The awkward moment a gay broadcaster is accidentally outed on live TV

[Behind the Aegis]

A stand-in broadcaster on a popular New Zealand morning TV show was accidentally outed this morning during a live broadcast.

Watching the footage of the show (also broadcast on radio), it’s impossible not to feel sympathy for him that his decision when to publicly come out was taken out of his hands.

The incident happened on broadcaster Three’s The AM Show. Ryan Bridge was filling in for regular host Duncan Garner. Bridge was talking on-air with sports reporter Mark Richardson and news anchor Amanda Gillies.

The topic was collectors items, and the hosts invited viewers to let them know if they collected anything unusual.

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[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Why being closeted is not a good thing.

I'm old enough to remember when the defense against gays was that they'd be subject to blackmail, because of course, back then, no one was out. This was in the 70s, and I recall quite clearly thinking that if someone was openly gay, they couldn't possibly be blackmailed.

So why is it, nearly 50 years later, people are still in the closet?

[Behind the Aegis]

4. You really just don't get it.

Not being a gay person, you really do not understand the reality of being gay in this world, even the 21st century.

"So why is it, nearly 50 years later, people are still in the closet?"

Answer: Heterosexism and Homophobia.

Answer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_employment_discrimination_in_the_United_States

[PJMcK]

2. Your burning anger emoji may be slightly off

The gentleman who was accidentally outed, Ryan Bridge, apparently wasn't that angry about the incident, just embarrassed. Towards the end of the article, he is quoted as saying,

“Mark (Richardson) didn’t do this on purpose. It wasn’t like he was being mean or he was trying to get me to say something I didn’t want to say. That was an innocent, honest mistake.”

Co-host Richardson then apologized.

“In three years of doing this job, this is as bad as I’ve ever felt. I say a lot of stuff on this show, and I mean it, and some of it walks the line. I just want to say I’m sorry.

“It’s because obviously, I love you so much as a person. Just me being a smartass and trying to poke fun at you for a comedic moment on the show has led to this, and I’m dreadfully sorry.”

Bridge concludes by saying his co-host has nothing to apologize over: “These things happen. It’s live television.”

It was sloppy but it doesn't appear to have been malicious. The two broadcasters seem to be close friends.

In this case, the context is relevant.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. No, it really isn't.

I read the article I posted. Malicious or not, outing someone makes me angry.

But thank you for telling me how I should react.

[PJMcK]

5. I truly beg your pardon

There was no intention in my response to tell you how to react.

My reaction was different than yours because if the man who was outed wasn't offended, then it's hard for me to tell him how to feel.

In most cases, an outing isn't similar to this story and usually has a malicious intent. I get that and I've seen it too often.

I meant no disrespect to you, Behind.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. That is not how your post read.

Just because he wasn't offended or angry (he was upset), it doesn't mean I can't have my own reaction nor am I telling him or you, for that matte, what your reactions should or shouldn't be. Too often, I have seen people outed, including by accident, and in a few cases of accidental outings, it had some very bad repercussions. As someone who was outed against my will on a few occasions, I taking outing very seriously and get angry when it is done without permission, accidentally of otherwise. Had it been malicious, I would be even more angry.