Merv Griffin died a closeted homosexual

[needlefingers]

Merv Griffin died a closeted homosexual

By Ray Richmond Thu Aug 16, 11:49 PM ET



LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -

Merv Griffin was gay.

Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? Why is it so difficult to write? Why are we still so jittery even about raising the issue in purportedly liberal-minded Hollywood, in 2007?

Griffin, who died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82, stayed in the closet throughout his life. Perhaps he figured it was preferable to remain the object of gossip rather than live openly as "one of them."

But how tremendously sad it is that a man of Merv's renown, of his gregarious nature and social dexterity, would feel compelled to endure such a stealthy double life even as the gay community's clout, and its levels of acceptance and equality, rose steadily from the ashes of ignorance.

What a powerful message Griffin might have sent had he squired his male companions around town rather than Eva Gabor, his longtime good friend and platonic public pal. Imagine the amount of good Merv could have done as a well-respected, hugely successful, beloved and uncloseted gay man in embodying a positive image.

I had more than a passing acquaintance with him, having worked on "The Merv Griffin Show" as a talent coordinator/segment producer in 1985-86 as the show was winding down. Around the office, Merv's being gay was understood but rarely discussed (and certainly never with him). We knew nothing of his relationships because he guarded his privacy fiercely, and we didn't pry.

Merv's secret gay life was widely known throughout showbiz culture, if not the wider America. It gained traction in 1991 when he was targeted in a pair of lawsuits: by "Dance Fever" host Denny Terrio, alleging sexual harassment; and by assistant Brent Plott seeking $200 million in palimony.

Both ultimately were dismissed.

Over the past 16 years of his life, however, Griffin deflected the sexuality questions with a quip, determining that his private life remained nobody's business. He certainly didn't owe us an explanation, but maybe he owed it to himself to remove the suffocating veil he'd been forced to hide behind throughout his adult life. Then again, Merv carved his niche in the entertainment world at a time when being gay wasn't OK, when disclosure was unthinkable and the allegation alone could deep-six one's career.

If you're Griffin, why would you think a judgmental culture would be any more tolerant as you grew into middle and old age? Even in the capital of entertainment -- in a business where homosexuality isn't exactly a rare phenomenon -- it's still spoken of in hushed tones or, more often, not at all. And Merv's brush with tabloid scandal no doubt only drove him further into the closet.

While it would seem everything has changed today, little actually has. You can count on the fingers of one hand, or at most two, the number of high-powered stars, executives and public figures who have come out. Those who don't can't really be faulted, as rarely do honesty and full disclosure prove a boon to one's showbiz livelihood.

Nonetheless, the elephant that was his sexual orientation never really stopped following Griffin from room to room. He could duck it for a while, but it would always find him. It's disheartening that Merv had to die to shake it for good.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

[JussiK]

Who was Merv Griffin?

[needlefingers]

Merv Griffin was an American talk show host for three decades.

He also created the game shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.

And during the disco era, he created the show Dance Fever.

[Simon White]

What a crappy article. The opening is pathetic.


"Merv Griffin was gay.

Why should that be so uncomfortable to read? Why is it so difficult to write? Why are we still so jittery even about raising the issue in purportedly liberal-minded Hollywood, in 2007?"

Who was Ray Richmond writing it for? Who was uncomfortable ?? Why did he find it so "difficult to write"??

" Merv's secret gay life was widely known throughout showbiz culture, if not the wider America".

"I had more than a passing acquaintance with him, having worked on "The Merv Griffin Show" as a talent coordinator/segment producer in 1985-86 as the show was winding down. Around the office, Merv's being gay was understood but rarely discussed (and certainly never with him). We knew nothing of his relationships because he guarded his privacy fiercely, and we didn't pry."
Hardly closeted then was he?

That is one pathetic, totally pointless and shoddy piece of 'journalism' !

[markydefad]

That article in the Hollywood Reporter caused quite an uproar. Read David Ehrenstein's blog about it on Huffingtonpost.com....

David Ehrenstein: Mervgate! - Entertainment on The Huffington Post

Ray Richmond is the TV critic for the Hollywood Reporter, a Hollywood trade paper; the other one is Variety.

Ray's column was printed on the day of Merv's funeral and Merv's powerful friends & family deluged the Reporter with complaints and the article was removed from their website. That move caused more complaints and the article was later restored to the website...but rumors abound that Richmond might lose his job over this...

And yes all this for daring to print what everyone knew about for years--yet never dared to publish...until he died. Such is the hypocrisy abounding here in LALA land regarding a dead celeb's closeted private life being mentioned, and respectfully, at that.

Merv came of age in a different era [the "Liberace" era]...was a Roman Catholic...was once married with one child and long-divorced, who squired the likes of Eva Gabor as his "beard" girlfriend to events...a dear friend of the Reagans...and supposedly a big ole Republican...who cavorted regularly with "boys" and yet fired any employees who he deemed "too gay." A Closet Case personified. Yet EVERYBODY KNEW--except maybe the ladies who didn't know about Liberace..."just couldn't find the right woman" or Luther Vandross or Barry Manilow or Johnny Mathis (well, he did "come out" late in life).....