# Do gay people believe George Clooney is gay (and beards in 2016) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2016, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084 "2016-02-25T11:56:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/21 "2016-02-25T18:07:22Z")
I seem to recall Clooney commenting on the issue. He was asked for his opinion on a story that claimed he was “gay gay gay!” He said something like “No, only gay gay.” ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/22 "2016-02-25T18:18:26Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Don’t straight people believe everyone is straight, unless the man acts like Richard Simmons, or the woman is a truck driver? Please don’t tell me Large Marge is a lesbian. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/23 "2016-02-25T18:30:41Z")
I always assumed he was. And the nature of his marriage is hardly counter persuasive. BTW: “Beard” applies to a person of any gender posing as a partner in any type of relationship. The first time I heard it was in Woody Allen’s _Broadway Danny Rose_ where Allen played the beard with Mia Farrow to protect her real boyfriend, one of Allen’s clients. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/24 "2016-02-25T18:36:35Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I always assumed he was. And the nature of his marriage is hardly counter persuasive. Nature of his marriage? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/25 "2016-02-25T18:44:49Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > I’m pretty sure you could google any famous persons name + gay and you’ll find that someone believes it. And has written a slash fic about it. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/26 "2016-02-25T19:10:37Z")
Clooney? Nah. He loves to hang out with men and play basketball and shit, but he is attracted to women. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/27 "2016-02-25T20:20:13Z")
Hey - y’all are forgetting that bisexual people exist! Even if it was conclusively proven with video that he had had many many lusty affairs/relationships with men, it wouldn’t necessarily mean that his relationship with his wife was anything less than loving, passionate, and genuine. And vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/28 "2016-02-25T20:24:20Z")
> [@edwards\_beard](#): > > Please don’t tell me Large Marge is a lesbian. ☹ OK, but who’s Edward? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/29 "2016-02-25T21:30:07Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I believe gay people believe everyone is gay. > [@BigT](#): > > Not everyone, but I do agree they seem likely to overestimate while straight people seem to underestimate. And when it’s a particularly attractive person, there’s probably an element of wishful thinking involved. I’ve encountered one who does claim that everyone is gay. Then again, that one isn’t quite playing with a full deck. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/30 "2016-02-25T21:48:22Z")
_What else could I say Everyone is gay_ ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/31 "2016-02-25T21:55:55Z")
From Wiki: > [@](#): > > Clooney dated the actress Kelly Preston (1987–1989). Clooney was married to actress Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993. He also had a relationship with actress Ginger Lynn Allen. Clooney dated French reality TV personality Céline Balitran (1996–1999).[85] After meeting British model Lisa Snowdon in 2000, he had a five-year on-again, off-again relationship with her.[86] Clooney dated Renée Zellweger (2001) and Krista Allen (2002–2008)[87] In June 2007, he started dating reality personality Sarah Larson, but the couple broke up in May 2008.[88] In July 2009, Clooney was in a relationship with Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis until they split in June 2011.[89][90] In July 2011, Clooney started dating former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler,[91] and they ended their relationship in July 2013.[92] > > Clooney became engaged to British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin on April 28, 2014… I’m going with not gay, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/32 "2016-02-25T21:55:58Z")
Matthew Broderick/Sarah Jessica Parker and Billy Zane/Mrs. Billy Zane are the alleged beard marriages I hear rumored the most. I’m aware of gay rumors about Clooney but never thought much about it one way or the other because neither would have surprised me. Gaydar is very fallible when it’s not in person. Actors I was most surprised to learn are straight (as evidenced by romances with or marriages to women) include Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Johnny Galecki, Seth Green, Elijah Wood, and- probably most of all- Bronson Pinchot. Most surprised to learn are gay include… well, nto sure anybody, but that’s because anybody can be gay, though I was very surprised to learn that Holland Taylor and Sarah Paulson are dating due to the age difference. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/33 "2016-02-25T21:59:25Z")
Clooney ‘voiced’ a gay dog in an episode of South Park, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/34 "2016-02-25T22:10:08Z")
And told a story about firemen being called to his house on a night when he was running around naked with another guy and a pig. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/35 "2016-02-25T22:48:28Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I believe gay people believe everyone is gay. And in the case of celebrities, have a friend of a friend who had a one night stand with him. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/36 "2016-02-26T00:06:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > _What else could I say > Everyone is gay_ _In Utero_ reference noted and appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/37 "2016-02-26T00:14:28Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Correct. It is a woman a gay man dates or marries in order to appear straight. I’m not sure, but does the concept beard require the woman to be complicit? Or is a woman that is fooled into such a relationship also a “beard”? Perhaps more knowledgeable people here can answer that! Women aren’t naive dummies any more, they gladly hook up with the men for fame and material goodies. Besides, a remarkable number of women in Hollywood are lesbian/bi themselves. Evan Rachel Wood and Amber Heard were lesbians for years until some famous men came along and they all of a sudden turned ‘bi’. ’ ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/38 "2016-02-26T02:53:42Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Yes, I think straight people (to the extent they think about it at all) do assume everyone else is also straight unless told otherwise. I mean, I know the world is making progress, but hetero \*is \*still the default, no? Even after being told otherwise people still make assumptions I’m straight. I find reminding people who I’ve told clearly I’m gay to be rather frustrating. I don’t believe George Clooney is gay nor do I believe any man married to a woman is gay unless I have evidence otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/39 "2016-02-26T03:38:15Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Even after being told otherwise people still make assumptions I’m straight. I find reminding people who I’ve told clearly I’m gay to be rather frustrating. Same problem here. And when I’m out with my husband, people assume we’re - I don’t know - coworkers or something. I first encountered the term “beard” back in the '60s. And it was already decades old by then. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084/40 "2016-02-26T06:00:52Z")
Another long-rumored “beard marriage” is Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, although in this case, it would have been a two-ward beard, KWIM? Although they have never married, I have heard the same thing about Oprah Winfrey and Stedman. Her friend Gail is definitely a lesbian MHO. I’ve always heard that Kevin Spacey is gay too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-gay-people-believe-george-clooney-is-gay-and-beards-in-2016/747084.md?page=3)