'Te Blood' actor Nelsan Ellis: Former star qu bee he didn't 'want to play a gay part' | Fox News

Contents:

• 'TE BLOOD' ACTOR NELSAN ELLIS: FORMER STAR QU BEE HE DIDN'T 'WANT TO PLAY A GAY PART'
• REMEMBERG NELSAN ELLIS AS A CHAMPN OF GAY RIGHTS, ON ‘TE BLOOD’ SET AND OFF
• 'TE BLOOD' ACTOR SPEAKS OUT ON EX-COSTAR'S ANTI-GAY BEHAVR: 'I'M OVER HIM'THE REAL REASON BEHD LE GRIM' EX A'T SO {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY SHNNA MURPHYJULY 22, 2014/12:27 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}HBOBY SHNNA MURPHYJULY 22, 2014 / 12:27 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"'TE BLOOD' ACTOR SPEAKS OUT ON EX-COSTAR'S ANTI-GAY BEHAVR: 'I'M OVER HIM'","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-07-22T16:27:26.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-07-22T16:27:26.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"SHNNA MURPHY","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN "TE BLOOD" RETURNED FOR S SEVENTH AND FAL SEASON EARLIER THIS SUMMER, FANS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT ONE CCIAL CHARACTER HAD A DIFFERENT FACE -- JAM, THE STUDLY VAMPIRE WHO ENTERED THE SHOW SEASON SIX TO ROMANCE DEBORAH ANN WOLL'S CHARACTER, JSI, WAS NOW BEG PLAYED BY A NEW ACTOR, NATHAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ACTOR WHO IALLY PLAYED JAM, LE GRIM, ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYG THAT HIS ABPT PARTURE "HAD NOTHG TO DO WH STORYL" AND MORE TO DO WH OTHER OPPORTUNI. (HE'LL BE APPEARG 2015'S SURE-TO-BE MEGAH "FIFTY SHAS OF GREY," FOR EXAMPLE.) AND HBO, FOR S PART, ATTRIBUTED HIS CISN TO "THE CREATIVE DIRECTN OF THE CHARACTER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ONCE BEME CLEAR THAT GRIM' FORMER CHARACTER WAS BISEXUAL, AND HEAD FOR ROMANCE WH NELSAN ELLIS' FAN-FAVORE CHARACTER LAFAYETTE, THE STORY GOT A B EPER -- AND NOW, WEEKS AFTER BUZZFEED FIRST REPORTED THAT GRIM ED EXED THE SHOW BEE HE DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY GAY, AND THAT HIS ACTNS "BAFFLED AND ANGERED" THE "TE BLOOD" ST AND CREW, ELLIS HIMSELF IS SPEAKG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I MEAN, I N SAY I'M NOT GOG TO MAKE A MENT, BUT I JT THK THAT, YOU'RE AN ACTOR, YOU'RE AN ACTOR ON A SHOW THAT'S 'TE BLOOD,'" ELLIS TOLD VULTURE AFTER THE JULY 20 EPISO, WHICH FEATURED LAFAYETTE AND JAM' FIRST SEX SCENE. "WE'RE ALL STG THERE GOG, 'YOU QU YOUR JOB BEE ... REALLY?' I'M JT... I'M OVER HIM. YOU QU YOUR JOB BEE YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY A GAY PART? AS IF 'S ... YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GOG TO STOP TALKG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ELLIS DIDN'T STOP THERE, HOWEVER -- HE POTED OUT THAT GRIM' ACTNS MAKE A FIVE STATEMENT, AND THAT A STATEMENT OF THIS KD N HAVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU MAKE A STATEMENT WHEN YOU DO SOMETHG LIKE THAT," HE NTUED. "I DID A DOCUMENTARY LLED 'DAMN