Former teen actor Kirk Cameron on Tuesday responded to growing criticism of anti-gay remarks he made during an interview on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight” last Friday, and called the backlash against him “slander.”
Kirk Cameron
The former “Growing Pains” actor and self-proclaimed born again Christian has come under fire for saying marriage was “defined by God,” and that homosexuality is “unnatural” and “destructive” to the foundations of civilization.
Following the broadcast, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) denounced Cameron as a “fallen teen idol” who “sounds even more dated than his 1980s TV character.”
“Cameron is out of step with a growing majority of Americans, particularly people of faith who believe that their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters should be loved and accepted based on their character and not condemned because of their sexual orientation,” said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD.
In a statement to ABC News on Tuesday, Cameron defended his remarks, and added that he has the support of his “gay friends.”
“I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community,” the “Growing Pains” star told ABC News in a statement. “That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people.”
“I should be able to express moral views on social issues, especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years — without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.
“I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect. I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally).”
- Kirk Cameron
GLAAD dismissed Cameron’s response as damage control in an effort to sell his upcoming movie, “Monumental.”
“Saying that gay people are ‘detrimental to civilization’ might be ‘loving’ in Kirk Cameron’s mind, but it’s gay youth and victims of bullying who truly suffer from adults like Cameron who espouse these ideas,” said Graddick, responding to Cameron’s statement.
“Cameron used his platform to attack gay Americans and is now attempting to play victim in an effort to sell his upcoming movie. That Cameron would risk the health and safety of young people in order to do so speaks for itself,” said Graddick.
“So many Americans, popular celebrities and Christian leaders have stood up and said his views are out of touch. The fundamental dignity of gay people should no longer be a debate in this country.
“Obviously, Cameron has the right to recite his anti-gay talking points, just like fair-minded Americans have the right to tell him that his views are harmful and have no place in modern America.”
- GLAAD
Since last week’s interview, a growing number of celebrities have spoken out in support of LGBT people in response to Cameron’s comments, including “Growing Pains” co-stars Alan Thicke and Tracey Gold.
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He needs a gym membership
a- hole
anti-cameron!
yea so does Rush Limbaugh when it come to what he says. It’s amazing how these people can play the victim.. And they do it soo well..
Eat shit asshole
He calls remarks against him slander. What does he call the remarks he made against gay people? His opinion, his right to say what he feels, or just a bunch of shit coming out of an asshole?
Kirk Cameron needs to shut his dumb, religious,big ASS mouth!
Mr. Cameron may call our remarks whatever he wishes. We stand by what we say when we say his remarks are hate speech. He blows a high pitch dog whistle for his followers, and he does have them, who will fight to keep us from ever experiencing marriage equality in all 50 states. We will get there some day.
They take no responsablity for what they say.
let him talk..hes just pissy cus no one remembers who he is and no gay guy would fuck him..
When will the oppressive persecution of white, affluent, heterosexual, men stop!?
He can EAD.
Haha oh Kirk Cameron. I wonder how it feels to be a complete dumb fuck. There’s some slander for him. Poor baby.
Go pound Sand Kirk !!!
He’s a washed up DOUCHEBAG!!!!!
He’s a whiny liittle prick.
They think that they can say anything they want. But when we have our say. All of a sudden they are the one’s being attack. And there little feelings get hurt. And then they play the victim. All i can can say to Kirk is MAN UP. TAKE IT YOUR THE ONE WHOM GAVE YOUR OPINION NOW IT’S TIME TO GIVE OURS..
Is he serious? Wth is wrong with him? He has to be smoking something.
Whiny little bitch.
Shelle, i ‘lol’ed at your comment :D
“He is in more dire need of a blow-job then any white man I know”…. Robyn Williams, Good Morning Vietnam.
the “man” is just sad, parroting the “company line” just to see himself on tv again…seriously the show is over MOVE ON!
He’s strting to believe those Left Behind movies he stars in…
what a whiner, oh I can hurt anybody I want but don’t do it back to me. doesn’t the bible say do un to others as you want done to you?
Who cares what he thinks? He has a right to his beliefs, but really, does his opinion matter?
He can eat a dick. He hasn’t been relevant since the 80s
fuk him. washed up loser! even Alan Thicke hates him…
Wow he is such a has been!
Jesus called, he’d like his Christianity back from folks like Kirk. He’s not willing to sue for slander, because that wouldn’t be his thing.
Kirk needs to get off the cross. Someone else needs the wood…
he’s a growing pain.
I’m guessing he was jaded by his last boyfriend, & decided to try & pray the gay out of himself?
Suck it up princess
He is very typical of his kind. One sided loaded with double standards. Typical butt hole.
