~H1~

Every week, Stephon-Robert runs down the hot stories in pop culture, serving us exactly what we need.

Yesterday, the Daily Mail broke the story on boxer Yusaf Mack or as we know him now, “Philly” from those grainy Dawgpound USA videos. Mack is alleging that he was drugged Cosby-style and forced to participate in the porn video with two other guys. Now don’t get me wrong, they probably fill those guys with as much drug and liquor they request to ensure their participation in the video but sir… You expect us to believe you were drugged and coerced into bending over?

Mack says that he actually knew he was participating in a pornographic video – a straight pornographic video – and traveled from his home of Philadelphia to the Bronx to spread his legs on a dirty mattress. Apparently, there were plenty of naked women around and he took a “pill and some liquor” and woke up on the bus back to Philly with $4,500 in his pocket. It wasn’t until rumors swirled around the city that he was in a video that he became aware of the ordeal and after first, denying it, made a claim of being drugged and is now on a crusade to bring Dawgpound USA to court.

There’s just one problem.

Not only is Mack in one video, showing him quite active with both co-stars but he’s been featured in another video as well as photos. His Twitter favorites include several nude men and despite his claims of being a “lover of women only” and his 10 kids, the idea that Dawgpound USA is trying to bring down the retired boxer’s career is far fetched. GIRL BYE.

The thing is – I get that Mack did it for the money. I don’t think the focus should be on his sexuality because that’s his business. But when you don’t stand in your mess, you ruin your credibility. Him stating he was “drugged” is humorous because we know how incredibly over-the-top it is. But on the same note, he shouldn’t be using gay porn as a scapegoat for his shame. If you’re ashamed of the choices you made, as a grown man you must make the decision to remain silent or to be mature and own it. But to vilify a company that we as a community participate in and find entertainment in as some cesspool that snatches men from their ten kids and welfare homes to be drugged and participate in deep throating and leg spreading is where Mr. Philly needs to give it up, turn it loose. You’re not Ebony, girl and this ain’t Junior’s bachelor party.  

In other news, Laverne Cox is preparing to play the role of Frank-N-Furter in a new Fox reincarnation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. While I can celebrate the achievement of my girl storming in, I do question what made her choose this role and how they may frame the character in general. Frank-N-Furter, originally played by Tim Curry, was a transvestite. Laverne Cox is a transwoman. Sure, she can definitely sell it but is it problematic for a transwoman to play the role of a character that is heavily portrayed as camp because he’s a man in lingerie? Thoughts?

On television, Miles and Milan returned from the coming out episode of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood with Amber continuing to voice her emotions as if she was cheated on, manipulated and conned by Miles even though the last time they were together, people were doing the “thunder clap” in the club. I’m exhausted with getting her perspective and thoughts on something that really didn’t have much to do with her. In reality, Miles would not be obligated to share anything with Amber being that they’re not married, committed nor do they share a child together.

Overall, I’m exhausted with the relationship between heterosexual women on television in regards to Black gay men. For most of our time on television, we’ve been treated as accessories and now when we see a perspective of Black gay love on television, the perspective of an ex-girlfriend is brought to full attention along with her incessant homophobia by way of threatening to out Miles, challenging Milan’s manhood and continuing to wear those awful wigs. Go home, Amber.  

Until next week, peeps – xoxo.