WONRFUL,' ABOUT GAY SUICI, AND YOU MAKE A STATEMENT, A BIG STATEMENT, WHEN YOU GO, 'I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THIS PART BEE 'S GAY.' IF YOU HAVE A CHILD, IF YOU HAVE A SON, AND HE OUT AS GAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOG TO DO? IF YOU HAVE A DGHTER WHO OUT GAY...? YOU JT MA A STATEMENT, AND HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ELLIS ALSO SAID THAT, AS AN ACTOR, YOU N'T E TO A PROJECT -- PECIALLY A PROJECT LIKE "TE BLOOD," WHICH BOASTED FIVE FULL YEARS OF SEX AND LGBT-IENDLY NTENT BEFORE GRIM EVEN ENTERED THE SCENE -- AND TELL YOUR BOSS WHAT YOU WILL AND WILL NOT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN SCRIPTS E, WE'RE LIKE, 'WHAT ARE THEY GOG TO HAVE DO THIS WEEK?' BUT WHEN YOU MAKE A STATEMENT THAT IS A JUDGMENT ... I WAS KD OF LIKE, 'HAVE YOU MET ALAN BALL?'" HE SAID, REFERRG TO THE SHOW'S OPENLY GAY CREATOR. "I'M SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT MY BOSS TELLS ME TO DO, AS AN ACTOR. I N'T APPROACH A CHARACTER WH JUDGMENT. I CERTALY N'T TELL MY BOSS, 'I N ACT WHAT I WANT TO ACT, BUT NOT WHAT YOU TELL ME TO ACT,' PECIALLY ON A SHOW WHERE YOU E , KNOWG WHAT IS. I WAS LIKE, 'OKAY... I GUS?' I JT THOUGHT THAT, HAVG JT DONE THE DOCUMENTARY, I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE DID BEE HE MA A STATEMENT, AND SOMETIM YOU HAVE TO TAKE RPONSIBILY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WELL, THERE YOU HAVE -- THE MYSTERY OF JAM KENT'S NEW FACE HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN SOLVED. BUT DON'T FOR ONE SEND FEEL SORRY FOR ELLIS, WHO SAYS HE ADOR AND HAS "GREAT CHEMISTRY" WH PARSONS, WHO SEEMS MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE STARRG ON THIS BLOCKBTER SHOW. AND THEN, OF URSE, THERE'S THE FACT THAT GRIM WILL LIKELY NOT BE VED TO STAR THE "TE BLOOD" MIL... OR ON ANY HBO SHOWS GENERAL, ACRDG TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I DON'T THK HE'LL BE VED BACK TO HBO," THE ACTOR NCLUD, WH A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• NELSAN ELLIS (LAFAYETTE) TALKS ‘TE BLOOD,’ GAY MARRIAGE, TYLER PERRY
• WHY NELSAN ELLIS MA TE BLOOD WORTH WATCHGCO-STAR STEPHEN MOYER PENNED A MOVG TRIBUTE THAT SHOWS WHY ELLIS MA THE SERI SG.BY YOHANA DTAJULY 10, 2017BY JARED SISK/PMC.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEHE WAS A CHARACTER THAT FIED THE BOUNDARI OF TELEVISN. WHEN NELSAN ELLIS—THE LATE ACTOR WHO DIED SATURDAY OF HEART FAILURE AT 39 YEARS OLD— STTTED ONTO THE SET OF TE BLOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE WAS AN ENTY ALL HIS OWN: BLACK, GAY, WH A PENCHANT FOR HEAD WRAPS AND FALSE EYELASH. HIS LAFAYETTE WAS A UNSTOPPABLE FORCE BOTH ON TE BLOOD AND THE WIR WORLD OF TELEVISN, A OK WH A SHORT TEMPER AND A QUICK SENSE OF HUMOR THAT PROVID THE VAMPIRE DRAMA’S FEW LGHS. IN TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ACTOR, HIS -STAR STEPHEN MOYER WROTE AN SAY ABOUT HIS TIME WORKG WH ELLIS, HIGHLIGHTG