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11/17/2008
The artist formerly known as gay-friendly
This from The New Yorker:
Recently, Prince hosted an executive who works for Philip Anschutz, the Christian businessman whose company owns the Staples Center. “We started talking red and blue,” Prince said. “People with money—money like that—are not affected by the stock market, and they’re not freaking out over anything. They’re just watching. So here’s how it is: you’ve got the Republicans, and basically they want to live according to this.” He pointed to a Bible. “But there’s the problem of interpretation, and you’ve got some churches, some people, basically doing things and saying it comes from here, but it doesn’t. And then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got blue, you’ve got the Democrats, and they’re, like, ‘You can do whatever you want.’ Gay marriage, whatever. But neither of them is right.”
When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”
Wow. Forget crying doves -- We'd imagine Prince is soon to find out what it sounds like when a certain artist get deleted from iTunes playlists en masse!
Though we're sure the anti-gay marriage set will love his forthcoming Sodom & Gomorrah themed hit, "Party Like It's 1909 BC."
Soup With Prince [New Yorker]
(H/t: Gawker)
**UPDATE: Was he misquoted?
**UPDATE, January 2009: Prince doesn't even vote [J.M.G.]
Your thoughts
...does anyone even listen to his music anymore?
Posted by: | Nov 17, 2008 8:57:18 AM
Well he's one of those artists with an intensely devoted fan base. Anytime he tours, it's always a super-hot ticket.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Nov 17, 2008 9:12:39 AM
Oh well. He lost me at Diamonds and Pearls. He's just a short little megalomaniac. He's washed up. His records don't sell and he's a chastising bore. Say bye bye little man in high heels.
Posted by: John Ozed | Nov 17, 2008 9:17:27 AM
This isn't remotely surprising. He was raised a Seventh Day Adventist and then became a Jehovah's Witness. And he's kinda crazy, obviously. If he started campaigning for the Bible beaters or firing employees for being gay or telling his gay fans to go to Hell, I'd have a problem. But we can't start boycotting people because of their thoughts. Until he acts on these views in a destructive manner, I'm going to keep dancing around to "Raspberry Beret."
Posted by: Ted | Nov 17, 2008 9:30:10 AM
"But we can't start boycotting people because of their thoughts."
Nobody's suggesting a boycott. However, we can and should base our entertainment options on an artists' known stances. Personally, I will never be able to listen to Prince in the same way again, and will probably stop trying. I'm not going to demand his removal or protest his concerts -- but I WILL probably change the station from this point on.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Nov 17, 2008 9:37:52 AM
I live in Minneapolis and I'm pretty sure Prince died many years ago. If he didn't, he should have.
Posted by: Greg | Nov 17, 2008 11:27:30 AM
@Greg
I thought that was the artist formally known as Prince.
Posted by: RainbowPhoenix | Nov 17, 2008 11:31:58 AM
Prince has been a devout Jehovah Witness for a while now so this isn't that much of a shocker.
Posted by: Alonzo | Nov 17, 2008 11:57:09 AM
lol @ "formally"
He reverted back to "Prince" about 9 years ago; about the same time everyone stopped caring about him.
Posted by: Greg | Nov 17, 2008 1:19:50 PM
I can boycott for any reason or no reason. Most people do.
My grandparents got awful service at ONE McDonald's and refused to ever go back to any McDonald's ever again.
There's certainly no crime in me refusing to buy or listen to Prince's music, and certainly no crime in spreading his message of hate to others.
If Prince, or anyone else, wants my money, my ears, or my time, they gotta earn it.
My humanity is not up for debate.
Prince is entitled to his viewpoint, he's entitled to speak it aloud wherever and whenever he wants to, he's entitled to do so without being arrested or fined. But freedom of speech, of conscience does not equal freedom from consequence. I am entitled to criticize him, and boycott him all I want.
Posted by: Jason D | Nov 17, 2008 1:46:46 PM
Prince may have been misquoted:
http://perezhilton.com/2008-11-17-prince-was-misquoted-the-singers-camp-claims
Posted by: Alonzo | Nov 17, 2008 2:43:18 PM
. . . Prince? Really? C'mon, dude, you go around in a crushed velvet suit and a cravat.
Ugh.
Posted by: Alle | Nov 17, 2008 6:45:48 PM
I refuse to believe it. I just can't see that, and check out how his publicist is claiming it's false. The interviewer has been called to the mat about the story and now she claims she didn't have any recording device. I hope Prince comes out in defense of himself and against the publication. Otherwise I will have to accept it as true and burn all my Prince Paraphanalia.....
Posted by: Diana | Nov 18, 2008 10:10:17 AM
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