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'Melrose Place' Star Reveals Why His Gay Character Wasn't Allowed To Show Affection On Show
On the November 20 episode, castmates, Doug Savant, Laura Leighton, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Daphne Zuniga reminisced about being on the Beverly Hills 90210 spinoff and recalled how progressive Melrose Place was at the time, particularly in featuring one of the first openly gay lead characters on primetime television.
Their discussion of how the show tackled taboo topics and serious subject matter, albeit in campy ways, demonstrated how things were different thirty years ago.
It also showed how far we've come, despite still-existing roadblocks preventing further progress with LGBTQ+ representation and inclusivity.
In 1994, a much-hyped same-sex kiss with Savant, who played gay character Matt Fielding, wound up getting edited at the last minute, indicating the network was still apprehensive about pushing the envelope.
Here is a clip of the infamous scene from the season two finale where a gay kiss between Savant and guest star Ty Miller was left to the viewer's imagination.
That wasn't the only instance of the network scaling back on queer storylines even though Matt was written as gay.
Savant, 60, recalled a situation with his castmates where a scene partner wasn't entirely on board with him during a shoot.
The Desperate Housewives actor, who is married to his former Melrose co-star, Laura Leighton, recalled:
"There was an actor I was working with who wasn’t as comfortable that he was playing someone who was gay."
"I wanted, in an effort to show that [Savant’s character Matt Fielding] was behaving with this character in a way that was against his better judgment, I wanted him to steal a kiss at work. Like look around, make sure no one was looking, but kiss this guy on the cheek, just a peck on the cheek."
This other actor was so uncomfortable. He was like, ‘That’s not in the script, we’re not doing that.’ He was so uncomfortable with it. I sort of found that shocking."
Savant explained there was only so far the network could go when the series was pushing scenes that were perceived as controversial back then.
"There were very limited storylines that the network would be comfortable with [about the character’s sexuality] because the advertisers were only comfortable touching on certain things," said Savant, and he cited examples.
"One of them was the gay bashing, and the other was a kid coming out to his parents."
"[As far as showing affection] No, no, no, no, no, never."
Savant explained that the network "wanted the character to be palatable. And so if they could say that, well, the actor is really straight, he’s just acting, then it became less real to them."
The actor famously refused to come out as straight while actively filming six out of the seven seasons he starred in Melrose Place as his attempt to dignify the character when queer representation in '90s television shows was rare.
When confronted by the show's producers as to why he wouldn't declare he wasn't gay in real life in interviews, Savant stood firm in his conviction that "I was not going to make my living playing a gay man, but then say, 'Oh, I would never be associated with that.'"
Since the show completed its seventh season in 1999, Savant said male fans of the show still periodically approach him to this day with heartfelt comments and letters telling him, "Thank you. You're, at that time, all I had."
For Savant, those interactions are a testament to the power of visibility and for him, "the great privilege of ever playing the role."
Savant's dedication to the role despite its challenges at the time was not lost on fans.
@stilltheplace/Instagram
@stilltheplace/Instagram
@stilltheplace/Instagram
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@stilltheplace/Instagram
@stilltheplace/Instagram
@stilltheplace/Instagram
@stilltheplace/Instagram
@stilltheplace/Instagram
A continuation of the campy nighttime soap opera, also called Melrose Place, premiered on September 8, 2009, on the CW network but was canceled after the first season due to dismal ratings.
However, fans will be delighted to hear that CBS is resurrecting Melrose Place once again in a new reboot series featuring returning original cast members Heather Locklear (who was always billed as "guest star"), Laura Leighton, and Daphne Zuniga.
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Flavor Flav's 'Spirit Is Broken' After NBC Kicked Him Out Of Backstage Area At Tree Lighting
In a deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), the rapper wrote:
“I feel weird. I was invited to the Rockefeller Tree Lighting tonite and I was escorted to see my boys ... THE BACKSTREET BOYS ... and we were backstage in their dressing room."
"Security came up to me and says @nbc does not want me in this area and I need to leave. At the same time ... their social media woman came up and asked to capture social content."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer couldn't wrap his head around what caused his ejection from the festivities merely by being a supportive presence.
"What did I ever do to NBC or anyone??," he asked before recalling his positive experience with the network during their coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also served as a hype man and sponsored the US women's water polo team and helped them get to the summer games.
Flav concluded the post with:
"All I ever do is try to spread joy and love ... and I think I did that for NBC at the Olympics.”
Here's a screenshot of the post shared by X user @ArtCandee, who wrote:
"Flavor Flav got kicked out of the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Plaza tonight for no reason. Shame on NBC."
@FlavorFlav/X
Flav later wrote a follow-up saying that he deleted the tweet but that his spirit remained "broken" over the incident.
Fans were there for him.
NBC got shamed.
Flav posted a video of him wearing his signature oversized clock necklace at the event during the tree lighting countdown.
He appeared to be in good spirits and having a great time.
“Yeah, boyyee!” he exclaimed as the Norway spruce from Stockway, Massachusetts, lit up dramatically in front of 30 Rock.
“Rockefeller Center is lit! Flavooor-Flaaav in the building lighting up Rockefeller Center, baby! Yeah, boyyee!”
As of this writing, NBC has not commented on the incident.
In response to the comments asking whether or not the Backstreet Boys spoke up for Flav, the rapper confirmed that the group did.
The rapper also later shared a statement on X to say the that situation was "poorly handled," writing:
"I posted and quickly deleted something last night. I was embarrassed by some language and actions by security guards throwing their weight around. The situation was poorly handled and I didn’t realize how many people would care."
"I thank all y’all for the love, and this the season to spread love and joy. 🫶"
"My post created headlines that takes away from the incredible performances and everyone’s hard work. Jennifer Hudson CRUSHED it, that’s my girl, and man Kelly Clarkson is one of the GREATEST all time."
"I stayed and watched the Backstreet Boys from side stage just as it started to snow, and I gotta say that Howie D is one of the NICEST guys in the music industry, real good people ya know, and if ya don’t catch us on the front street, catch us on the Backstreet!! 🌲🌟✨"
He also shared a video of himself enjoying one of the Backstreet Boys' performances.
We're glad Flavor Flav was able to find the joy in an unfortunate situation.