EXACTLY WHAT MA THE JUILLIARD-TRAED ACTOR THE BT THG ABOUT THEIR H HBO SERI.MOYER BEGAN BY REMISCG ABOUT ONE OF THE FIRST DAYS THE ST SHOT MERLOTTE’S BAR, THE LOL WATERG HOLE AND RTRANT WHERE LAFAYETTE WORKED.IN THE SCENE THAT WAS BEG SHOT THAT DAY, LAFAYETTE, A MALE CROSS-DRSG SHORT ORR OK THE SHOW, WAS EXPOUNDG ON HIS THEORY OF MEN’S FEAR OF THE FEMALE ANATOMY.. SPECIFILLY, THE VAGA. ‘I KNOW EVERY MAN WHETHER STRAIGHT, GAY OR GEE MOTHERFUCK’ BH IS AAID OF THE PSY..’I’M NOT SURE I HAVE EVER SEEN, BEFORE OR SCE, PEOPLE CROWD AROUND A MONOR AT VIO VILLAGE WH THEIR HANDS CLAPPED TO THEIR MOUTHS OM SHOCK, SHEER LGHTER AND WONR AS THE ACTOR PLAYG LAFAYETTE JIGGLED AND SHOOK AND HUMPED THE BUTCHERS BLOCK TO GET HIS POT ACROSS. WAS PLETELY ORIGAL, FUNNY, SARDONIC, RISQUé AND BRILLIANT.THAT WAS NELSAN ELLIS. ALL OF THE ABOVE.I TURNED TO [SHOWNNER] ALAN BALL WHEN THE SCENE WAS FISHED AND WHISPERED… ‘YOU N’T KILL HIM!’ (LAFAYETTE’S ATH AT THE OF THE FIRST BOOK IS THE CLIFFHANGER THAT LEADS TO BOOK 2… )MOYER ADD THAT ELLIS WAS THE ONLY PERSON ALLOWED TO IMPROVISE ON THE SERI, SIMPLY BEE HE KEPT BRGG NEW IAS FOR THE TABLE ONCE HE GOT TO LAFAYETTE’S MDSET. “HE QUE LERALLY COULDN’T STOP HIMSELF,” MOYER WR. “IT WAS LIKE HE WAS POSSSED.”FOR SEVEN SEASONS, ELLIS GAVE THE SHOW A MAGIL SPARK, CREATG LAFAYETTE A SMART, WRY, ENDLSLY WATCHABLE CHARACTER WHO BEME TE BLOOD’S GLUE. OVER THE YEARS, TE BLOOD THREW MORE AND MORE OUTLANDISH ELEMENTS (WEREPANTHERS!) AT S DIENCE, AND ALSO SUFFERED OM ALAN BALL’S PARTURE AFTER SEASON 5. BUT THROUGH ALL, LAFAYETTE REMAED THE SHOW’S MOST RELIABLY ENTERTAG CHARACTER, GROWG HIS PERSONHOOD AND PLEXY AS EACH SEASON WENT ON (PARTICULARLY AFTER HE WAS FALLY GIVEN A LOVE TERT, A NEW OPPORTUNY TO SHOWSE A DIFFERENT SI TO THE CHARACTER). FOR MANY, HE WAS THE REASON TO KEEP WATCHG EVEN AFTER TE BLOOD SCEND TO S LATER SEASONS.“I THK WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT HE TGHT ALL OF THAT TENT AND URAGE AND FEARLSNS AND EEDOM ARE THE ASPECTS OF PLAYG MAKE-BELIEVE THAT SPARK THE RNERS OF THE ROOM WHERE THE DARK IS MOST IMPERABLE,” MOYER WROTE. “NELSAN HAD THAT ELECTRICY AN ABUNDANCE I HAVE RARELY SEEN. I N’T BELIEVE HE’S GONE.”FACEBOOK NTENTTHIS NTENT N ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE SE ORIGAT OM.7 PERFECT TV BG TO KEEP YOU BY ALL SUMMER LONG1 / 7CHEVRONCHEVRONCOURTY OF TV LAND.YOUNGERJT TRY AND FD A LIGHTER, MORE LIGHTFULLY BUBBLY SERI. WE DARE YOU. FRHLY ADD TO HULU’S LIBRARY, THIS CHARMG EDY IS GOG ON S FOURTH SEASON ON TV LAND. IF YOU N RIST THE BED CHARM OF SUTTON FOSTER AND HILARY DUFF, I’M NOT SURE WE HAVE MUCH LEFT TO TALK ABOUT.MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHTHE CAST OF OPPENHEIMER AND THE REAL PEOPLE THEY PLAYBY HILLARY BISSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYYOHANA DTA
• ‘TE BLOOD’S’ NELSAN ELLIS SLAMS LE GRIM FOR QUTG SHOW OVER GAY STORYLE
• TE BLOOD STAR NELSAN ELLIS REMEMBERED FOR GROUNDBREAKG GAY ROLE

