovery and fluidity remained of great interest to many. British talk show host Jonathan Ross quite crassly questioned the artists sexual orientation when he appeared on his show in 2002. Bowie responded with plenty of wit and sass, ultimately giving Ross nothing, but stealing the show at the same time.

In retaliation to the Dont Say Gay bill, Lightyear creators restored the films previously cut kiss between Alisha Hawthorne and her wife. Its a blink-and-youll-miss-it moment, but it still caused plenty of outrage and led the movie to be banned in multiple countries. When asked about it, the movies star, Chris Evans, said that hes delighted they included it but less pleased by how big a deal the moment was in the first place. He also fired back at the scenes critics, calling those up in arms idiots. Evans certainly doesnt mince his words, and were so here for it.

During an interview with HuffPost Live, Reynolds was asked about those who stated they were defecting to Canada after SCOTUS ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. This followed a tweet where he hilariously pointed out that it was already legal in his home country. When the reporter asked the actor about his thoughts on same-sex marriage he responded rather endearingly. [1] It seemed like a bit of a pointless question, given his evident support for the LGBTQ+ community. But, if anyone had a shadow of a doubt before, they certainly knew he was an ally after. Just as we thought; we couldnt love him more!

Now, this is a moment that aged like fine wine. Growing up in Hollywood, we can only imagine that Jodie Foster became increasingly exhausted with the relentless interest in her love life. In 1979, at only 17 years old, an interviewer asked her if she had a boyfriend and pressed for more details about her ideal man. It would still be some time until Foster would come out publicly, but that smirk definitely felt like a sneer at the heteronormative assumption. The recently resurfaced clip has been memed countless times and branded as gay silence.

In 2005, the late Aussie actor gave an award-winning performance as Ennis Del Mar in the Western romantic drama, Brokeback Mountain. Same-sex relationships were rarely spotlighted at the time, even less so in such a mainstream market. During a press junket, a reporter asked the actor to respond to those who branded the movies central love story as disgusting. Ledger could have let his performance in the film speak for itself, but instead he left no doubt about his feelings. He made it clear he had no time for those kinds of attitudes and highlighted the all-important humanity of the two characters at the center of the story.

Once labeled by The Advocate as The Elvis of the LGBTQ+ community, Garland has always fondly been thought of as a tremendous ally. Take this interview from the 1960s when she was questioned about her gay fanbase. Garland wasted no time maintaining that her art was for everyone. She also politely stated that she wouldnt stand for anyone coming after her fans. This is the woman who encouraged plenty of queer youth to live their lives openly Somewhere Over the Rainbow, so we wouldnt expect any different. Years ahead of her time, Garland was an icon through and through.

In 2020, an interview of Fonda defending the LGBTQ+ community during a 1979 interview resurfaced and went viral. In it, she can be heard warding off a stream of homophobic questions and doubling down on her support. This interview seems to have taken place around the time of the San Francisco White Night Riots that followed the assassination of Harvey Milk, with whom she was reportedly friends. Fonda delivers a masterclass on true allyship and shows that this is a cause she cares for deeply. How she keeps her cool is beyond us because the questions are absolutely awful. But, Fondas never shied away from fighting for whats right, even when shes standing alone.

Rumors regarding The Big Bang Theory actors sexuality have always been rife. However, he never really addressed them. Galecki initially looks confused when the hosts absentmindedly throw his sexuality and relationship status into the conversation. He explains that since theres not much bad press on him out there, people need to make up stories. Galecki added that he has no reason or desire to respond to those whispers. In hindsight, host Whoopi Goldberg notes the ridiculousness of the conversation. But its too late; its already out there. Kudos to Galecki

The late great George Michael was a huge advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and unapologetic about his sexuality. He used his platform to campaign for causes close to his heart, such as HIV/AIDS awareness. Society and Michaels career kept him in the closet for years until an incident in 1998 led to his arrest and forced him to come out. In subsequent years,he criticized mainstream media for trying to box the LGBTQ+ community into doing what makes straight people comfortable. He also blasted homophobes in many-an-interview. Michael was never interested in their views or perceptions of him beyond his music. He also declared that he has nothing to apologize for. Too right, George Michael, too right.

