Resurfaced Clip Of Heath Ledger Condemning Homophobic Brokeback Mountain Hate Goes Viral

Heath Ledger in 2006A resurfaced clip has fans mourning the late Heath Ledger all over again.The Oscar-winning actor had no qualms about portraying a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain, but did have gripes with the 2005 drama becoming a punchline for homophobic jokes at the time — and openly said so during a press conference in Berlin a year after its release.With bigoted reactions to the film’s central relationship flooding the discourse, at a time when same-sex marriage had yet to be legalised in the U.S., Heth was asked at the Berlinale International Film Festival what he would tell people “who suggest that this is disgusting”.“Oh,” the actor, then 26, groaned at the time. “Well, I don’t know. I think it’s a real shame.”“Well, I think it’s immature, for one,” Heath continued. “Really immature. But I think it’s an incredible shame that people go out of their way to discuss or to voice their disgust, I should say. Or negative opinions about the way two people wish to love one another.”Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain“I mean, at least voice your opinions on how two people show hate and violence and anger towards each other,” Heath added. “Isn’t that more important? I think so. So I don’t know, and it doesn’t really concern me. I think it’s a shame, but I also feel like it’ll surprise people.”Ang Lee’s adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by author Annie Proulx did indeed surprise people: It landed eight Academy Award nominations but lost the biggest prize to Crash — widely considered one of the most controversial Best Picture wins in history.“The pure fact of it is it transcends a label, it’s human,” Heath explained during the 2006 press conference. “It’s a story of two human beings, two souls that are in love. It’s like, get over the fact that there’s two men — that’s the point.”“We’re showing that love between two men is just as infectious and emotional and strong and pure as it is with heterosexual love,” he added. “And if you can’t understand that, then just don’t go see the movie, it’s OK. You know, we don’t care.”“Deal with it in your own private life,” he concluded.Ledger, seen here at the 2006 Berlinale press conference in question.Heath’s response was reposted on TikTok earlier this week by the LGBTQ+ news outlet PinkNews, and received adoration from thousands of fans, as the actor minced no words in condemning the backlash at a time when portraying gay characters was viewed as a potential career killer.“So well stated. Heath was obviously a genuine caring human being,” one fan commented on the post, with another writing: “Gay marriage wasn’t even federally legal when this movie came out. Let alone when the movie is set. Such a beautiful, important film.” “What a beautiful answer,” another user stated simply. Heath went on to reach stratospheric career heights with his villainous turn as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight in 2008, but died of an accidental drug overdose months before its release. He won a posthumous Oscar for his performance in 2009.“Heath Ledger, you will always be missed,” one fan commented on Wednesday.READ MORE:Jake Gyllenhaal Says Heath Ledger Turned Down Oscars Over Brokeback Mountain JokeChristopher Nolan Remembers Heath Ledger In Moving Golden Globes SpeechThis Oscar-Winning Actor Just Revealed He Came Close To Playing The Joker In The Dark Knight

Comments

Breaking news

British woman held in custody after £172,000 of cannabis found inside her suitcase

Metro

Gary Lineker's final BBC appearance: Match of the Day opens with emotional tribute as £1.4million star says 'it wasn't meant to end this way' as he says goodbye following axing

about 1 hour ago

Norris win 'incredible' but pole 'more emotional'

BBC News

Dailymail

Experts studying 'alien mummies' in Peru make startling find 'that proves they're real'

about 2 hours ago

Comments

Similar News

Justin Bieber's gushing reply to Kendall Jenner's Vogue cover resurfaces after scathing comments about Hailey

Lay-by on major Dumfries and Galloway road to close for footway resurfacing

Jennifer Lopez quizzed about being 'afraid' of Diddy in resurfaced interview amid his bombshell sex-trafficking trial

Old Anthony Edwards Comments on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Resurface Ahead of WCF

Katie Price leaves fans stunned with her 'natural' appearance in resurfaced clip filmed just two years ago

Emotional video of Cassie wrapped in husband Alex Fine's arms resurfaces as fans say footage has new meaning

Bombshell claim Diddy was caught 'dry humping' a Kardashian at the Met Gala resurfaces amid his trial

East Kilbride Expressway to close overnight for one week for resurfacing works

Shocking resurfaced interview shows celebs reacting to Britney Spears' infamous 2007 breakdown

Trump Calling Qataris 'Funders of Terrorism' Resurfaces Amid Jet Fury

Meghan Markle shares true feelings about estranged dad in resurfaced blog post

The Sopranos fans are going crazy over the 'strangest edit in the entire show' from revered series - as bizarre scene from 21 years ago resurfaces

Tiger Woods resurfaces in shock location amid Vanessa Trump romance and career-threatening injury

New Pope Leo XIV’s resurfaced tweets reveal what he really thinks about Trump

JD Vance reacts to the election of the first American Pope Robert Prevost after scathing anti-Trump posts resurface

Donald Trump welcomes new Pope Leo as pontiff's former brutal comments resurface

New Pope Leo XIV's brutal 4-word JD Vance comments resurface

New Pope Robert Prevost's tweets about Trump and JD Vance resurface and reveal EXACTLY what he thinks of MAGA

