Actor Richard Dreyfuss, famous for his role as marine biologist Matt Hooper in Jaws, is making headlines after speaking at a Massachusetts celebration for the 1975 blockbuster Jaws and making demeaning comments about women, LGBTQ+ people, and diversity during his speech.
Speaking With a Fan
During the Jaws celebration, a fan yelled, “We love you!” to which Dreyfuss responded with, “You love me? Do I love you? Are you gay?” and setting the tone for the rest of a very uncomfortable evening.
Don’t Be Gay
After the fan yelled, “We love you!” and Dreyfuss asked if he was gay, Dreyfuss even went so far as to tell the fan, “Don’t be gay.”
Audience Walkouts
The evening was meant to be a lighthearted Q&A session, but several audience members eventually walked out due to Dreyfuss’ remarks about the #MeToo movement and LGBTQ+ rights.
Listening to Kids
During an interview with the Dailymail, one attendee said Dreyfus told people they “shouldn’t be listening to some 10-year-old who says they want to be a boy instead of a girl.”
Get Back to It
Dreyfuss went on to say that, “We have no knowledge of who the hell we are. If we don’t get it back soon, we’re all going to die.”
Dreyfuss LGBTQ+ Moment
Another attendee said, “Dreyfuss started the night by coming out with a dress and dancing to Taylor Swift, saying that this was an LGBTQ moment.”
Just Horsing Around
The attendee said, “I assumed he was horsing around, later a staff member told me he was walking around town for a couple of hours picking one out.”
Comments on Women
Dreyfuss also made derogatory comments about women, including sexist remarks about his Nuts co-star Barbra Streisand and generalizations about women’s capabilities.
Taking Away Power
One attendee told DailyMail, “He began to say a lot of sexist things about her, about all women. Their stupid, they shouldn’t have any power etc.”
Audience Reaction
As people began to walk out, Dreyfuss told the crowd, “Now, now, don’t turn into an angry mob,” but most people saw this as the actor dismissing the audience’s concerns.
The Son’s Response
Ben Dreyfuss, Richard’s son, defended his father’s right to free speech despite the fact he did not agree with his father’s less-than-progressive worldviews.
Different Opinions
Ben wrote on X, “My dad and I disagree about lots of stuff. But it’s a free country. People are allowed to have different opinions about stuff.”
Not a Perfect Guy
When defending his father, Ben continued, “My dad is not a perfect guy. I know that better than anyone reading this. But I love him profoundly.”
Thought Crimes
When people on the social media site continued to press him, Ben said, “Do not ask me to denounce him. I will not do it. I especially will not do it over thought crimes!”
Full and Dignified Crimes
When asked about his own view on the matter his father discussed, Ben said, “I want trans people to enjoy the best medical science available and to live full and dignified lives.”
Life Altering Decisions
However, Ben then said, “I also don’t want teens making permanent life-altering decisions they come to regret.”
Venue Apology
The event was held at the Cabot Theater, and the theater eventually apologized for Dreyfuss’ comments to emphasize that they did not align with the venue’s values of inclusivity and respect.
Not in Line With the Theater’s Values
The Cabot Theather wrote, “We deeply regret that Mr. Dreyfuss’s comments during the event were not in line with the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold at The Cabot.”
Distressing and Offensive
The theater’s apology continued, “We understand that his remarks were distressing and offensive to many of our community members, and for that, we sincerely apologize.”
The post Sinking Reputation: Jaws Actor’s Homophobic, Sexist, and Transphobic Comments Come Back to Bite Him first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Alex Millauer.
