Image Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/PR PhotosLast week, less than 24 hours after my PopWatch colleague Michael Slezak introduced us to the word “doucheboat,” Jason Bateman went and had a DB-ish moment of his own when he cut in front of thousands of people who were in line for the new iPhone. And now he’s sorry for it, tweeting: “If some were mad, I didn’t see them. I wish I had. If you’re out there, I’m sorry.”
On behalf of myself, you’re forgiven, Jason. Not that I was ever that mad at you to begin with. I don’t have the money to buy an iPhone 4, and since it’s my policy never to feel bad for people richer than myself, I can’t say I lost any sleep for the “victims” in this tale. But then I put myself in the shoes of the people in line: If Bateman had been cutting in front of me, say, while in line for Backstreet Boys tickets, I’d be throwing more than “boos” at him. This got me wondering: What questionable actions would make your love for a celebrity waver?
In my mind, there are some Untouchables. Short of killing puppies for sport and/or blocking out the sun, Wentworth Miller, Jensen Ackles, and anyone else on my Great Wall of Hot are on my safe list. But even putting those fellas aside, I’ve come to the conclusion that my tolerance for poor conduct from attractive male celebrities is (troublingly?) high. Hugh Grant’s 1995 arrest? Never crosses my mind when I’m lusting after him on screen. David Boreanaz’s recent cheating scandal? Can’t say it’s affected my fandom, or my love of Bones, either. Maybe I’m blessed with a forgive-and-forget attitude. Or maybe (and unfortunately more likely) I give preferential treatment to the hot and famous. Yes, Michael Bluth…I’d still take your calls any day. Even from that ill-gotten iPhone4.
What about you, PopWatchers? When a legitimate report comes out about bad behavior from a celebrity you like, does it affect how you see them? Or do you quickly forgive? And I’m not talking gruesome crimes, just snootiness/mild scandal. What’s your limit?
Yes… if Pepper cut me off when I was trying to get BSB tickets, hell yeah – he’d be dead to me.
I do tend to ‘break-up’ with my crushes but I’m sure they aren’t too upset with it all.
Sandra, I’m diggin your “great wall of hot” !
LOVING the wall of hot! I also have that Wentworth Gap picture and it has traveled with me to it’s own share of cubicles.
Does it really matter? The dudes famous, let him take an extra 5 minutes out of your life: not the end of the world.
I didn’t know famous people were allowed to inconvenience and take advantage of me just because they’re famous. Fascinating rule and a great message to send.
If you didn’t know that, you haven’t been around very long. Hate the system all you want (I do), but that’s just how it works.
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If we’re only talking snootiness and mild scandal, then I think the key is whether the celebrity feels bad about it or compounds the problem by acting like a bigger jerk. In this case, Bateman clearly felt bad, so it’s MUCH easier to forgive him.
Then again, there hasn’t been too much in the press about snooty behavior from Christina Hendricks or Marisa Tomei, so I haven’t really been tested. (Actually, the reverse of this post may be true, given that I got a little defensive on Tomei’s behalf when Mickey Rourke took a veiled shot at her a while ago.)
Not an arguing point, just a question: do you think he really feels bad because of the way he behaved or because he got caught? I love Jason Batemen and have since I was like 11, so not bashing him, just was curious what you thought.
I do think he genuinely feels bad. I mean, I’ve read basically every interview of him ever, and he seems like the nicest, most genuine guy.
Plus, I can’t hate Michael Bluth. It was so hard for me to hate his character in Juno. And his character was a total **** in that.
You raise an interesting question. The answer is I don’t really know. I mean, are ANY of these celebrities really sorry for their actions or are they sorry they got caught. (More extreme examples would be Tiger Woods or any athlete that has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.)
As for Bateman… I don’t know, so the best I can do is guess. And my guess would be that he’s geniunely sorry.
I mean, the iPhone thing was kind of a jerky move, but it wasn’t a big deal by any means. I don’t think it would’ve had any effect on his career if he didn’t issue an apology. That’s why the fact that he DID issue an apology over something relatively trivial makes me believe that he actually felt bad.
Thanks for your input… I agree with both of you about his seemingly genuine apology. He doesn’t seem like he’s one of the cogs of the Hollywood machine and comes off as a really decent guy… he just got caught doing something dumb and no, it isn’t a major issue.
And thank you also for not attacking me for my question!!! Glad you understood I really was interested in your P.O.V!!!
Ayn-
I decided a VERY long time ago that I was going to do everything in my power to not fight with people on the Internet. And especially not with someone who appears to want to have a genuine discussion. (“Genuine discussion” being the rarest and most exotic of all animals on the Internet.)
Ceballos – you’re my favorite poster on EW for your good manners and excellent discussions. You still don’t disappoint.
Both? From what I’ve read, he got there at like 4:45am (not his assistant, but he himself) and stood in line. And it’s been pointed out multiple times, but if anyone else in the line had been given the opportunity to skip the line, they would’ve taken it. I don’t think he meant to upset anyone, but I also don’t think he did anything “wrong”.
I saw a statement from the Apple Store that said he had been waiting patiently like everyone else when the paps swarmed him. The Apple Store employees didn’t like the scene so they brought him inside. According to them, the only booing came from the paps because their subject was taken away.