Video of Girl Asking Donald Trump to 'Make Barbies Cheaper' Resurfaces

Hot nanny at center of Ben Affleck and Tom Brady marriage scandals resurfaces with surprise new life

Breaking news

British woman held in custody after £172,000 of cannabis found inside her suitcase

‘Rare’ tornado with 111mph winds leaves thousands without power in Chile

Here’s how you can protect yourself from being scammed with deepfakes

Trump’s FDA chief suggests diabetics should take cooking classes under MAHA agenda

The rules behind Pope Leo remaining a US citizen now he’s a foreign head of state

Texas woman sues state lottery for $83 million winnings she says she never received

AP PHOTOS: Thousands gather to mark the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder

Warning over skin cancer link to the clothes you wear this summer

Public told to use secret codes to stop AI deepfake scams

Britain’s most expensive seaside towns and cheaper hidden gems

Pressure grows on Starmer as Reform's two-child benefit cap move parks tanks on Labour's lawn

Trump says US and EU have agreed to postpone tariffs

Five skiers found dead on Swiss glacier

Family 'shattered' as son, 9, with incurable condition in need of urgent treatment

Zelensky says 'America's silence only encourages Putin' after deadly air strikes

Outrage as Christian prayer rally attacked by mob of woke trans activists in violent clash that lasted HOURS

Gary Lineker's final BBC appearance: Match of the Day opens with emotional tribute as £1.4million star says 'it wasn't meant to end this way' as he says goodbye following axing

Norris win 'incredible' but pole 'more emotional'

'Now Isak has the stage he craves as Newcastle secure golden ticket'

Winter fuel 'in total chaos', and Ukraine 'fury' at US

EU needs until 9 July for US trade talks, chief says

'Big Four' reunite at Nadal's French Open farewell

Mumford & Sons close out Radio 1's Big Weekend

Man, 60, dies attempting to help children in sea

Miss World bosses hit back at Miss England’s claims she was ‘made to feel like prostitute’ – & release bombshell footage

BA cabin boss ‘is a serial sex attacker who assaulted women colleagues after boozing with them’, a court has heard

I was hero cop who busted terrorists – how chance meeting on holiday revealed my BROTHER was ferocious £1.3m drug lord

Brit tourist, 27, arrested and extradited to Portugal after teenager was stabbed to death with broken bottle in Lisbon

Angela Rayner ramps up Labour party in-fighting with another thinly-veiled attack on Rachel Reeves

Mystery over ‘disgusting’ bollards painted like stubbed-out cigarettes

Man with US and German citizenship is charged with trying to attack US Embassy in Tel Aviv

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump envoy calls for ‘ceasefire now’ after Putin’s ‘shameful’ bombardment on Kyiv

Hasan Piker suspended from Twitch after discussing alleged manifesto behind Israeli embassy staff shooting

MAGA showdown looming as conservative senators rage at parts of Trump bill: ‘It’s immoral, it’s wrong, it has to stop’

Colorado man plotted to bomb US embassy in Israel and left note saying ‘Death to America,’ prosecutors say

Texas lawmakers approve bill requiring Ten Commandments in every classroom

Man dies after entering sea to rescue two children ‘in distress’ at Lincolnshire beach

West Lothian drivers warned of upcoming closure on carriageway of M9

Livingston MP welcomes Ofgem's energy price cap drop

Incredible West Lothian couple share their story of fostering children for almost 20 years

POLICE COLUMN: Detective Chief Inspector Laura White

Calls for stop and search powers increase amid youth violence ‘epidemic’

West Lothian school cyber attack 'obviously worrying' says councillor

West Lothian the first council in Scotland to set up WhatsApp news channel

Woman whose first date ended in A1 horror crash with multiple police cars pictured

Majority of animal tested drugs fail in human trials as celebrities back campaign

Alexa Joel breaks silence on dad Billy Joel's rare brain disorder diagnosis after Christie Brinkley sent her love

Sky Sports shock staff after axing long-running programme loved by Jurgen Klopp amid TV company's restructure, plus why Jobe Bellingham ditched his surname during play-off final victory - INSIDE SPORT

Trent Alexander-Arnold's emotional goodbye: Liverpool star breaks down in tears at Anfield after lifting the Premier League title - and reveals what 'meant so much to me' on final appearance for the club

Glamorous airline passenger reduced to tears after she's berated by TSA for making a simple mistake

Kylie Jenner gets WILD with Hailey Bieber and sisters Kendall and Khloe Kardashian at clothing launch

Doctor still fighting for his life after Israeli strike killed nine of his 10 children - as heartbreaking snap shows wife at his bedside

British tourist, 27, is arrested and extradited to Portugal two years after teenager was killed when he was stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle

Luke Littler cosies up to new female 'friend' during night out with pals - after going public with his relationship

Zayn Malik shows off his rugged new look as he sports a thick beard and moustache in smouldering selfie after friends shared fears for his wellbeing

From Bridgerton lookalikes to old dogs with new tricks: Sweet snaps show pups from all over the country as their owners come together for annual show

Cheryl's ex-husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini shares bizarre photo of the ex couple together - nine years after their bitter split