So what’s he gonna do? Take everybody to court for “slander”? Haha!
Like we believe his “gay friends” support his hateful beliefs.
So to sum it up he’s pretty much saying “Its okay for me to say it because I have ‘gay friends’”…like I haven’t heard that excuse before
I used to love him so much but have now lost any respect from this kind of Jesus-FREAK that thinks he is right while others are in the wrong.
he seems to have forgotten that slavery has underpinned Western civilization for hundreds of years… should we bring that back too?
Dear Kirk Cameron, Die young and painfully. <3, me
It is America. He has the privilege of voicing his opinions. That is what makes our country great, even tho he is misguided and ill informed.We still have the privilege of voicing our opinions, kinda like every person has a rectum. Everyone has an opinion.
Sounds like he should have been called Boner…
face it pretty boy…ur a bigot..and i will say it to your face, its wrong to imply your faith and life style on others…….
Kirk is an embarrassment to our society.
he is d bag
What a bigot!
Maybe you should ask your attorney.
Defamation of character. And the liability of your hateful comments.
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
A lot of people are just upset that so many folks are choosing to love people over hate, accept them for who they are, and really let god be the judge. The bible was written by man not god himself. I choose to love everyone, believe god loves everyone, and stand up to the hate. I just want equality for everyone, love is love that’s it, who cares if it’s two girls a guy and girl, or two guys. GET OVER IT…
reality check Kirk, homosexuality has been around as long as civilization…..remember your history lessons, or did you even finish school with your narrow and bigoted views…bitter ball!
he can go f*** himself…man up you frickin retard!!!
Too late for the youmg part, Stephanie, the dude is staring his “Best Used BY” date in the face, though he is only fortyish,physically. :-)
What a creep!!
omg is that dum or just plane stuped
In print, it’s called “libel.”
He is as entitled to his opinion as is anyone else. As I am entitled to mine. So long as he takes no action to infringe on my freedoms, so be it. We will never be friends, so it makes no difference to me anyway.
what a little creep
Wow! The absolute levels of hate on here are terrifying….smh. K Cameron can say what he wants mo matter how moronic they may be. Yes he should be ready for the voiced reaction as well. But as excpect I will never meet him or have him infuence my beliefs and views. I could care less.
Stop giving this d-list douche a platform.
Why is he still news?! Let’s move on to something important please.
slander begets slander hunnybunch.
Just because he’s entitled to his opinion doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to call him a douchebag.
Hasn’t it been reported in the past he has been seen trolling restrooms? Those that protest the most it always seems to have the most to hide,
just for kirk.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf0oXY4nDxE
Par for the course from an underhung sissy with an overactive mouth and a slow wit. Lord, save me from your followers!
people be dumb
Slander …really… its only slander if its not true … and it clearly is ….
Keep your views. You should know we were born into this world just like you and none of us are mistakes..not even you. Just do us a favor and keep your comments to yourself.
F him!
He’s filthy under his good looks…what a DICK!
ohh the irony…
yep
lets face it… sure people have their opinion and are allowed to have that… what is hard here is someone who is famous (not really any more as he is about as famous as my baby toe in my opinion) has the ability to influence many people through his use of media… i am not saying dont have an opinion but perhaps if u are going use media u should use it for positive!!! Besides its not like the lgbtq community is using media to tell everyone that straight people are disgusting…. hate is hate no matter if u have freedom of speech or not….
HE’S AN DICK
I still can’t figure out why anyone was even interviewing Kirk Cameron. I bout nearly forgot that dumbass existed. OK, Kirk Cameron, you can disappear back into oblivion now! Buh bye! Assbag!
REMEMBER HIS BFF WAS A “BONER”
It’s a damn sight better than being beaten nearly to death for them, like certain homophobes would have no problem doing to a member of the LGBTQ community. So quit whining and STFU, you’re in no position to say anything about anything other than to show your just another religious bigot.
and what he said wasn’t???
Ahole
He is a minor personage. If you ignore him he WILL go away.
Kirk and banana theory….has everyone seen this?…how can anyone take him seriously… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z-OLG0KyR4
Anyone in opposition to his judgmental POV is committing slander (not the correct term for it, by the way, dude), but his calling an entire population “destructive and unnatural” is what…Godlike?
lol
Now he’s *really* going too far. Freedom of speech applies to us ALL, ya bigoted jackass.
WHO?
Who’s kirk camera not on?
If you are a “celebrity” (or an old one) and express an opinion or do anything in a public forum, people will talk, either for the good or for the bad. He just happened to say something assinine, so most of the response has been negative. Grow a pair, Kirk, and suck it up.
