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Lance & Reichen: 2006 - 2006

Dec 5, 2006, 06:06 PM | by Adam B. Vary

Categories: Celebrity Couples

15555__bass_l I can't say I was exactly shocked when I saw the announcement from Lance Bass (pictured, left) and Reichen Lehmkuhl (right) confirming they have parted ways, but before we mourn their passing and click onto the next celeb couple of the week, let's pause for a moment and reflect on what this break-up means. Because -- and bear with me here -- I do think it means something.

Take the statement the couple released yesterday to People.com: "We remain the best of friends. Please respect our privacy as we try to work things out during this difficult time." Now, note that plea for privacy. It's a standard trope of the celeb break-up, but I find it kind of ironic given how Web and gossip speculation about their relationship caused Lance to come out in the first place, to make something incredibly private -- his sexuality -- very much not. And after Lance came out, it took work not to notice his many public appearances with his boyfriend Reichen.

Live by the celeb magazines and gossip columns, then die by them too -- Page Six already has Lance at an event with another man. Which can only mean good things for gay equality, I suppose -- they're getting the exact same treatment as Kid Rock and Pam, Reese and Ryan, and (remember?) Ellen and Anne. Still, given that it's practically Hollywood law that a famous couple's life expectancy is inversely proportionate to the number of times they're photographed together, I also wonder whether, had Lance and Reichen chosen to keep their relationship private, they would have lasted -- well, at least into 2007. And yet, had they kept their love to themselves, Lance will still be in the odious purgatory of the closet and Reichen would be a long-faded whisper on the pop-culture winds.

What do you think, PopWatchers? Once they went public, did Lance and Reichen ever have a chance? Are gay celeb couples any more interesting than the straight ones? Will anyone ever be able to correctly spell Reichen's full name?

Phil Thu, Dec 7, 2006 at 02:48 PM EST

Sorry for the double post, I thought my computer froze and timed me out!!

Phil Thu, Dec 7, 2006 at 02:47 PM EST

See, I knew I liked PJ for a reason!!!

I can't speak for other gay guys, but seeing celebrities deny their true self & CLAIM to be metrosexuals rather than the honest homosexuals they are, only to further their careers and fatten their pockets while forgetting about the daily struggles the gay community faces on a daily basis is just INSANE. I mean, if I have to hear critism about how homosexuals have this mantra that we only say so & so is gay cause we WANT them to be is CRAZY. We're not blind, we can tel obvious mannerisms and gestures that indicate when someone els eis of the same nature. Its just sad that these indiviuals in the spotlight continue to deny their true selfs and make the rest of the homosexual community look even more ASSinine for making such remarks, when we know its true, but they hire 5 publicists to say its not. What a sad sad world we live in.

Phil Thu, Dec 7, 2006 at 02:42 PM EST

Hahaha see I knew I liked PJ for a reason!!!

I dunno how other gay guys feel, but like we're not STUPID, one can intuitively tell by mannerisms and gestures if another guy is gay. Its not cause we have some mantra that we WANT them to be gay...thats just crazy. But to deny your true self to further your career & fatten your pockets but not help out the community you're a part of and knowing the difficulties we face on a daily basis? WHATS CRAZIER??

PJ Thu, Dec 7, 2006 at 02:22 PM EST

EP Sato,

Ryan is gay. He never hooked up with Teri Hatcher. I was in the room when Ryan's people leaked out the fact that Ryan and Teri were out and about. It was all for show.

PJ

Bryan Thu, Dec 7, 2006 at 10:35 AM EST

Lance can do so much better then Reichen

jenjen Thu, Dec 7, 2006 at 10:20 AM EST

I'm still not over Doogie geing gay!

