Hey Leno, How's This for "Gayest Look"?!

Posted Mar 25th 2008 1:46PM by TMZ Staff

Jeff Whitless vs. Jay Leno Broadway playwright Jeff Whitty is once again lashing out at Jay Leno -- this time for asking Ryan Phillippe to give his "gayest look" on the "Tonight Show."

During an interview last week, Leno made light of Ryan's first acting role -- playing a gay teen on "One Life to Live"-- by asking the visibly uncomfortable star to give him his "gayest look." Queer eye for the unfunny guy!

In a letter on his website, Whitty, who won a Tony for "Avenue Q" and is openly gay, calls Jay a jerk for "using the stereotype that we're laughable and really, all the same in the end." Whitty also links to various images and articles of "gay faces" -- like slain teen and hate-crime victim Lawrence King -- and asks Jay, "Which one's the gayest to you?"

After sparring in 2006 over Jay's relentless "gay-baiting" jokes, Whitty and Leno allegedly talked and, er, straightened out the matter. But with this latest incident, it's safe to say Leno and Whitty aren't exactly fishin' buddies.

TMZ contacted a "Tonight Show" rep, but have not heard back.

Filed under: Celebrity Feuds

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(Page 7 of 8)Previous 15 Comments | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

91. it must be really uncomfortable when jay leno's GAY BAND LEADER KEVIN EUBANKS has to listen to the gay jokes....

Posted at 4:04AM on Mar 26th 2008 by KENNY

92. Jay Leno, do people still watch that guy......bring on Letterman, funny and smart. Leno is so puffed up does anyone really listen.

Posted at 4:40AM on Mar 26th 2008 by luz lady

93. Hey Jeff. You are an every day hero. Thank you for standing up for the end of this kind of humor. It is unacceptable, and the more we speak out against it, I belive it will open the eyes of those of have become numb to the trickle down effect of this kind of hateful and all-too-accepted type of humor.

Posted at 7:19AM on Mar 26th 2008 by Glen

94. Totally against making fun or sterotyping of any group of individuals but why does this Whitty guy think it's okay to refer to a kid,on two seperate youtube videos he was directing , as the "fat kid". I'm sure if the kid was gay he'd be more sensitive and wouldn't refer to him as the "gay kid". I find it offensive that"fat kids" are being used as a source of amusement, pelting them with paintballs or laughing at them strapped tightly into amusement rides. Bottom line - don't go bashing Leno if you're not willing to look at yourself first. Neither your or Jay's behavior is right.

Posted at 9:19AM on Mar 26th 2008 by janice

95. Jay is a comedian! This dude needs to get over himself. I love Jay Leno!!!!

Posted at 9:57AM on Mar 26th 2008 by pay attention

96. I would like to see Jay Leno,give his best gay look.

Posted at 10:16AM on Mar 26th 2008 by Tony Barker

97. Jay Leno is a bigot plain and simple. I stopped watching his stupid show years ago.

Posted at 10:50AM on Mar 26th 2008 by Damon Todd

98. sTFUUUUUUuuuuuuuuu!!!!! - since when are flags political?!

Posted at 1:20PM on Mar 26th 2008 by canO'tuna

99. tired of it all sez "While it is sad that all those people were beaten and/or killed for their sexual orientation, people are done that way EVERYDAY for no other reason than someone is just nuts. Gays/lesians aren't special as far as killings go, it happens to all kinds of people. GOD BLESS"

Substitute Black for gays/lesbians. Or how about christian. How would you react if people or even the whole culture targeted christians for death just because they were christians?

Posted at 1:41PM on Mar 26th 2008 by reer_r

100. I would like to see Jay Leno give his gayest look!

Posted at 1:42PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Tony Barker

101. Jay is the man. Overall he is the king of late night and his ratings prove it. No body can mess with the Leno man, come on, heheee.

Posted at 1:58PM on Mar 26th 2008 by sy

102. Oh, girls, just get over it. No one cares.

Posted at 3:31PM on Mar 26th 2008 by R.Zimmerman

103. Reading through these comments is really something. I can't believe that so many people give a f**k about WHO people f**k, when it isn't harming anyone. What a bunch of half-wits. Couch it in whatever "moral" crap you want, you homo-obsessed haters out there need to grow the hell up.

Posted at 4:13PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Jimmy

104. The Whittys of the world should carefully construct what they are going to say in defense of themselves. "We're all the same in the end" was not the best choice of words.

Posted at 7:56PM on Mar 26th 2008 by pa

105. Whitty's website / response to Leno is thoughtful, sincere, and heartbreaking (see section on "faces"); everyone should read it. I am proud of TMZ for posting this information. Leno is simply not funny; more importantly, this report and Whitty's response sheds light on a topic that often goes ignored by the mainstream media. I am disgusted by NBC's decision not to reprimand Leno and am insprired by such an articulate advocate for GLBT's rights.

Posted at 10:08PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Michelle Nelson

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