'TE BLOOD' ACTOR NELSAN ELLIS: FORMER STAR QU BEE HE DIDN'T 'WANT TO PLAY A GAY PART'

But Grim reportedly qu December when he found out Kent was bisexual and startg a romantic relatnship wh a gay character the seventh and fal Nelsan Ellis, the actor who plays Kent’s gay lover on the show, is speakg up -- and he’s not happy.

“You qu your job bee you don’t want to play a gay part?

You make a big statement when you go, ‘I don’t want to play this part bee ’s gay, ” Ellis told New York Magaze followg the airg this week of his character’s sex scene wh the new actor playg Kent. ”Yet crics argue that Grim should have known what he was gettg to when he ially signed the dotted le, given that the supernatural drama – created by the openly gay Alan Ball and produced by his pany njunctn wh HBO – routely ph the envelope when to relatnships. “It’s unfortunate that an actor today would feel unfortable playg gay, pecially on a program that has always put LGBT characters ont and center, ” Stacy Lambe, Associate Edor for the gay and lbian-foced OUT Magaze said.

REMEMBERG NELSAN ELLIS AS A CHAMPN OF GAY RIGHTS, ON ‘TE BLOOD’ SET AND OFF

First, here’s a highly memorable scene which Ellis’ character, Lafayette, nonts some homophobic ders who are angry their food has been prepared by a gay man:.

Subscribe to Queerty for a daily dose of #entertament #homophobia #nelsanellis stori and more.

'TE BLOOD' ACTOR SPEAKS OUT ON EX-COSTAR'S ANTI-GAY BEHAVR: 'I'M OVER HIM'THE REAL REASON BEHD LE GRIM' EX A'T SO {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY SHNNA MURPHYJULY 22, 2014/12:27 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}HBOBY SHNNA MURPHYJULY 22, 2014 / 12:27 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"'TE BLOOD' ACTOR SPEAKS OUT ON EX-COSTAR'S ANTI-GAY BEHAVR: 'I'M OVER HIM'","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-07-22T16:27:26.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-07-22T16:27:26.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"SHNNA MURPHY","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN "TE BLOOD" RETURNED FOR S SEVENTH AND FAL SEASON EARLIER THIS SUMMER, FANS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT ONE CCIAL CHARACTER HAD A DIFFERENT FACE -- JAM, THE STUDLY VAMPIRE WHO ENTERED THE SHOW SEASON SIX TO ROMANCE DEBORAH ANN WOLL'S CHARACTER, JSI, WAS NOW BEG PLAYED BY A NEW ACTOR, NATHAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ACTOR WHO IALLY PLAYED JAM, LE GRIM, ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYG THAT HIS ABPT PARTURE "HAD NOTHG TO DO WH STORYL" AND MORE TO DO WH OTHER OPPORTUNI. (HE'LL BE APPEARG 2015'S SURE-TO-BE MEGAH "FIFTY SHAS OF GREY," FOR EXAMPLE.) AND HBO, FOR S PART, ATTRIBUTED HIS CISN TO "THE CREATIVE DIRECTN OF THE CHARACTER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ONCE BEME CLEAR THAT GRIM' FORMER CHARACTER WAS BISEXUAL, AND HEAD FOR ROMANCE WH NELSAN ELLIS' FAN-FAVORE CHARACTER LAFAYETTE, THE STORY GOT A B EPER -- AND NOW, WEEKS AFTER BUZZFEED FIRST REPORTED THAT GRIM ED EXED THE SHOW BEE HE DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY GAY, AND THAT HIS ACTNS "BAFFLED AND ANGERED" THE "TE BLOOD" ST AND CREW, ELLIS HIMSELF IS SPEAKG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I MEAN, I N SAY I'M NOT GOG TO MAKE A MENT, BUT I JT THK THAT, YOU'RE AN ACTOR, YOU'RE AN ACTOR ON A SHOW THAT'S 'TE BLOOD,'" ELLIS TOLD VULTURE AFTER THE JULY 20 EPISO, WHICH FEATURED LAFAYETTE AND JAM' FIRST SEX SCENE. "WE'RE ALL STG THERE GOG, 'YOU QU YOUR JOB BEE ... REALLY?' I'M JT... I'M OVER HIM. YOU QU YOUR JOB BEE YOU DON'T WANT TO PLAY A GAY PART? AS IF 'S ... YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GOG TO STOP TALKG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ELLIS DIDN'T STOP THERE, HOWEVER -- HE POTED OUT THAT GRIM' ACTNS MAKE A FIVE STATEMENT, AND THAT A STATEMENT OF THIS KD N HAVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU MAKE A STATEMENT WHEN YOU DO SOMETHG LIKE THAT," HE NTUED. "I DID A DOCUMENTARY LLED 'DAMN WONRFUL,' ABOUT GAY SUICI, AND YOU MAKE A STATEMENT, A BIG STATEMENT, WHEN YOU GO, 'I DON'T WANT TO PLAY THIS PART BEE 'S GAY.' IF YOU HAVE A CHILD, IF YOU HAVE A SON, AND HE OUT AS GAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOG TO DO? IF YOU HAVE A DGHTER WHO OUT GAY...? YOU JT MA A STATEMENT, AND HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ELLIS ALSO SAID THAT, AS AN ACTOR, YOU N'T E TO A PROJECT -- PECIALLY A PROJECT LIKE "TE BLOOD," WHICH BOASTED FIVE FULL YEARS OF SEX AND LGBT-IENDLY NTENT BEFORE GRIM EVEN ENTERED THE SCENE -- AND TELL YOUR BOSS WHAT YOU WILL AND WILL NOT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN SCRIPTS E, WE'RE LIKE, 'WHAT ARE THEY GOG TO HAVE DO THIS WEEK?' BUT WHEN YOU MAKE A STATEMENT THAT IS A JUDGMENT ... I WAS KD OF LIKE, 'HAVE YOU MET ALAN BALL?'" HE SAID, REFERRG TO THE SHOW'S OPENLY GAY CREATOR. "I'M SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT MY BOSS TELLS ME TO DO, AS AN ACTOR. I N'T APPROACH A CHARACTER WH JUDGMENT. I CERTALY N'T TELL MY BOSS, 'I N ACT WHAT I WANT TO ACT, BUT NOT WHAT YOU TELL ME TO ACT,' PECIALLY ON A SHOW WHERE YOU E , KNOWG WHAT IS. I WAS LIKE, 'OKAY... I GUS?' I JT THOUGHT THAT, HAVG JT DONE THE DOCUMENTARY, I DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE DID BEE HE MA A STATEMENT, AND SOMETIM YOU HAVE TO TAKE RPONSIBILY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WELL, THERE YOU HAVE -- THE MYSTERY OF JAM KENT'S NEW FACE HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN SOLVED. BUT DON'T FOR ONE SEND FEEL SORRY FOR ELLIS, WHO SAYS HE ADOR AND HAS "GREAT CHEMISTRY" WH PARSONS, WHO SEEMS MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE STARRG ON THIS BLOCKBTER SHOW. AND THEN, OF URSE, THERE'S THE FACT THAT GRIM WILL LIKELY NOT BE VED TO STAR THE "TE BLOOD" MIL... OR ON ANY HBO SHOWS GENERAL, ACRDG TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I DON'T THK HE'LL BE VED BACK TO HBO," THE ACTOR NCLUD, WH A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Relled by many as talented and unrrated, Ellis beme a Te Blood fan-favore for his portrayal of the scene-stealg, gay short orr ok at Merlotte’s Bar the fictnal Louisiana town. ” Ellis’s character was ld for breakg stereotyp of gay men. IL, at 14, where he attend Thornridge High [his thoughts on gay marriage] I support .

