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Bret Easton Ellis faces flap over '50 Shades of Grey' comments

'Matt Bomer isn't right for Christian Grey because he is openly gay,' Ellis tweeted.

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Luca Bruno/AP
Writer Bret Easton Ellis is facing a backlash after his comments about actor Matt Bomer, who is gay, possibly taking on the role of Christian Grey for the '50 Shades of Grey' film adaptation.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Writer Bret Easton Ellis is facing backlash after he tweeted that he believed actor Matt Bomer shouldn’t play “50 Shades of Grey” protagonist Christian Grey in a film adaptation because Bomer is gay.

The “American Psycho” writer had tweeted about his thoughts on who should direct and other casting thoughts before finally stating in an Aug. 7 tweet that, to his regret, he had not been chosen to write the screenplay for the film.

“It's a very major disappointment to announce that I've somehow been taken off the list of possible screenwriters for Fifty Shades of Grey,” Ellis tweeted.

He then tweeted on Aug. 8, “Okay I'll say it. Matt Bomer isn't right for Christian Grey because he is openly gay. He's great for other roles but this is too big a game.”

He then tweeted later that day, “I am NOT discriminating Matt Bomer because of his sexuality. Fifty Shades of Grey demands an actor that is genuinely into women. Get it?!?” and followed with “I think Matt Bomer is incredibly handsome and a good actor but I think he comes off totally gay in White Collar. And that is why no to CG [Christian Grey]...”

Ellis continued to tweet his thoughts over the next several days as others responded and comments began to multiply throughout the blogosphere.

“You're missing the point,” he stated on Aug. 10. “I'm not a homophobe. I'm a misanthrope. I hate the way homosexuality is presented in our entertainment culture.”

He then brought Bomer up again later that same day.

“You know what?” he tweeted. “I changed my mind: I now think a gay actor HAS GOT to play Christian Grey. It's IMPERATIVE that someone gay plays him...”

“But I still don't think Matt Bomer should play the role,” he added in a later tweet.

Ellis found both supporters and detractors for his point of view.

"I agree with you on this!" one user replied to his tweet. "(and I'm openly gay as well)."

But another user disagreed with his comments.

"Heard of acting dear boy?" the Twitter user inquired. "(copyright: Sir Lawrence Olivier)."

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