Lorenzo Thu, Dec 7, 2006 at 02:12 AM EST

Awwwww, sounds like PJ and Phil would have nice relationship if you two lived in the same place. The "Sleepless in Seattle" of blogging. How cute!!!! ^-^ :)

Phil Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 10:06 PM EST

PJ I was actually goin to ask if you meant LA as in Hollyweird & home of the spray-on tan or as in Katrina ravaged Louisianna, but then I read your post on Ryan Seacrest and the guy from Boy Meets Boy and realized, YUP! YOU'RE FROM THE CITY OF ANGELS!

I'm from the OTHER coast, Philadelphia,PA!

EP Sato Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 09:52 PM EST

Gay men may not have the best role models in Hollywood, but I am sure there are plenty of loving relationships between two men (or two women) that have lasted a fair amount of time. Wasn't Elton John with his partner for a decent stint? And the former NFL guy who came out in 2000 has been with the same fella' for nearly a decade. They've got two kids together and everything.

In my own family, there's an uncle who has been with his husband since 1985, and was with his previous boyfriend for 11 years. Contrast that to all us breeders in the family, we're all one failed relationship after another.

And (with tongue in cheek and snicker in my voice as I say this) Ryan Seacrest isn't gay (snicker)! He was hooking up with Teri Hatcher....hahaha

PJ Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 07:19 PM EST

oh, and I'm from LA

PJ Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 07:18 PM EST

Phil, what are the chances. :)

I'd also like to add that gay men really don't have many role models in Hollywood. Hopefully Doogie Howser can keep his relationship together.

I mean, remember James, the "bachelor" from Boy Meets Boy? If you remember, his drama ridden hag was more upset about the straight guy thing that he was. The reason why was because James had a boyfriend the entire time he was on the show.

So far, gay men are not really being portrayed in a good light. :(

Though, I do hear that Ryan Seacrest has had a steady boyfriend that he has been supporting for a while. :)

Phil Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 07:08 PM EST

Hahaha PJ are my actual initials, this gets better & better!!! I actaully only know one other Phil. Like in my entire life. Ahhh ya gotta love blogs, bringing the (cyber)world together, one item at a time!!!

PJ where are ya from?

PJ Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 06:26 PM EST

Phil, I'll go by PJ so they don't confuse us anymore. Desiree I do apologize if I offended you by spelling remember wrong. I hope your life hasn't come crashing down after I did that. horrifying mistake.

Back to the item. At the end of the day, Lance and Reichen were cursed. Not only are they a Hollywood couple, but Reichen has been proven time and time again to be a manwhore. In fact, I'm sure he prides himself on it. He is probably the type that has to remind his friends that he is a "pitcher." Anyway, Lance seems to hope they will work it out according to TMZ and his myspace page.

I hope Lance doesn't get hurt. he seems like a nice guy.

Phil Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 04:27 PM EST

Umm Desiree where is my spelling error? I see a SO that should have been a Do in the last paragraph. I mean I'm all for the helpful hints, but at least be more specific!

Jason Bonkers Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 04:08 PM EST

The odd couple if ever there was one.

Desiree Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 04:06 PM EST

Who cares? And Phil, check your spelling. Remember?

Yo yo Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 03:41 PM EST

At least they'll always have the perma-tans.
But on the bright side, now Lance is free to date Justin--come on outta the closet Timberfake and admit "Sexyback" is actually your favorite whoopie position!

EP Sato Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 03:30 PM EST

Since the subject came up, I've got an amusing story to tell about "gay days" at Walt Disney:

Back in the day I was a mailroom staffer for a US Senator. The job entailed reading through mail and sorting it throughout the staff by issue area. Oh, and to keep the interns from stealing the always thrown away copy of Hustler Larry Flynt would send us every month (but I digress).

One particular day, we got these photos that were allegedly taken from some dude who went "undercover" during Gay Days at Disney World. Of course, my co-worker and I figured some hella closeted church going married dude probably went there for a good time, took pictures and then got caught by his spouse. The way to pass it off? "Um, I was there undercover and took these raunchy photos as evidence. Now, um, let's send the photos to our Senator". hehehe.

And there's enough room for two Phils on Popwatch, as both of you write cool posts with key info.

