Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Tony-Winning Director Is Instant Icon After Reclaiming Gay Slur In Epic Clapback At Childhood Bullies

Michael Arden with his Tony Award
Bruce Glikas/WireImage/GettyImages

Michael Arden had the last laugh after winning the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical while recalling how he was constantly called the f-slur as a child.

Newly-minted Tony winner Michael Arden–who just won for his direction of the musical revival of Parade–reclaimed a homophobic slur in his acceptance speech on Sunday night.

Also known as the "f-slur," the word has colloquially been used to attack men who were perceived as effeminate, or didn't fit the description of the traits stereotypically associated with masculinity.


In recent times, however, the historically anti-gay epithet has been reclaimed by some members of the LGBTQ+ community to commonly describe feminine queer men in an attempt to destigmatize it.

When he went up on stage to accept his Tony, Arden used the f-slur in his speech that mentioned being bullied when he was younger.

The Julliard School alum said:

“Growing up, I was called the f-word more times than I can count."

He then declared with pride:

“But now, I’m a f-word with a Tony.”

You can watch the moment here.

Warning: LGBTQ+ slur

In the televised broadcast, the latter part of his speech was censored.

But those attending the ceremony heard the full speech and erupted in applause.

Among those in the audience who rose to their feet was Ben Platt, who plays Leo Frank in Parade, and Platt's fiancé Noah Galvin.


On social media, Arden was instantly hailed as iconic.






Arden also urged the queer community to "come together" and combat homophobia.

He said:

“We must battle this. Otherwise, we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history."
“And to our beautiful trans, nonbinary, queer youth, know that your queerness is what makes you beautiful and powerful."
"Everyone in this room sees you and needs you and will fight alongside you and we will win.”

The celebratory evening was highlighted by other monumental queer victories.

The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League recognized and honored the first nonbinary, gender non-conforming actors.

Glee alum Alex Newell won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in the musical Shucked, while J. Harrison Ghee won Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Some Like it Hot.

The reclamation of the f-slur may trace its origins to 2007 when activist Erin Davies toured with her Volkswagen Beetle that had been vandalized with the homophobic slur, "f*g” and the phrase, "U R Gay."

She seized an opportunity to raise awareness surrounding homophobia and LGBTQ+ rights by taking her graffitied car for a 58-day tour across the U.S. and Canada.

On her trek that was filmed for the 80-minute documentary, F*gbug, Davies interviewed 536 people–including leaders in the LGBTQ+ community–and discussed issues of intolerance and spoke out against hate crimes.

More from Trending

Screenshot of Stephen Colbert
CBS

Stephen Colbert Makes Somber Plea To Americans In Wake Of Charlie Kirk's Death

Late-night host Stephen Colbert had a somber message for Americans as he addressed the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, stressing that "political violence only leads to more political violence."

Kirk died after an unidentified gunman shot him in the neck as he—ironically enough—mocked victims of gun violence at an event in Utah Valley State University. Kirk's murder has galvanized the far-right, with President Donald Trump and his surrogates claiming without evidence that rhetoric from Democrats is responsible for Kirk's death.

Keep ReadingShow less
a woman sunbathing on rocks.
a person sitting on a towel on a beach
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

People Share The Weirdest Flexes They Heard Someone Say With A Straight Face

It is never attractive to gloat.

Even so, some people can't help but brag, or "flex" as it is sometimes known, about certain accomplishments or attributes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @thedowntheredoc's TikTok video
@thedowntheredoc/TikTok

TikToker Hilariously Calls Out Target After Champion Pants Feature Awkwardly-Placed Front Pleat

Sometimes you can just tell when something was designed *for* women, but was not actually designed *by* women.

Take, for instance, the new pleated pants available at Target from the Champion clothing line. While there's nothing wrong with pleated pants and they certainly have a suitable spot in the workplace, the latest rendition of Champion pleated pants are, shall we say, NSFW.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @kaicutch's Instagram video
@kaicutch/Instagram

Woman Flips Her Car After Belting Out Ironic Britney Spears Lyric In Wild Viral Video

Whether we want to admit it or not, we've all had our fair share of carpool karaoke and maybe even imagined our car as our own personal recording studio.

But TikToker and Instagrammer Kaitlynn McCutcheon may have gotten too into her performance of Britney Spears' classic, "Hit Me Baby, One More Time," when the road and her car both said, "Bet."

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from ​@lynnshazeen's TikTok video
@lynnshazeen/TikTok

Woman Goes Viral After Revealing How Her Obsession With Matcha Landed Her In The Hospital

Let's be honest: Too much of anything isn't good for us. It's all about the balance!

But the media and social media trends have taught us that certain things are really good for us, encouraging us to be like the "very mindful and very demure" girls and take care of ourselves. One such example is drinking more matcha, especially if you really like coffee or think you have a caffeine addiction.

Keep ReadingShow less