Image Source: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What Was the Accusation?
Actor Jonah Hill faced criticism in June 2014 after video surfaced showing him directing a homophobic slur at a paparazzo who had been following him in Los Angeles. The photographer and other videographers had followed Hill as he walked with a friend in the city’s Larchmont neighborhood, making comments intended to provoke a response. Hill eventually lost his temper and responded to the photographer with an explicit command that included a derogatory term for gay men. The recorded exchange was published by TMZ and quickly became a national entertainment story.
Hill addressed the incident on June 3 during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show. He said the photographer had followed him for an extended period and made hurtful comments about him and his family. Although Hill provided that context, he repeatedly emphasized that the provocation did not excuse his language. He described the term he used as disgusting, acknowledged that such language was rooted in hate, and said he was willing to become a public example of why people should think carefully about the words they use.
Later that day, Hill delivered a longer apology during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He acknowledged that he had deliberately chosen language intended to hurt the photographer after becoming angry, but said his intention did not eliminate the harm caused by the word. Hill apologized to members of the LGBTQ community and to anyone who had been affected by the slur, said he neither deserved nor expected forgiveness, and encouraged young viewers not to respond to anger with hateful language. The following morning, during an appearance on Good Morning America, Hill continued his response by promising never to use the word again and urging others to do the same.
Excerpts from Jonah Hill’s June 3, 2014 appearance on The Howard Stern Show:
“This is a heartbreaking situation for me. I’m upset because from the day I was born, and publicly, I’ve been a gay rights activist. Now, this person, you saw a 40-second video. This person had been following me around — just to give it some context, not excusing what I said in any way.”
“In that moment, I said a disgusting word that does not at all reflect how I feel about any group of people. I am not at all defending my choice of words, but I am happy to be the poster boy for thinking about what you say and how those words, even if you don’t intend them and how they mean, they are rooted in hate, and that’s bullshit, and I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I think I’m pretty good at making movies, I am not good at being a famous person. I’m a sensitive dude.”
“Now, this person, you saw a 40-second video. This person had been following me around — just to give it some context, not excusing what I said in any way — this person had been following me around all day, had been saying hurtful things about my family, really hurtful things about me personally, and I played into exactly what he wanted and lost my cool. And in that moment I said a disgusting word that does not at all reflect how I feel about any group of people.”
“I grew up with gay family members. I’m leaving here to go spend the day with one of my closest co-workers and best friend who is gay, who’s getting married, who I’m going to stand at his wedding. You know? I’m not at all defending my choice of words but I am happy to be the poster boy for thinking about what you say and how those words, even if you don’t intend them and how they mean, they are rooted in hate, and that’s [expletive]. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Excerpts from Jonah Hill’s June 3, 2014 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:
“I didn’t mean this in the sense of the word, I didn’t mean it in a homophobic way. [But] I think that doesn’t matter, how you mean things doesn’t matter…words have weight and meaning. The word I chose was grotesque and no one deserves to say or hear words like that.”
“My heart’s broken and I am genuinely and deeply sorry to anyone who has ever been affected by that term in their life.”
“I know I’m usually funny and stuff, but this wasn’t funny, it was stupid, and I deserve the shit I’m going to get for it.”
Excerpt from Jonah Hill’s June 4, 2014 appearance on Good Morning America:
“It’s never OK to use that kind of language.”
“It’s never OK to use that kind of language. I personally vow to never ever use that word again and I urge everyone to do the same.”
“Words can be really destructive. And this kind of defamatory language can have a profound effect on someone who’s questioning their sexuality,”