Kirk Cameron is Ray Comfort’s creationist buttbuddy. That’s literally everything you need to know about him, everything else is superfluous
As unfortunate and abhorring as these comments are, this should come as no surprise. One of his recent movies for the “Christian” family circuit had his character kissing the love interest at the end of the film. However, because he will only kiss his wife, she stepped in to do the scene and it is shot from far away with soft focus. He has VERY conservative values. I have NO idea how he can call himself LOVING?! and a Christian…after these words. Regardless of the topic–they do not fall into the loving supportive category. As an actor he should understand WORDS MATTER and seemed really reveal him for who he is!
Oh, tell us, chosen one, what is right and what is wrong? For you are an all knowing washed up child star (and you played a brat on TV)!
What’s that sound…? Oh! Its the sound of your fan base shrinking kirk ‘ol buddy!
People never like to be called out on their horse crap. Go figure.
no kirk cameron, the shit you said is slander! we are stating the obvious….. you are a small-minder idiot whose head is so far up his ass you cant see straight! hate is never right, so ill see you in hell!
never confuse hate with freedom of speech!
Whatever… he slandered a whole segment of the population !
Im tired of seeing his bigoted face on my page !
bigotry wrapped up in prayers and religion is still bigotry
he is the enemy….shoot to kill
hes just another has been that noone wants to hire so hes trying to get attention to get another job before he goes bankrupt…..
Dik Berberian Kirk, go ahead and explain to your fans about the men you picked up in Griffith Park in Los Angeles for sexual encounters. They have started talking already on several websites and it’s more than two or three men. And don’t forget Laguna Beach in the 80′s. Don’t worry Kirk, the Lord will forgive you.
Kirk
Bite my butt!
ok, your 5 minutes are still up, now shut up and go back to where you’ve been all these years since you were on a tv show as a kid. bye bye
Yes, Kirk, because opposing hate speech is far worse than the hate speech itself. Or the stupidity of you illegally infiltrating and recording a Druid ritual back in 2006 just so you could also go slandering Pagans. Douche.
Who cares what he thinks..
Someone should sue this jerk for discrimination and defamation.
Oh, puh-leez!!!
He is just horrible. What a sad person.
its not slander if its actually true
Apparently he doesn’t understand that people have just as much right to make comments about his opinion as he does for having said opinion, and doesn’t tolerate criticism very well.
He’s crazy, this is a guy who said that annorexia was God’s punishment on women for vanity, LUNATIC!!!!!
This Growing Pains “star” is a growing pain in my arse.
He really said that about women and Anorexia? After his co star publicly battled an eating disorder? Just when I thought his has been ass couldn’t get any lower… As a lesbian who is also a recovered anorexic I think its safe to say I will never, ever have an iota respect for him again, even if he were to make a miraculous turn around with his views.
your doing the same thing your whining about!!BUTT-HOLE!!
he’s a nutjob.
so what does he call his anti gay remarks? making nice?
He needs to embrace his homosexuality instead of bashing
oh REALLY?:
He wouldn’t know slander if it hit him in the ass.
i will not be reading anymore about this man. He and the people like him listen and live only the judgment and exclusion in the bible and practive none of the love and inclusion of Jesus.
Fuck Kirk Cameron! He can talk shit but when he gets challenged then he starts cryin like a lil bitch!
Sounds like he has his own gay issues…
God loves you, kirk. I think you are a freak, however.
He is just a washed up actor still looking for fame. Too bad he’s just another uneducated self righteous Republican hypocrite.
Just to keep from getting angry about his remarks and that he said them on TV, I just tell myself, “It would suck to be that stupid.” But also… he’s just a celebrity and a mediocre washed-up one as well, so do I really care what he thinks?
maybe he got real bad memory harassed by someone…
what a douchebag !!
Of course he has a right to his views. And I have the right to roll my eyes and laugh. I hated that show he was in back in the 1980s and I don’t like him any better now.
He should sue in court for slander and we should counter-sue. We’ll see who wins.
One word…Ugh!
What a tool. Another anti-gay person who supposedly has gay friends that support him. Let’s see them. Come out, come out wherever you are…
Poor baby – now he knows how the LGBT community feels.
Slander uh huh…whatever, he is a washed up actor
Way to show us all ‘gods love’ you piece of shit…
So criticizing the GLBT community is okay and not slander, but criticizing him is slander. Hmmmm . . . can he say: hypocrite!
I heard Kirk is dating Rick Santorum.
Poor Santorum baby
As a lesbian and proud member of the LGBT community, I call Kirk Cameron’s comments slanderous and as a public figure almost libelous. Perhaps we should file suit against him. I have the HRC on speed dial #5 (the key with letter J for Justice on it)
So very sad…..
Ahhhh poor baby. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut. What did he expect, a pat on the back?