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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Straight women, were/are you aware that Jodie Foster is gay?

422 replies

MNUse · 21/01/2024 14:14

Been mildly curious about this for a while. I’m a gay woman and my loving well-meaning mother will occasionally make slightly clumsy attempts to bring up gay films or famous gay women that she assumes I must be interested in because they are also gay (e.g. Ellen Page as was). But she has never mentioned Jodie Foster, and although I haven’t tested it I get the impression she isn’t aware, maybe partly because although JF is now ten years married to a woman she has never quite made the big ‘I am gay’ speech.

AIBU to think a lot of straight women still haven’t really noticed that Jodie Foster is gay? And, if I’m wrong, when did you become aware?

YABU - I know, I’ve known for ages, yawn

YANBU - I didn’t know, or didn’t know until very recently, but anyway, yawn

OBVIOUSLY what matters is her acting, but I am mildly curious about what causes someone’s gayness to register/not register with the wider public

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
FedUpMumof10YO · 21/01/2024 15:42

Yes I knew

viques · 21/01/2024 15:48

I don’t care what her sexual preferences are, I just think she is an amazing actor. If you haven’t seen Nyad yet put it on your to watch list. JF and Annette Bening show what accomplished actors they both are, and what is more do it by looking like real women.

I am also watching her in a police drama set in the far north of Alaska, she is terrific in that too.

bellinisurge · 21/01/2024 15:50

How did you not know if you know who she is?

RaininSummer · 21/01/2024 15:51

I have never thought about it either way and tbh don't on the whole for anybody as it never really seems to matter.

bombardelli · 21/01/2024 15:52

bellinisurge · 21/01/2024 15:50

How did you not know if you know who she is?

Why would she know? Not everyone reads magazines, articles or watches interviews.

MorningSunshineSparkles · 21/01/2024 15:54

Didn’t know, don’t care. The only interest I have in actors/actresses is whether or not they’re decent at acting

Pinkplans · 21/01/2024 15:55

This thread makes me uncomfortable. I don’t think we should be gossiping about actor’s personal sexuality in 2024. She’s a real person with real feelings. Imagine a bunch of strangers discussing your sexuality on a public forum OP. She’s not a person who actively promotes her work using her sexuality. This whole thread is really inappropriate.

janeintheframe · 21/01/2024 15:56

I don’t like this, yes I knew she was gay, I assume the vast majority of people do, but I cannot understand why her sexual preferences are remotely anyone’s business or even worthy of starting a thread on. They are totally and utterly irrelevant and declaring its important to the gay community etc is beyond nonsense. I can’t believe you even referenced Taylor swift.

has the world not moved on past this shit?

janeintheframe · 21/01/2024 15:57

Pinkplans · 21/01/2024 15:55

This thread makes me uncomfortable. I don’t think we should be gossiping about actor’s personal sexuality in 2024. She’s a real person with real feelings. Imagine a bunch of strangers discussing your sexuality on a public forum OP. She’s not a person who actively promotes her work using her sexuality. This whole thread is really inappropriate.

100 percent.

Seasmoke7 · 21/01/2024 15:58

I imagine whether or not you know this depends more on your level of interest in celebrities than your sexuality.

BananaSplitsss · 21/01/2024 16:00

Haven’t read through the thread but I don’t care. Give no fucks .

She is a wonderful actress whom I respect enormously.

The end.

FUPAgirl · 21/01/2024 16:00

MNUse · 21/01/2024 15:31

To all the people who think they’re showing how open minded or high minded they are by posting ‘who cares’. What you’re actually showing is that you’ve had the luxury of never knowing what it feels like to be pressured to be silent about what should be a really straightforward aspect of your life. To search for signs of any other people, famous or not famous, who are like you and have dared to be honest about it, so you can find the courage and confidence to be honest yourself. And to mostly not find them, because they, like you, have been pressured into staying silent.

