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John Mayer is stirring the pot this week, and honey, it’s a doozy! After a recent whirlwind of rumors and a rather poignant viral interview with Andy Cohen, Mayer has taken to the media to express his frustration over what he calls a “shallow” and “two-dimensional” view of gay friendships.
The buzz started after Andy Cohen, a beloved gay icon and TV personality, was asked about his friendship with Mayer, a straight rock star. Cohen’s playful remarks on The Howard Stern Show last year, saying “We are in love with each other,” were meant in jest, but it seems the joke may have flown over some heads.
Earlier this week, Cohen was asked about their friendship as part of a profile for The Hollywood Reporter.
“Let them speculate! I honestly love John Mayer, and he loves me. But because we’re so affectionate toward each other, people don’t know what box to put that in. They assume we’re sleeping with each other, which we are most definitely not,” he said.
Mayer, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, penned a fiery letter to the editor, denouncing the insinuations about their friendship being more than platonic.
Mayer’s defense is a strong one, where he underscores the longstanding friendships between rock stars and gay icons, challenging the public’s perception and urging a more nuanced understanding of such relationships. He emphasizes that assuming every male friendship must have a sexual component reflects a limited understanding of gay identity and relationships.
He wrote: “I read your interview with Andy Cohen, and was intrigued by your line of questioning regarding our friendship.
“You posited that ‘your friendship with Mayer has been a subject of intense speculation. People seem dubious that a straight rock star can have a close platonic relationship with a gay TV personality’. I think this is somewhat of a specious premise.
“First, there is a long and storied history of “rock stars” (not mocking, just won’t refer to myself as one) befriending gay icons and artists.
“Second, I think that to suggest that people are dubious of a friendship like mine and Andy’s is to undermine the public’s ability to accept and understand diversity in all facets of culture, be it in art or in real life.
“I’d like to think they’re sophisticated enough to see a relationship like ours without assuming it must include a sexual component.
“That turns the concept of being gay into an ignorantly two-dimensional one, which I know you know it’s not. I don’t question that at all.”
He added, “I love intelligent discourse — as I hope you’ll find this email to be — but I bristle at your selectively flimsy logic meant to coax an answer, when the premise itself is so deeply flawed — and quite possibly not even quantitatively true.
“Quite simply, if someone is dubious of a platonic relationship between a straight man and a gay man, I don’t think that shallow a view deserves clarification by anyone with self respect, be it Andy or your publication.
“Reinforcing the idea that any gay/straight relationship needs qualification that it’s not sexual devoids everyone involved of their dignity,” he concluded.
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The friendship, which began around 2013 through a mutual friend, blossomed over shared interests like the Grateful Dead and has been under the celebrity friendship spotlight ever since. Despite the gossipy whirlwind, both Mayer and Cohen have maintained there’s nothing romantic going on, with Cohen even swearing on his children’s lives during a Howard Stern interview last year.
In a world where celebrity friendships can often seem as fleeting and fickle as a summer romance, Mayer and Cohen’s enduring camaraderie stands out. Mayer’s recent outburst isn’t just about setting the record straight; it’s about challenging how we view and interpret the relationships of public figures, especially across lines of sexual orientation.
So, while the rumor mill might continue to churn, it’s clear that Mayer and Cohen are here to show that a true friendship doesn’t conform to simple labels or societal expectations. They’re flying high above the fray, proving that at the heart of it all, friendship is about connection, respect, and a good laugh over the ridiculousness of rumors. Cheers to keeping it real, boys!
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