Arts & Entertainment
Kevin Smith apologizes for Ben Affleck ‘gay kiss’ story
the director also sent an apology to Evan Rachel Wood
Kevin Smith has apologized for sharing an old remark Ben Affleck made about filming a same-sex kiss during the 1997Ā film, “Chasing Amy.”
While speaking at Outfest in Los Angeles over the weekend, Smith recalled Affleck saying kissing another man is an actor’s “greatest” challenge and made him a “serious actor.”
Many were offended by the alleged comments including Evan Rachel Wood who sent a series of tweets slamming Affleck.
“Try getting raped in a scene, Also, grow up Ben,” Wood tweeted.
In an 11-minute Facebook Live video, Smith apologized for rehashing the story and said the comment was said in private.Ā He also attributed the natureĀ of the conversation to age. At the time, Affleck was 23 and Smith, who directed the film, was 26.
“Of course, Affleck doesn’t feel that way today and who knows if he even felt that way then? But he could’ve, he was in his 20s. We all say goofy s— in our f—ing 20s,” Smith says. “But it wasn’t something he went out into the world and talked about. It was something he said to me.”
“My intention in telling that story was good,ā Smith added. “It was not even a ‘Look how far weāve come,’ although thatās in there. It was just like kids in their 20s, right.Ā It was something that was said literally 21 years ago and not in the context of like homophobic or anything like that. It was just a different world and [the story] was adorable.”
Smith went on to apologize to Wood saying, Ā “Please, someone tell Evan Rachel Wood for me, my apologies. Sheās mad at something that I said and I didnāt even say that, I mean, it was out of context and stuff like that.”
The director also apologized to Affleck and says the two don’t speak anymore but he feels “terrible” that the story was taken out of context.
“Whenever people ask me, ‘Hey, howās Ben.’ I put it out in the press, Iām like, ‘I havenāt spoken to him in years,'” Smith says. “So I donāt pretend to a relationship we donāt have any more or anything, but fu*k do I feel terrible.”
The 2024 New York City Pride Parade wound through the streets of Manhattan and past the historic Stonewall Inn on Sunday, June 30.
(Washington Blade photos by Daniel Truitt)
The fourth annual Fredericksburg Pride march and festival was held at Riverfront Park in Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, June 29. The event began with a march around downtown Fredericksburg beginning and ending in the park.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering Fredericksburg Pride for @WashBlade . City Council member @WillMackintosh speaking: pic.twitter.com/tDdVD2IVsM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) June 29, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Goodwin Living Pride
Senior living and healthcare organization holds fourth annual march at Falls Church campus
The senior living and healthcare organization Goodwin Living held its fourth annual community Pride march around its Bailey’s Crossroads campus in Falls Church, Va. with residents, friends and supporters on Tuesday, June 25. Following the march, a drag brunch was held with performances by drag artists of SADBrunch: Crimsyn, Sapphire Dupree and Evon Dior Michelle.
(Photos courtesy of Goodwin Living)
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