This week’s cover story in The Hollywood Reporter featuring Andy Cohen, the host of Watch What Happens Live and Bravo producer, sparked significant attention. In the interview, Cohen addressed various accusations surrounding the Real Housewives franchise, including sexism, racism, and substance abuse. However, a seemingly minor question about his friendship with straight rock star John Mayer unexpectedly became the most talked-about part of the interview. Their long-standing, close bond has often been a source of speculation in tabloids and mainstream media, prompting questions about the nature of their relationship.
In the interview, Maer Roshan, Co-Editor in Chief of The Hollywood Reporter, directly addressed the rumors: “Your friendship with Mayer has been the subject of intense speculation. People seem dubious that a straight rock star can have a close, platonic relationship with a gay TV personality.” Cohen’s response was straightforward and dismissive of the speculation. “Let them speculate,” he stated. “I honestly love John Mayer, and he loves me. But because we are so affectionate to each other, people don’t know what box to put that in. They assume we are sleeping with each other, which we are most definitely not.”
This brief exchange from the extensive 5,000-word interview quickly went viral, picked up by numerous news outlets ranging from CNN to the Daily Mail and Yahoo News. Perhaps even more surprisingly, the question reached John Mayer himself, prompting him to send a detailed response to The Hollywood Reporter, which they published in full.
Mayer began his email by directly referencing Roshan’s question and its underlying premise – the perceived incredulity of a platonic relationship between a straight man and a gay man in the public eye. He immediately challenged this premise as “somewhat specious.” Mayer argued that history is filled with examples of “rock stars” (though he humbly demurred from applying the term to himself) forming close friendships with gay icons and artists.
Expanding on this, Mayer suggested that doubting his friendship with Cohen reflects a lack of faith in the public’s ability to understand and accept diverse relationships. He expressed his belief that people are sophisticated enough to recognize a deep connection between two individuals without automatically assuming a sexual component. Mayer emphasized that projecting sexual assumptions onto gay-straight friendships reduces the concept of being gay to a simplistic and ignorant stereotype.
Mayer went on to critique the logic behind the question itself, labeling it “selectively flimsy.” He argued that the very act of questioning the platonic nature of their friendship reinforces a harmful idea – that any relationship between a gay and straight man needs to be justified as non-sexual to be valid. He concluded by stating firmly that such shallow perspectives do not deserve clarification and that reinforcing the need to qualify gay/straight friendships as non-sexual strips everyone involved of their dignity.
In conclusion, the viral question “Is John Mayer Gay?” directed at Andy Cohen, and Mayer’s thoughtful response, highlight a persistent societal issue. It reveals a tendency to confine relationships within rigid boxes of understanding, particularly when gender and sexuality are involved. Mayer’s articulate rebuttal serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of accepting diverse forms of affection and friendship, free from unwarranted assumptions and outdated stereotypes. Ultimately, the focus should not be on labeling John Mayer’s sexuality, but on appreciating the genuine and meaningful connection he shares with Andy Cohen, regardless of societal expectations.