Tom Hardys a talented actor whos given us gripping performances in movies like Locke, Mad Max, and The Drop. However, a reporter from Daily Extra wasnt interested in any of that. During a press conference promoting Hardys Legend at the Toronto International Film Festival, a correspondent tried to get Hardy to speak about his personal life. The actor eloquently and calmly called out the invasive question and quickly shut it down. He later explained that he isnt obliged to answer personal queries and called the question inelegant and humiliating and quite rude. Whats baffling is that it came from an LGBTQ+ publication. You would think theyd understand how personal sexuality can be. In any case, Hardys well-mannered and even-tempered response was perfect.

When you have a musical legend as major as a former Beatle on your show, we imagine youd have a lot of questions. Asking how rockstar bachelor life compares to marriage probably shouldnt even break the top 100, but McCartney rolls with it. While his response is very nonchalant the host seems thrown by the idea that the world isnt entirely heterosexual. McCartneys dry retort, and his wifes bemused expression tell us what they think about the boneheaded question. The singer cant help getting in one final jibe at the presenter before moving the conversation forward. While Snyders inquiry was bad, the McCartneys response only made us love them more.

While appearing on The View, the singer-song-writer expressed her disappointment over proposition 8, which invalidated same-sex marriages in California. She politely called out The View co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck for misleading viewers on the matter in a previous episode. After a mildly heated debate over marriage equality, Etheridge point blankly asked Hasselbeck whether she was a supporter of same-sex marriage. The presenter refused to answer the question and simply repeated that prop 8 wasnt personal to her. We admire Etheridges ability to stay cool, calm, and collected in the tense situation. The debate ended with Sherri Shepherd sending the singer to perform her song and suggesting they continue the discussion at a later date.

Remember when the media and public obsessed over Lady Gagas genitalia? Well, one person who had no intention of jumping on that bandwagon was the Born This Way singer herself. She was usually known to crack jokes about these baseless claims with her fans during concerts. And she had the best response to these rumors when she was asked about them during a 60 Minutes Overtime interview with Anderson Cooper. Rather than confirm whether or not its true, she ridiculed the entire conversation. Gagas LGBTQ+ fans applauded her for refusing to validate the gossip. They thanked her for standing up for them in a world that tries to shame them for who they are.

In 2014, transgender activist and director/producer Janet Mock appeared on Piers Morgans show to promote her book Redefining Realness. However, the presenter seemed more interested in discussing her transition. Morgan showed a disrespectful lack of understanding or compassion for the transgender experience. The Pose executive producer called out Morgan for trying to use her life for entertainment value and for his reductive thinking about gender. She later appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss the contentious interview. In 2017, after the Breakfast Club presenters and their guest Lil Duval made horrendously offensive comments about trans women and mocked her book. This prompted Mock to write a powerful essay for Allure. Shed had enough of the ignorance and implored people to educate themselves.

Madonna is arguably one of the LGBTQ+ communitys biggest allies. In 1991 while promoting her Truth or Dare documentary, the singer was questioned about her openness to sex and sexuality. She said that the lack of conversation surrounding these subjects contributed to some of societys biggest problems. Madonna hoped her actions and the dialogue they created would better educate young people and help them become more accepting of others. The Vogue singer also called out the hypocrisy over the double standards in American media. In another interview, when challenged over how her documentary could offend homophobes, Madonna made it very clear that she couldnt care less.

In 2010, Ricky Martin decided to live life as an out and proud gay man. But the Livin La Vida Loca singer often found his sexuality at the center of the rumor mill before this point. In 2000, journalist Barbara Walters tried to push a visibly uncomfortable Martin to address his sexuality in a televised interview. Watching her force him into the hot seat is incredibly painful to watch. Years later, he recalled how violated he felt by her incessant questioning. He added that trying to force someone to come out was just wrong. In 2006 Walters acknowledged that her invasive questions were out of line.

This actress and LGBTQ+ activist is a fierce advocate for transgender equality and visibility. Cox never shies away from educating on transgender issues and has no problem putting people in their place when necessary. On one occasion, she politely explained to Wendy Williams what it means to be transgender while refusing to engage in conversation about her breasts. Cox also clapped back at Travis Weber when he insisted that trans women shouldnt be allowed to use female bathrooms. However, the most famous occasion might be when she overheard Katie Couric asking model Carmen Carrera inappropriate and uncomfortable questions about her physical appearance. Cox stepped in and respectfully explained why questions like these are problematic.