Or somebody n be a Christian and still be gay and I support .

NELSAN ELLIS (LAFAYETTE) TALKS ‘TE BLOOD,’ GAY MARRIAGE, TYLER PERRY

Let gay people get married.

(Bachelor of Fe Arts) gree om won a 2008 Satelle Award om the Internatnal Prs Amy for bt supportg actor a televisn seri for his role as Lafayette Reynolds HBO’s Te 2008, he won a Satelle Award for the bt actor for a supportg role the televisn seri Te 2011 and 2012, he was nomated for an Image Award for ‘Outstandg Supportg Actor a Drama Seri for Te appeared as a waer lled Henry a film lled The Help (2011) the Te Blood novels, Lafayette Reynolds isn’t an important character, however director Alan Ball worked wh Ellis to make the TV versn of Lafayette e to life more wh important, plex story said he did not like Lafayette the books, however he loved Lafayette’s script for the pilot supported gay ed to get annoyed when people the dtry assume he is gay bee of his role Te Blood. "But once beme clear that Grim' former character was bisexual, and head for romance wh Nelsan Ellis' fan-favore character Lafayette, the story got a b eper -- and now, weeks after Buzzfeed first reported that Grim ed exed the show bee he didn't want to play gay, and that his actns "baffled and angered" the "Te Blood" st and crew, Ellis himself is speakg out.

You qu your job bee you don't want to play a gay part? "I did a documentary lled 'Damn Wonrful, ' about gay suici, and you make a statement, a big statement, when you go, 'I don't want to play this part bee 's gay.