Phil Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 03:22 PM EST

Haha there's ANOTHER Phil posting now?? HOWDY! Are ya cute? Single? HAHAHA *KIDDIN* Thought it was appropriate with this item!

Anyways, as I said in a post last month, Lance & Reichen would only break-up when Reichen cheated or ended things with lance, since he's the obligatory "hot one" in the relationship. Anyways, the speculation can mount all it wants about why lance actually came out of the closet, but seriously, as many homosexuals know, June is not only the kick off to summer but also Pride Month, and kicks off the first weekend with Gay Days in Orlando, Fl. There are circuit parties every weekend in just about every major city in the U.S. and it all ends up with 4th of July in the gay beach resort town of Provincetown, where Lance & Reichen were 1st really reportedly seen together. As a gay guy myself, I would like to think they were just doing what mostly all gay couples do..GO ON VACATION TOGETHER! I'm surprised no other gay guy has ever mentioned this perspective.

So I believe Reichen & Lance dating ultimately shifted units of his book? SURE. Do I think its fishy the relationship ended AFTER the book was released? DOUBLE SURE! At least Lance got to sleep witha hot guy for a few months!!!

Brian Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 02:40 PM EST

Boycott Reichen's book hes a loser

Christy Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 01:39 PM EST

There is a profile on Reichen in today's Boston Globe.

http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2006/12/06/out_of_synch/?page=1

dan cullinane Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 10:21 AM EST

scanning this, it was all so...god, i can't even stay interested enough to come up with an adjective...and then i ran across brandon's post, and i thought...DAMN...that is the most ironically detached deadpan response i have ever seen...i hope...brandon, tell me you were being funny...

EP Sato Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 10:03 AM EST

Celeb couples break up all the time, so it's not a shocker. It's not as if Lance ever made any "this is the man I am going to marry" type pronouncements on Oprah or anything.

As for Lance coming out publicly, I think it's a good thing because other stars soon followed suit (hopefully) to no ill effect on their careers. This is still a conservative country, and not everyone has accepted same-sex love as "normal", so it's still a risk for anyone to come out. That said, the page 6'ing of gay couples may mean that we as a nation are taking another step forward in accepting people no matter what their sexual orientation may be.

Dana Wed, Dec 6, 2006 at 01:51 AM EST

Reichen will do anything for publicity, he gives gay people a bad name. which I guess is a good name, cause I guess he's putting gay in the spotlight, even if it is in the worst possible manner to put gay in the spotlight, which is not to say that that doesn't still make Reichen a big loser, he's just a smart big loser user. I know this makes no sense, sort of like Reichen and Lance as a couple.

Telly B Tue, Dec 5, 2006 at 10:02 PM EST

"Please respect our privacy as we try to work things out during this difficult time"


LMAO!!!!

Do they really think they are Angelina & Brad or even Ellen & Anne?

Nobody gives a rat about Reichen Famewore and nobody ever gave a rat about Lance, even during his N'Sync heyday.

junior Tue, Dec 5, 2006 at 09:31 PM EST

I think that picture above says it all. Lance got a little caught up and believed Reichen the Manwhore was actually interested in him and not publicity, which is what Reichen feeds off of like a vampire does blood. It's okay, Lance, now you can go back to being "One of the N'Syncers who's not Justin Timberfake."

Phil Tue, Dec 5, 2006 at 07:34 PM EST

Well, knowing how terrible a person Reichen can be, I bet he forced Lass out of the closet so his book sales wouldn't be a completel and total failure. Remmber, Reichen dumped his partner after winning The Amazing Race.

daisyj Tue, Dec 5, 2006 at 06:20 PM EST

Since you asked:
No.
Not unless they're both hot.
Why bother?

brandonk Tue, Dec 5, 2006 at 06:18 PM EST

How disappointing. They seemed so affectionate, too. Oh well...I guess we'll have to look elsewhere for a model of a stable and long-term homomale relationship.

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