I consider myself a skeptical person and I believe the Apple/Bateman version over the paparazzi’s.
My only free pass is John Goodman. He could punch a nun and I would still runaway with him and stuff and live happily ever after … that means I would have to leave my kids and husband but whatever, IT IS John Goodman!
“He could punch a nun…” haha! Now that’s true love!!
I had the major hots for Gerry Butler after seeing ’300′ (3 times in theaters!) but after seeing him make out with every trashy girl with a pulse in all those TMZ clips, yuck! My crush was chipped away a little bit more for every Ed Hardy clad girl I saw him with.
Celebrities are human too and they make mistakes. The only major difference between them and the rest of us normal peeps is that when they do something stupid, TMZ is right there to publicize it to the world!!!
If my crushes ever do something horrible to another human being (rape, murder, torture, etc…) then I find that to be unforgiveable, but to be caught doing soemthing stupid, rude or insensitive, well, I’ve gotta say since I’m guilty of doing some really stupid, rude or insensistive things my self, I really can’t judge them for that.
Well said, totally agree.
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George Clooney- the guys does so many good things for charities. If he had a couple of DB moments, he would be forgiven right away.
Sandra – your ‘great wall of hot’ is just too funny! love it – I would have to say my untouchables would be Johnny Depp, my boys from “Supernatural”, Elijah Wood, Rob Pattinson, Michael Sheen – okay, my list is getting too long! LOL – and, I am sure that there are more!
Well, I am no longer a Mel Gibson fan, cause I was so upset about his drunken rant and arrogant behavior. I haven’t watched anything with Christian Bale since I heard that terrible rant of his online. That stuff crosses a line for me. People who do hateful, obnoxious stuff just go on my Never Pay Attention To Again list.
On the other hand, I don’t care about sex scandals or drug use. Hugh Grant, Robert Downey Jr, David Boreanaz, are still golden in my book. As long as I don’t hear about them beating women or screaming abusive/hateful crap at people, it isn’t going to affect my view of them or my enjoyment of their work.
Mild scandal? Ehh, I can’t really think of one but if we’re talking big scandal, I got to be honest. I can kind of look past the whole Michael Jackson kid-touching thing. I don’t totally believe some of the accusers but deep down I know something unsavory was going on. But damn if I didn’t still like the guy and his music.
Shame on me.
Eww. okay I might have gotten off topic. MJ was not a celebrity crush of mine. Ew.
I’m sorry but MJ was AMAZING looking until the album Bad. Even then I would let him with the lights off, his smile and eyes stayed amazing even after all the work he had done.
I’m pretty sure the only people who could cut me off for BSB tickets would be the Backstreet Boys themselves. I may break up with my crushes from time to time, but they seem to eventually win me back
Tom Hardy could leave his gf & newborn baby to shack up with his gorgeous new co-star and I’d still love & forgive him. Wait. Yeah, I still love and forgive him.
I have that same pic of Went hanging in my room! God he is so attractive. As for celeb bad behavior, there are a certain number of things that can make me turn on a celeb (even hot ones) quickly. That list is:
1. Beating a woman (bye Chris Brown- I used to like you!)
2. Cheating (see ya Brad Pitt! You look like a goat now)
3. Abusing or hurting animals (Not that I ever liked you Michael Vick but I wish you nothing but awful things)
4. Complaining about fame or being rude to fans. Those are the people that got you there! (Eminem comes to mind here. YOU chose to rap. No one is holding a gun to your head stop complaining)
5. Scientology- I am sorry, but I just can’t. Tom Cruise was at one point my favorite actor. Now I can only picture him laughing maniacally. PLEASE DON’T TAKE WILL SMITH FROM ME!!!
Good call on Scientology.
Agree about Brad Pitt…I mean, you read interviews and it’s so obvious he doesn’t even feel bad about it. Plus he looks all gross now. I miss 90s Brad Pitt.
Also, he was never a celebrity crush of mine, but I’ve never hated Tom Cruise. Even when he jumped on the couch.
I never really cared about Brad Pitt before he ended up with Angie. But since then, his charity work has exploded and he obviously really loves his kids and being a dad. I don’t agree with the timing of the beginning of their relationship at all – but he’s gone from being someone I could not care less about to someone I find very attractive for his devotion to his kids and for all the massive amounts of charity work.
“see ya Brad Pitt! You look like a goat now” – OMG!! Totally accurate!!! LMAO!!!!
Ugg yes. Scientology. Deal-breaker. Kathy Griffin had a joke about meeting someone and thinking they cool and then finding out they’re a scientologist and no longer being able to hang out with them.
I’m so tired of the fame complainers. My favorite was wen Shani Twain moaned about never getting to be “Just a songwriter” and how hard life is while aways being watched,then performed at the Superbowl in a rhinesone bra.
Cheaters and their paramours (it just overcame us! We never meant to hurt anybody!) are also on the good-bye list.
“when”
It was all over for me and Jeremy Renner when he was alleged to have hooked up with Jessica Simpson.
total rumor there. which is weird, cuz the other major rumor about him is that he doesnt like girls
That I can believe more than the Simpson rumors. And I’d be way more OK with him dating guys than dating Jessica Simpson.