WHY NELSAN ELLIS MA TE BLOOD WORTH WATCHGCO-STAR STEPHEN MOYER PENNED A MOVG TRIBUTE THAT SHOWS WHY ELLIS MA THE SERI SG.BY YOHANA DTAJULY 10, 2017BY JARED SISK/PMC.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEHE WAS A CHARACTER THAT FIED THE BOUNDARI OF TELEVISN. WHEN NELSAN ELLIS—THE LATE ACTOR WHO DIED SATURDAY OF HEART FAILURE AT 39 YEARS OLD— STTTED ONTO THE SET OF TE BLOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE WAS AN ENTY ALL HIS OWN: BLACK, GAY, WH A PENCHANT FOR HEAD WRAPS AND FALSE EYELASH. HIS LAFAYETTE WAS A UNSTOPPABLE FORCE BOTH ON TE BLOOD AND THE WIR WORLD OF TELEVISN, A OK WH A SHORT TEMPER AND A QUICK SENSE OF HUMOR THAT PROVID THE VAMPIRE DRAMA’S FEW LGHS. IN TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ACTOR, HIS -STAR STEPHEN MOYER WROTE AN SAY ABOUT HIS TIME WORKG WH ELLIS, HIGHLIGHTG EXACTLY WHAT MA THE JUILLIARD-TRAED ACTOR THE BT THG ABOUT THEIR H HBO SERI.MOYER BEGAN BY REMISCG ABOUT ONE OF THE FIRST DAYS THE ST SHOT MERLOTTE’S BAR, THE LOL WATERG HOLE AND RTRANT WHERE LAFAYETTE WORKED.IN THE SCENE THAT WAS BEG SHOT THAT DAY, LAFAYETTE, A MALE CROSS-DRSG SHORT ORR OK THE SHOW, WAS EXPOUNDG ON HIS THEORY OF MEN’S FEAR OF THE FEMALE ANATOMY.. SPECIFILLY, THE VAGA. ‘I KNOW EVERY MAN WHETHER STRAIGHT, GAY OR GEE MOTHERFUCK’ BH IS AAID OF THE PSY..’I’M NOT SURE I HAVE EVER SEEN, BEFORE OR SCE, PEOPLE CROWD AROUND A MONOR AT VIO VILLAGE WH THEIR HANDS CLAPPED TO THEIR MOUTHS OM SHOCK, SHEER LGHTER AND WONR AS THE ACTOR PLAYG LAFAYETTE JIGGLED AND SHOOK AND HUMPED THE BUTCHERS BLOCK TO GET HIS POT ACROSS. WAS PLETELY ORIGAL, FUNNY, SARDONIC, RISQUé AND BRILLIANT.THAT WAS NELSAN ELLIS. ALL OF THE ABOVE.I TURNED TO [SHOWNNER] ALAN BALL WHEN THE SCENE WAS FISHED AND WHISPERED… ‘YOU N’T KILL HIM!’ (LAFAYETTE’S ATH AT THE OF THE FIRST BOOK IS THE CLIFFHANGER THAT LEADS TO BOOK 2… )MOYER ADD THAT ELLIS WAS THE ONLY PERSON ALLOWED TO IMPROVISE ON THE SERI, SIMPLY BEE HE KEPT BRGG NEW IAS FOR THE TABLE ONCE HE GOT TO LAFAYETTE’S MDSET. “HE QUE LERALLY COULDN’T STOP HIMSELF,” MOYER WR. “IT WAS LIKE HE WAS POSSSED.”FOR SEVEN SEASONS, ELLIS GAVE THE SHOW A MAGIL SPARK, CREATG LAFAYETTE A SMART, WRY, ENDLSLY WATCHABLE CHARACTER WHO BEME TE BLOOD’S GLUE. OVER THE YEARS, TE BLOOD THREW MORE AND MORE OUTLANDISH ELEMENTS (WEREPANTHERS!) AT S DIENCE, AND ALSO SUFFERED OM ALAN BALL’S PARTURE AFTER SEASON 5. BUT THROUGH ALL, LAFAYETTE REMAED THE SHOW’S MOST RELIABLY ENTERTAG CHARACTER, GROWG HIS PERSONHOOD AND PLEXY AS EACH SEASON WENT ON (PARTICULARLY AFTER HE WAS FALLY GIVEN A LOVE TERT, A NEW OPPORTUNY TO SHOWSE A DIFFERENT SI TO THE CHARACTER). FOR MANY, HE WAS THE REASON TO KEEP WATCHG EVEN AFTER TE BLOOD SCEND TO S LATER SEASONS.“I THK WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT HE TGHT ALL OF THAT TENT AND URAGE AND FEARLSNS AND EEDOM ARE THE ASPECTS OF PLAYG MAKE-BELIEVE THAT SPARK THE RNERS OF THE ROOM WHERE THE DARK IS MOST IMPERABLE,” MOYER WROTE. “NELSAN HAD THAT ELECTRICY AN ABUNDANCE I HAVE RARELY SEEN. I N’T BELIEVE HE’S GONE.”FACEBOOK NTENTTHIS NTENT N ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE SE ORIGAT OM.7 PERFECT TV BG TO KEEP YOU BY ALL SUMMER LONG1 / 7CHEVRONCHEVRONCOURTY OF TV LAND.YOUNGERJT TRY AND FD A LIGHTER, MORE LIGHTFULLY BUBBLY SERI. WE DARE YOU. FRHLY ADD TO HULU’S LIBRARY, THIS CHARMG EDY IS GOG ON S FOURTH SEASON ON TV LAND. IF YOU N RIST THE BED CHARM OF SUTTON FOSTER AND HILARY DUFF, I’M NOT SURE WE HAVE MUCH LEFT TO TALK ABOUT.MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHTHE CAST OF OPPENHEIMER AND THE REAL PEOPLE THEY PLAYBY HILLARY BISSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYYOHANA DTA

