# Has a public figure ever been accused by multiple people of being gay, and it wasn't true?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-public-figure-ever-been-accused-by-multiple-people-of-being-gay-and-it-wasnt-true/555192>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 27, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-public-figure-ever-been-accused-by-multiple-people-of-being-gay-and-it-wasnt-true/555192 "2010-09-27T06:42:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-public-figure-ever-been-accused-by-multiple-people-of-being-gay-and-it-wasnt-true/555192/61 "2010-09-30T13:35:46Z")

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When did Matisyahu get accused of being _gay_?

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-public-figure-ever-been-accused-by-multiple-people-of-being-gay-and-it-wasnt-true/555192/62 "2010-09-30T14:21:59Z")

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I think because of his name.

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**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-public-figure-ever-been-accused-by-multiple-people-of-being-gay-and-it-wasnt-true/555192/63 "2010-09-30T14:30:20Z")

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> [@Fang](#):
>
> > [@Kyla](#):
> >
> > that “y” sound does not exist in Hebrew.
> 
> Not exactly, but it’s pretty closely approximated, as in the word “chai” (life). In fact the Hebrew name “Chaya” pretty much rhymes with how I’ve heard “Shia” pronounced.

Although I’ve admitted I was incorrect (i) because I relied on wiki, and (ii) because I don’t know anything about Hebrew, I can see how, through whatever path, chai (life) or Chaya was thought to mean “Gift from God” to the person who wrote the wiki entry. I had actually wondered about the name and looked this up several months ago and remembered seeing that explanation there then. Apparently, no one’s corrected it either.

If not right, at least I’ve inspired a very interesting side topic.

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**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-public-figure-ever-been-accused-by-multiple-people-of-being-gay-and-it-wasnt-true/555192/64 "2010-09-30T14:42:07Z")

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Hmmmm - no one mentioned Wayne Newton or Michael Jackson. OK, for Michael we have no idea what he was or how he was oriented but the Wayne Newton stuff seems to fit the OP.

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