Discussing Idol contestant, KHOW's Caplis said he doesn't want winner to be "some male who goes out there and tries to act as effeminate" as possible
Summary: As he and 630 KHOW-AM co-host Craig Silverman discussed an American Idol contestant on their March 6 broadcast, Dan Caplis stated, "The vast majority of gay friends I have" don't act "in the slightest bit effeminate." He later added, "I would not want the American Idol to be this Danny Noriega guy, because I don't want that role model." Colorado Media Matters has documented a pattern of Caplis making anti-gay remarks on his show.
During a discussion about American Idol contestant Danny Noriega, Dan Caplis told co-host Craig Silverman on their March 6 630 KHOW-AM broadcast, "The vast majority of gay friends I have, you know, don't act in the slightest bit effeminate. But Danny Noriega, I think, wants to stand out that way." Caplis later stated, "I would not want the American Idol to be this Danny Noriega guy, because I don't want that role model," adding, "You know, have to believe there are a lot of kids watching this -- like our kids, who are very musical ... And I don't want that message that, hey, this is a role model -- some male who goes out there and tries to act as effeminate as usually (sic) possible. Forget that. I don't want that role model."
Silverman brought up Noriega -- who was voted off the show the previous night -- during a discussion about controversial American Idol contestants. Silverman described Noriega as "openly gay," adding, "So that's another controversy." Caplis later said of Noriega, "[T]his guy's kind of fun to watch right now, and he is talented, but do I want the American Idol in the end to be somebody who feels they have to go out of their way to act as effeminate as humanly possible? No, I would not want that."
Later in the broadcast, after a caller said, "I think it's kind of weird that you're talking about the whole gay thing," and asked, "[W]hat about women who come on, or even guys, who flaunt their sexuality to the point of ridiculousness? What's the difference?" Caplis answered, "Oh, I'll tell you the difference. And maybe 'difference' isn't the right word. But the reason why I would not want as the American Idol in the end -- not that the future of the free world turns on it or anything, but it's a big deal -- I would not want the American Idol to be this Danny Noriega guy, because I don't want that role model. You know, have to believe there are a lot of kids watching this -- like our kids, who are very musical ... And I don't want that message that, hey, this is a role model -- some male who goes out there and tries to act as effeminate as usually (sic) possible. Forget that. I don't want that role model."
As Colorado Media Matters has documented, Caplis has made anti-gay comments numerous on his radio program:
From the March 6 broadcast of 630 KHOW-AM's The Caplis & Silverman Show:
SILVERMAN: Now they have another guy, this guy Noriega. What's his name?
CAPLIS: Danny.
SILVERMAN: Danny Noriega, who's openly gay. Right? Who's competing. So that's another controversy. But, and I don't watch the show, but haven't there been discussions in the past about -- who was it, Clay Aiken who won? Didn't people think that he might be gay? And even Ryan Seacrest, I know that either Jay Leno or David Letterman makes jokes about his sexuality. So, and the other thing I've seen is Simon Cowell wears those really tight T-shirts. I don't quite understand that, either.
CAPLIS: Oh, I'd be very surprised if much of the audience would have a problem with the winner being, you know, gay. Now this Danny Noriega guy, he seems to go out of his way; I think it's part of his schtick to just act as effeminate as a male possibly can. Now, I think your experience is probably the same as mine. The vast majority of gay friends I have, you know, don't act in the slightest bit effeminate. But Danny Noriega, I think, wants to stand out that way. Now, that's a fair question -- not the gay thing, but the behavior thing. I mean, hey, if I'm sittin' there pickin' up my phone to call in votes, do I want in the end -- this guy's kind of fun to watch right now, and he is talented, but do I want the American Idol in the end to be somebody who feels they have to go out of their way to act as effeminate as humanly possible? No, I would not want that.
[...]
CALLER: Hey, guys. I think it's kind of weird that you're talking about the whole gay thing, and, because what about women who come on, or even guys, who flaunt their sexuality to the point of ridiculousness? What's the difference? I don't really get it. Or maybe [unintelligible] --
SILVERMAN: I don't know -- it's just a visceral thing with me.
CAPLIS: Oh, I'll tell you the difference. And maybe "difference" isn't the right word. But the reason why I would not want as the American Idol in the end -- not that the future of the free world turns on it or anything, but it's a big deal -- I would not want the American Idol to be this Danny Noriega guy, because I don't want that role model. You know, have to believe there are a lot of kids watching this -- like our kids, who are very musical -- 'cause the caliber of the talent is enormous. And I don't want that message that, hey, this is a role model -- some male who goes out there and tries to act as effeminate as usually possible. Forget that. I don't want that role model.
SILVERMAN: Now, you think he's just acting, or that's who he is?
CAPLIS: No idea.
— C.H. & J.F.B.
Posted to the web on Friday March 7, 2008 at 5:03 PM EST
