MovieChat Forums > Lethal Weapon (1987) Discussion > Homophobic References

Homophobic References

posted 13 years ago by sunny_jim9
70 replies | jump to latest

Did any of you notice the homophobic references in this movie. Like when they are discussing the Hunsaker case in the shooting range and when that house blows up and Murtaugh trys to put the fire out (forgive my spelling). I also read a review of Braveheart on tvguide.com and it said it was a good movie if not for a few intentional homophobic references. Also, the lethal weapon 4 review said it had a lot of racist humor in it. Then there is all that Passion stuff (I havn't seen the movie btw). Don't get me wrong, I am 100% a Mel fan and think that all this crap in the media has been blown right out of proportion. It's just interesting, watching all these Mel movies and there are stuff in there that can be put to controversy.

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[–] Mr-Fusion 13 years ago

Did any of you notice the homophobic references in this movie. Like when they are discussing the Hunsaker case in the shooting range and when that house blows up and Murtaugh trys to put the fire out (forgive my spelling).

I'm picturing both scenes, but I can't pick out any homophobic elements.

Can you elaborate?

There is no charge for awesomeness . . . or attractiveness.

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[–] sunny_jim9 13 years ago

When they are at the shooting range, Murtugh says that Hunsaker's daughter might have had another woman in bed (Dixie) and Riggs says "Disgusting but possible" (or words to that effect). And when Riggs' coat catches on fire after Dixie's house blows up, Murtugh goes to put it out and Riggs says "what are you a fag". It sort of indicated that character was a bit homophobic. Then again, the same writer of this script, Shane Black, uses a lot of similar quotes and character traits for his main characters for other movies. For instance, The Last Boy Scout where Jimmy Dix says to Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis)- "Say man, you ever play ball, you have a good build". "What are you a fag?". I think that is just a result of the script when I reflect.

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[–] Mr-Fusion 13 years ago

Well now I'm just gonna have to watch it again. I never picked up on those.

There is no charge for awesomeness . . . or attractiveness.

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[–] kingg-2 13 years ago

While Mel Gibson is very homophobic - among other things - in the 80s, those comments didn't raise an eyebrow. It was pretty common then - as it still is today - to make comments like that.

If one of your buddies came in wearing a colorful shirt or something? "Hey, you look like a fag".

"How do these shoes look?" "They make you look like a fag".

Pretty much, any time you touched another guy, generally accidentally, you would probably get a "what are you, a fag?" response. Someone sits down too close to you on a couch, on the school bus, whatever "get off me, fag".

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[–] Ace_Sax 11 years ago

I hope you realize Mel Gibson didn't write his own lines. Generally that's not how acting works. So bringing him into the equation is a moot point really.

Get over it. It was the 80s people weren't so touchy and everything wasn't so super PC. It never took away from my enjoyment of the movie.

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[–] Iron_Eagle74 13 years ago

Well get used to it, people. This world isn't freaking perfect and nevre will be. Go find fantasyland if you want everyone to be so accepting.

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[–] KingBob (2746) a year ago

Riggs is a heterosexual, of course he thinks gay sex is disgusting. A homosexual would find straight sex disgusting.

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[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12589) 10 months ago

No, I don't find straight sex disgusting. I don't get self-righteous and moralistic about what others do in bed.

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[–] KingBob (2746) 10 months ago

So you would have sex with a woman?

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[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12589) 10 months ago

Yes, I have been with women.

I think straight people are programmed to think the bodies of their same sex are disgusting. And there are a lot of gay guys who are repulsed by women. That's ridiculous as well. A body is a body. Just because you don't wanna lick it or fuck it, you don't have to be repulsed by it. The repulsion by anyone, straight or gay, by the body of either sex is pathological.

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[–] KingBob (2746) 10 months ago

So then it sounds like you are bisexual which means you don’t have the ability to see things through the viewpoint of a heterosexual which automatically disqualifies you from having an opinion in this matter.

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[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12589) 10 months ago

Bullshit. Now you're scrambling. Haha.

You're afraid of the male body. Not all straight men are afraid of other men's bodies.

Do you realize that "homophobia" does not mean you're afraid of homosexuals? Did you know that? Do you?

I'm Greek. It comes from the Greek:

homo = the same
phobia = fear

homophobia = fear of the same

You're afraid of bodies the same gender as yours.

Why? Did somebody touch you when you were a child?🤣

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[–] KingBob (2746) 10 months ago

Please show me one instance where I ever said I was “afraid of the male body”. All I did was rightfully point out that you cannot understand the perspective of a heterosexual which is a logical conclusion from your own words.

The rest of your post is a not so successful attempt at a personal insult which is only proving your own immaturity. Sounds like you’re not too comfortable with yourself.

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[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12589) 10 months ago

I didn't insult you. I'm trying to find the root of your phobia.

Uh, no, you didn't say you're not sexually attracted to men or that you have no desire to have sex with a man. That would be fine and dandy and I can respect that.

You said sex with a man is disgusting.

You have an irrational fear of the male body.

Why?

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[–] KingBob (2746) 10 months ago

Show me one quote where I said sex with a man was disgusting?

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[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12589) 10 months ago

You said gay sex is disgusting. Or were you talking about just lesbian sex?

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[–] KingBob (2746) 10 months ago

Show me the exact quote

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[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12589) 10 months ago

Riggs is a heterosexual, of course he thinks gay sex is disgusting. A homosexual would find straight sex disgusting.

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[–] KingBob (2746) 10 months ago

No I said Riggs thought gay sex was disgusting.

Even if that comment transfers over to me all I would have admitted to was that I think gay sex is disgusting , not that it is disgusting. I still would have only stated my subjective opinion as Riggs was only stating his subjective opinion.

