Last weekend saw not one, but two films out-perform the seemingly unstoppable box office juggernaut that was (and probably still is) Avatar: The Way of Water. One, of course, was Knock at the Cabin, which earned the top spot. Just below it, however, was 80 for Brady, a light, reportedly enjoyable enough comedy about four older women who go to the 2017 Super Bowl to see Tom Brady.
Starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field and with a scene-chewing cameo by Billy Porter as a halftime show choreographer—not to mention Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, and Debbie Harry teaming up for a song on the film’s soundtrack—80 for Brady has a certain kitschy gay appeal. (If my email inbox is any indication, Paramount definitely included a line item for LGBTQ+ outreach in the film’s marketing budget.)
But apparently, somewhere along the line, someone decided this middle-of-the-road comedy produced by Brady and pitched at Middle America shouldn’t be too gay.
Out Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy recently told Variety columnist Marc Malkin that filmmakers cut a scene in which his character kisses his on-screen boyfriend, played by Brian Jordan Alvarez.
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“They said they had to cut it for time, but I think they cut it for Middle America,” Kenworthy said.
According to Kenworthy, he and Alvarez filmed several takes of their scene in which they ended up kissing.
“They used the script for one take,” he explained, “but then we did it like four or five times where we would just ad-lib insults at each other and then make out.”
“Some of them got raunchy,” Kenworthy said.
According to Variety, reps for Brady and Paramount Pictures declined to comment, but a rep for the film’s production company Fifth Season released a statement claiming that 20 minutes of footage was cut from 80 for Brady “for pacing reasons, including key scenes with cast members, along with cameo appearances such as Gus and Brian’s kissing scene.”
“We value and celebrate the contributions of the filmmakers and all of the incredible talent involved with the movie, including those members of the LGBTQ community,” the statement continued. “We are deeply committed to meeting the needs of each individual film while maintaining our values as an inclusive studio.”
Kenworthy said he’d like to see a director’s cut of the film that includes his scene with Alvarez. “Release the tapes!” he said. “See if you can get that trending.”
