“Are You Gay?” What do Nigerian interviewers really intend when they ask celebrities this question?
“What do you have to say to people speculating about your sexuality?”
“Do you have anything to say about the rumours that you are gay?”
“Of course, I know you and I know you’re not like that… But what would you say to those who keep saying you are gay?”
There have been varied versions of this question. Usually posed by interviewers to celebrities whose sexualities are often speculated on. From Alex Ekubo and Uti Nwachukwu to Denrele Edun and Bobrisky and even James Brown after his infamous “they didn’t caught me” thrust into the spotlight, we have watched as interviewers have asked this “are you gay?” question, and observed the celebrities on the receiving end of such a loaded inquiry wriggle and maneuver their way out from this business end of the gun barrel.
And each time, one has to wonder: is the question approved by the celebrity beforehand in an attempt to repair a situation with their image, or do these interviewers just spring it on them, hoping they’d say something salacious for the viewing public’s consumption?
Yesterday, someone mentioned me on a Twitter thread posted by a netizen with the handle @themichaelfaya, where he talked about watching a recent interview on the Nancy Isime Show, where Denrele Edun was a guest and – surprise, surprise – the “are you gay?” question came up.
I would think that this question has become very dated when it concerns Denrele. Like, at this stage, do Nigerians even want to know – or even care about – the answer? If Denrele were to up and say, “OK, so, yeah, I’m gay”, would that terribly upset anyone?
When the media asks this question, do they really expect that any celebrity, in this post-SSMPA society of ours, would respond with “Oh sure, yes, I’m gay”?
Or maybe, someday, somebody will. And then we would sit back and observe how much that will alter the price of crayfish in the market.
Check out the clip of the Nancy Isime interview with Denrele.
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7 Comments
trystham
November 08, 07:33I thought about my answer to the question.
“If your pussy smells, and I asked you if it does, would you tell me it does?”
“Was your pussy sucked/fingered during your last sex?”
There are so many variants running thru my head
Pink Panther
November 08, 07:41????????????
At first, I didn’t get this. Then I did, and I’m laughing so hard.
Tristan
November 08, 09:50The question was “how do you feel when people mix your dressing with your sexuality?” Not, “Are you gay?”
A very tricky question there that could only take an intelligent person to answer smartly. I like the way he was able to penetrate the question to explain explicitly that he doesn’t give a damn with the stones thrown at him everyday and came to the conclusion that he is gender fluid.
My love for this dude just heightened.
Tman
November 08, 11:50Denrele is still one entity that polarises opinions over his sexuality, even among members of the LGBT community. I think it even adds to the allure he
presents.
From the way he was so comfortable and at ease responding to the question, it’s obvious that question tops the bucket list of questions he expects during interviews. I also like his non-committal reply. He didn’t make a claim for team hetero, neither did he give off any inkling of his sexual preference.
Let the aprokos keep salivating for gist.
J
November 08, 18:41So whenever I heard someone has stayed in a gay friendly country, I expect them to be tolerant and very supportive. It could be a script, but she should have reframed the question.
It’s not easy to be gay and a public figure in this den of homophobes. . The lady has this lesbian aura or is it just my wild imagination?
Mike
November 09, 11:20You’d have to get on my bed, to find out.
ChubbyLover
November 09, 12:07Ibrahimovic to the reporter that asked himsame question, give me you sister let’s find out.
?