If you’re a straight woman with kids on mumsnet, you’re probably here because you wanted to connect with other (mostly) straight women with kids, to share your experiences, to feel less alone. Should I say to you ‘why do you need to know there are other people with kids? Why should anyone make a fuss about that? I’d admire you much more if you stayed private about having kids and didn’t acknowledge you do? If you must have kids, I’m glad you stay quiet about it and don’t become one of those annoying loudmouth activists wanting to highlight injustices that mothers face and campaign for a better situation like those people at https://pregnantthenscrewed.com?’

I’m reading a lot of equivalent posts about gay people on this thread.

You specifically asked for the views of straight people, so of course those posting won't really get that.

Snuggleyou · 21/01/2024 16:00

Yes I’ve known for years and I remember all the rumours in the 90s. I remember her publicly coming out speech at an awards ceremony, she made a joke about it like it was an open secret, but she wanted to publicly confirm kind of thing. She’s a great actress and seems to have a laid back persona, maybe that’s why the tabloids got bored trying to sensationalise her.

HarlanPepper · 21/01/2024 16:01

Some of the later posters here could do with reading the OPs updates. I agree that 'I don't care either way' is a luxury that straight people have without realising it.

I knew JF was gay, I can't remember when I first knew - maybe around the time of the Oscar speech.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/01/2024 16:03

I've known for as long as I can remember.

futurelooksbright · 21/01/2024 16:03

Yes of course, known since the 00s

CrapGoat · 21/01/2024 16:03

I'm gay and didn't know she were gay!

Januarydayssss · 21/01/2024 16:04

Yeah, many years ago.

Lampzade · 21/01/2024 16:05

Yes I knew.
I assumed many people of a certain generation knew

WhollyGlorious · 21/01/2024 16:06

I’m not sure I’d have listed her as a gay celebrity, but I’m equally entirely unsurprised by this so I might have known. But I don’t follow celebrity gossip or really pay attention to the sexuality of others, so I might be the wrong person to ask

Snuggleyou · 21/01/2024 16:06

MNUse · 21/01/2024 15:31

To all the people who think they’re showing how open minded or high minded they are by posting ‘who cares’. What you’re actually showing is that you’ve had the luxury of never knowing what it feels like to be pressured to be silent about what should be a really straightforward aspect of your life. To search for signs of any other people, famous or not famous, who are like you and have dared to be honest about it, so you can find the courage and confidence to be honest yourself. And to mostly not find them, because they, like you, have been pressured into staying silent.

If you’re a straight woman with kids on mumsnet, you’re probably here because you wanted to connect with other (mostly) straight women with kids, to share your experiences, to feel less alone. Should I say to you ‘why do you need to know there are other people with kids? Why should anyone make a fuss about that? I’d admire you much more if you stayed private about having kids and didn’t acknowledge you do? If you must have kids, I’m glad you stay quiet about it and don’t become one of those annoying loudmouth activists wanting to highlight injustices that mothers face and campaign for a better situation like those people at https://pregnantthenscrewed.com?’

I’m reading a lot of equivalent posts about gay people on this thread.

Well said, glad somebody told them 👏

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 21/01/2024 16:06

Scarletttulips · 21/01/2024 14:26

I also knew this.

Like PP it was years ago. She’s a great actress - the film she did the rape seen was a really interesting film.

I found that memorable and frightening at the same time. I think it was called "The Accused". Such a good actress.
And yes, I've known she was gay for decades but it has no effect on her acting nor my opinion of her.

PatsyStonesBeehive · 21/01/2024 16:08

Every lesbian in the western hemisphere new Jodie Foster was gay long before Jodie Foster knew she was gay!

Kdtym10 · 21/01/2024 16:09

Now you mention it, it’s something I recall, but not something I’d ever really think about. Maybe she prefers to be known for her acting than sexuality.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 21/01/2024 16:10

I knew (I'm straight) and I like her for not pushing it in our faces as it's completely irrelevant. I don't care who people go home to at the end of their working day. She's a good actress, produces good work, and that's all that matters.