Tom Selleck was undeniably America’s hottest bachelor of the 1980s. Before the gorgeous actor became famous, however, he was the subject of gay-baiting speculation. The question therefore becomes, where did the gay rumor begin?
How Did the Tom Selleck Gay Rumor Begin?
Tom was a major Hollywood star in the ’80s, and he has no plans to hang it up just yet. His breakthrough role as private detective Thomas Magnum in the hit TV series Magnum P.I. catapulted him to superstardom.
However, throughout his acting career, he has been accused of both being homophobe and homose*ual, with no proof to substantiate the charges.
The Globe and other tabloids published and distributed pieces implying that Tom is gay, which unfortunately launched the LGBT rumors. The Globe ran a piece in their 1991 issue that effectively outed the actor’s se*ual orientation to the general audience. His “machismo” persona may have made them question his se*ual orientation.
To add fuel to the flames, a gay activist group called Outpost attempted to “out” numerous celebrities and public figures by posting large photographs of their faces on billboards and other public spaces throughout New York. Sadly, a photo of Tom with the words “absolutely queer” was included in the movement.
Tom did not hesitate to file a lawsuit against The Globe for libel and invasion of privacy after they published an article about the photographs of the posters with a story titled “Gay Stars Stop Traffic” and refused to issue a retraction. In a public speech, he said he was just as accepting of his “se*ual preference as those who happen to be gay are of theirs.”
The American actor sued the magazine for $20 million, claiming it had caused him “shame, mortification, hurt feelings, embarrassment, humiliation, and damage to his peace of mind.”
After settling the lawsuit in 1991, The Globe issued an apology in which they stated, “By publishing the article, the Globe did not intend to express or imply that Tom Selleck is or ever was a homose*ual.”
Is Tom Selleck Gay?
Despite the rumors, Tom decided to play a gay man in the 1997 film In & Out. The actor took on the role of a TV reporter whose se*ual orientation had been revealed by the media years ago.
Because of that, he proved to the public that he wasn’t a homophobe at all. He said this of himself in an interview: “Because I had sued several newspapers for wrongly stating I was gay, people were assuming I was anti-gay. Both rumors were put to rest by your performance.
To be more specific, Tom has been married twice, first to Jacqueline Ray (a model) in 1971 and then to Jillie Mack (an actress) from 1987 to the present. The actor may have opted to avoid the spotlight, but we get a look inside his happy marriage through a few Instagram posts.
Ever since Tom and Jillie struck the knot, they have both been tremendously dedicated to the family they’ve formed together.
Hannah was his and his wife’s kid. Even though Magnum P.I. was immensely popular at the time, he opted to leave the show the same year his first kid was born. He told People magazine he stopped so he could start a family, and that he tries “very hard to have balance” between work and personal life.
@LiveKellyRyan I just adore Tom Selleck!! Tom and Jillie pic.twitter.com/paHTWa4Pi6
— Cathy (@cathyphi) September 29, 2017
Kemberly Penton is a writer, professor, bibliophile, and charades aficionado from the Philippines. She feels like an ancient spirit living in the modern world. She finds great joy in perceiving the world via a lyrical and reflective lens since she thinks there is so much to savor and ponder.
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