' If you have a child, if you have a son, and he out as gay, what are you gog to do? If you have a dghter who out gay...? '" he said, referrg to the show's openly gay creator.

Lafayette is a gay man who is flamboyant and egreg but at the same time isn’t stereotypil. Here, he tells VIBE how he brought Lafayette to life, what the gay muny thks about the character and how he plans to transn beyond his Te Blood role.

So that stereotype you were playg mt have been a Queenie type of gay guy, huh? What’s been the feedback om the gay muny?

‘TE BLOOD’S’ NELSAN ELLIS SLAMS LE GRIM FOR QUTG SHOW OVER GAY STORYLE

I don’t thk ’s a reflectn of the gay muny that’s jt Lafayette. But this is jt om what I hear, I haven’t really spoken to the gay muny outsi him [Lghs].

But then aga, I do play a gay character. I don’t answer that qutn, “Are you gay or not, ” when down to dtry people. When Nelsan Ellis—the late actor who died Saturday of heart failure at 39 years old— sttted onto the set of Te Blood for the first time, he was an enty all his own: black, gay, wh a penchant for head wraps and false eyelash.

‘I know every man whether straight, gay or Gee MotherFuck’ Bh is aaid of the psy..

TE BLOOD STAR NELSAN ELLIS REMEMBERED FOR GROUNDBREAKG GAY ROLE

Actor Nelsan Ellis, bt known for playg the character of Lafayette Reynolds on US TV seri Te Blood, has died at the age of pots:Nelsan Ellis portrayed flamboyant, gay character Lafayette Reynolds on Te BloodThe actor died om "plitns of heart failure", his manager saidHe was schled to appear at Atralia's first LGBT Pop Culture expo Melbourne next weekendEllis's manager, Ey Gerson Sa, nfirmed the actor's ath via an emailed statement on Saturday (lol time) Hollywood Reporter, which was first to report Ellis's ath, quoted her as sayg the actor died om plitns of heart failure, addg more rmatn would e to light g Illois-born actor, who studied at the famo New York performg arts school Juilliard, played the role of Lafayette on the HBO drama om 2008 to 2014, and more recently appeared the CBS tective seri Elementary. "Tth of the matter is, he don't want his son prancg around lipstick and makp, playg some gay du, " Ellis Ellis exprsed a sire for his portrayal of Lafayette to ronate wh people beyond the LGBT muny.

"It's about acceptg what's different, " he have sce taken to Twter praisg Ellis for his dimensnal portrayal of a gay man of lour and his proment volvement wh the LGBT muny.

"And the Gay and Lbian Alliance Agast Defamatn (GLAAD) tweeted their ndolenc for their "iend" Nelsan 8 Jul 2017Sat 8 Jul 2017 at 11:47pm, updated 9 Jul 2017Sun 9 Jul 2017 at 1:22am. The character also happens to be gay. That last tail was purportedly too much for one of his -stars, who qu over this season’s gay storyl.