Vince Vaughn has weighed in on the outcry over the use of the word “gay” in his upcoming film “The Dilemma” — sort of.
In a statement addressing general injustices more than “The Dilemma” specifically, the actor defended the use of comedy to tackle hot-button issues while denouncing the “persecution of people for their differences.”
Vaughn wrote, “Let me add my voice of support to the people outraged by the bullying and persecution of people for their differences, whatever those difference may be. Comedy and joking about our differences breaks tension and brings us together. Drawing dividing lines over what we can and cannot joke about does exactly that; it divides us. Most importantly, where does it stop.”
Vaughn’s statement followed the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s stance against the makers of “The Dilemma” for using the word “gay” as a pejorative and featuring it prominently in the film’s trailer. Universal has pulled the trailer from theaters and may cut the offensive language from the Ron Howard-directed movie.
The issue first surfaced last week when Anderson Cooper criticized the trailer during an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
“The Dilemma” opens on Jan. 14, 2011.
