Arts & Entertainment
Gay dancers wow judges with anti-homophobia performance on French reality show
Apparently France not only has incredible talent, it has incredible heart, too.
Last week’s episode of “La France a un incroyable talent,” French television’s equivalent to “America’s Got Talent,” featured a routine by two male dancers that stunned the show’s judges and brought the cheering studio audience to its feet, as reported by LGBTQ Nation.
The two men, Guillaume and Arthur, took the stage for the November 19 episode of the reality competition show, introducing themselves as dancer/acrobats. When they were asked by singer Hélène Ségara, one of the show’s four judges, if they wanted to say anything before their performance, Arthur replied, “We’re going to present a number against homophobia,” eliciting applause from the audience.
Guillaume and Arthur then performed a slow and graceful routine, set to Jeff Buckley’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” intertwining their bodies through a flowing series of poses in a display of strength and acrobatic prowess, and ending with a tender kiss between them.
As the number concluded, the audience responded with cheers and a standing ovation in support of the dancers. Arthur was visibly moved to tears.
The comments from the judges were equally supportive.
Ségara said, “It was so beautiful and it was so tender at the same time… I think that with or without a message, I found it beautiful, and it felt good.”
Another judge, singer/actress Marianne James, said, “Two boys kissing on the lips is not something we often see on television, and that touched me deeply.” James was grand marshal of this year’s Paris Pride.
Comedian Éric Antoine, also a judge, commented, “Violence continues to rise, so there is a battle to be fought here.” Later, he also sent out a tweet saying, “This fight is unfortunately still necessary.”
Guillaume and Arthur – who, according to Australian website Qnews, have been a couple for four years – received a unanimous slate of “yes” votes from the show’s judges and will go on to compete in a future episode of “La France a un incroyable talent.”
You can watch their performance here.
Impulse Group DC held “10’s Across the Board: A Celebration of 10 Years” at Bravo Bravo (1001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) on Sunday, Dec. 14. Impulse Group DC is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) and affinity group of AIDS Healthcare Foundation dedicated “to engaging, supporting, and connecting gay men” through culturally relevant health and advocacy work.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Rob Reiner, most known for directing untouchable classics like “The Princess Bride,” “Misery,” “When Harry Met Sally…,” and “Stand by Me,” died Dec. 14 alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, in their Los Angeles residence. While investigations are actively underway, sources have told PEOPLE Magazine that the pair’s son, Nick Reiner, killed his parents and has been taken into custody.
Reiner was a master of every genre, from the romantic comedy to the psychological thriller to the coming-of-age buddy movie. But in addition to his renowned work that made him a household name, Reiner is also remembered as a true advocate for the LGBTQ community. In 2009, Reiner and his wife co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights, helping fight against California’s Prop 8 same-sex marriage ban. They were honored at the 2015 Human Rights Campaign Las Vegas Gala.
In a statement, HRC President Kelley Robinson said: “The entire HRC family is devastated by the loss of Rob and Michele Reiner. Rob is nothing short of a legend — his television shows and films are a part of our American history and will continue to bring joy to millions of people across the world. Yet for all his accomplishments in Hollywood, Rob and Michele will most be remembered for their gigantic hearts, and their fierce support for the causes they believed in — including LGBTQ+ equality. So many in our movement remember how Rob and Michele organized their peers, brought strategists and lawyers together, and helped power landmark Supreme Court decisions that made marriage equality the law of the land — and they remained committed to the cause until their final days. The world is a darker place this morning without Rob and Michele — may they rest in power.”
Reiner’s frequent collaborators have also spoken out as the industry is in mourning, including figures like Ron Howard and John Cusack.
A joint statement from Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest (who starred in Reiner’s “This is Spinal Tap”) reads: “Christopher and I are numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michele Singer Reiner and our ONLY focus and care right now is for their children and immediate families and we will offer all support possible to help them. There will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared and the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage, and their global care for a world in crisis. We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.”
While attending the 2019 HRC Los Angeles Dinner, Reiner spoke out about the need for equality: “We have to move past singling out transgender, LGBTQ, black, white, Jewish, Muslim, Latino. We have to get way past that and start accepting the idea that we’re all human beings. We’re all human beings, we all share the same planet, and we should all have the same rights, period. It’s no more complicated than that.”
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington perform “The Holiday Show” at Lincoln Theatre (1215 U St., N.W.). Visit gmcw.org for tickets and showtimes.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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