If you’re going to debate please do it honestly or we are done here.

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[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12589) 10 months ago

For all I know you like it up the ass. 🤣 That's not the point.

You said "OF COURSE" this Riggs heterosexual fool thinks "gay sex is disgusting". You are speaking for all heterosexuals there, are you not? If not, why "OF COURSE"?

Stop parsing words. You said it, at least own it and defend it.

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[–] KingBob (2746) 10 months ago

Because he is heterosexual and would think sex that he’s not into is disgusting. Plenty of gay people think hetero sex is disgusting also. I noticed you dodged my point that I specifically said that he “thinks” gay sex is disgusting not that it was an assertion that gay sex is disgusting. You also cannot understand Riggs’ mindset because you aren’t heterosexual by your own admission. I am hereby awarding you zero points and may god have mercy on your soul.

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[–] LTUM 13 years ago

dude that is a great angle. i have never heard that!!!!

thanks. i will use that any chance i get

drugs...changed...everything..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MGBn3KawM&feature=related

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[–] Mr-Fusion 13 years ago

"Homophobia" is a made up bull$h1t word.

There was actually a time when Homophobia was a clinical term meaning "fear of sameness or monotony". But I see where you're going, here.

---
It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes.

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[–] SeasonalAffective 13 years ago

The "what are you, a fag?" line was also in another Shane Black-written film, The Last Boy Scout. After Damon Wayans tells Bruce Willis that he has a good build for football, Bruce Willis retorts with the same exact line.

That kind of thing was acceptable back then. I still remember Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, where their evil versions call their human versions "fags" as a taunt, before killing them.

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[–] Mr-Fusion 13 years ago

I still remember Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, where their evil versions call their human versions "fags" as a taunt, before killing them.

I think they also called each other "fag" after hugging one another in Excellent Adventure.

---
It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes.

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[–] HellboundHero 13 years ago

What isn't normal is worrying about what two consenting adults do with each other, be it having sex or getting married. It doesn't affect you.

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[–] the_bamboo_spear 13 years ago

It was the 80's.

"Two tigers cannot live on the same mountain"

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[–] HellboundHero 13 years ago

I know, and personally I don't mind it. That's just the way things were back then. My comment was directed at a user who made an anti-gay remark.

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[–] Mackentorsk 11 years ago

Go bum a fag then. Jeez...

-*Inserting random phrase by famous madman/idiot that makes me feel intelligent*-

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[–] MurphAndTheMagicTones 12 years ago

So, since white people make up only about 18% of the world's population, do they have normophobia? They're not normal in the world.

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Friends don't let friends make Harlem Shake videos.

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[–] crockett_john 11 years ago

White people? I thought he was talking about homosexuals.

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[–] Iron_Eagle74 13 years ago

The only one of those movies Mel directed was "Braveheart." If you want to make those accusations about "Lethal Weapon," then ask Richard Donner about that. Also Joel Silver.

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[–] Phydeaux50 13 years ago

Portraying a character that has undesirable traits is a common way for an author to attack those traits. It also can raise a debate on the issues to the benefit of the target group.

Or it could be that Mel Gibson wanted to play Riggs solely and no other reason than because he would get to deliver two lines that could be interpreted as sexist, and that choice was part of a two decades long plan to expose himself as a bigot.

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] duranduranruler 13 years ago

Isn't it funny that gays can insult whoever they want, in terms of wardrobe, hairstyles, trends, whatever...and be totally fine with it.
But when anyone else makes the slightest derogatory remark against gays or gay culture, all the gays cry out "HOMOPHOBE! WE DEMAND A PUBLIC APOLOGY!"

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] MathewsJ2 13 years ago

When women get a pet gay guy it's the worst because those fags try to poison every heterosexual relationship. They fill the womans head full of BS because they feed on drama. They cannot be normal and have a drama free existence and they try to bring everyone else down.

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[–] Ghost_Puke_Rage 12 years ago

I'm liking this term fag hag a lot.

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[–] ceebeegee 10 years ago

Oh nohhhzzzzz! As heterosexuals we are soooooo oppressed! How daaaaaaaare anyone ever poke fun at us, we canNOT handle it because we are thin-skinned losers!

Psst: when people sh** on gays, other people act on that. Gays get followed, beaten up, killed. Happens all the time. There was a rash of gay beatings and murders just last summer.

When hetersexuals get sh** on........

Nothing happens.

That's it. That's the difference.

Stop whining.

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[–] dyahrmarkt 12 years ago

Phydeaux -

I really hope you're jesting that Mel Gibson chose to play Riggs as part of a two-decades-long plan to 'expose' himself. If you're serious, I think that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Please nest your IMDB page, and respond to the correct person -

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[–] Phydeaux50 12 years ago

It's meant to be ridiculous- but that is pretty much what the OP is attributing to Gibson. And it is very ridiculous! :)

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[–] glynis23-282-577521 10 years ago

Nobody sets out to expose themselves as bigot two decades later, a lot of Hollywood celebrities get into trouble.

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[–] M24 12 years ago

I never thought much of those comments in the 80's. Nowadays with all this pc stuff going I really notice it. Let's not forget most movies seem to portray a gay guy as being some sterotypical weedy limp wristed guy while in real life plenty of them could kick ass just like any hetero guy. I was surprised at the racial slurs in Lethal weapon 4 though. I didn't think they'd leave those in. Doesn't bother me as in real life people slag each other off all the darn time but usually in a joking way and that's fine with me. The REAL haters are what bother me. The type that always make comments really make me wonder if they were brought up like like or are hiding something. Anyway, I still enjoyed all of these movies very much that a few seconds won't change that. These are characters saying the lines too. A wouldn't be surprised by a hardened special forces guy saying things Riggs says.

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