Mario quits for "personal reasons"
I really dont know where to begin. I cannot speak right now out of mourning and melancholia. Last night, just as I was about roll into bed and go to sleep I received a call from my homeboy Antar (not to be confused with "Anwar" though Im working on that) telling me to turn on Fox 5 News.
Much to my ultimate shock and dismay Fox 5 reported that MARIO HAS RESIGNED FROM AMERICAN IDOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After falling out of my bed and racing to my living room to my computer (slamming and kicking shit on my way, including my roommate) I went to check the official American Idol website: www.idolonfox.com. No Mario. Suddenly Mario's name and picture had been removed from the list of contestants.
What the fuck is going on?! This story broke late last night and has only been covered by (check the following links) The New York Post, "Foxes" on Idol, and Inside Pulse. All of these reports offer no substantive information other than that Mario "resigned for personal reasons."
Am I the only brother in America who knows what the fuck happened here? Without delving into conspiracy theories (which actually are always productive rather than anti-progressive), let me just say that it's clear to me that Mario withdrew from American Idol for fear that the show's exposure would open up questions about his queer sexuality.
Although many gay men of color here in New York City are friends with Mario (including as I mentioned before, my roommate), it is likely that he may have only been 'out' to strangers (such as those he met at the clubs) or close friends and family, and as such he may have feared that the press would have eventually ran his sexual history all through the mud (which is likely).
If this is true, I actually can identify with Mario on many levels. As crazy as it may be to some (given my research interests and work) i'm not out to everyone in my family, and I might hesitate to take on an opportunity that would suddenly disclose my sexuality to 40 million people. Clearly I'm "out" and quite vocal about black queer politics, but at the same time I also understand the important politics of discretion: there are very real circumstances that compromise all of our abilities (this is especially true for queer people of color) to always be 'out' about our multiple identities.
To me this all speaks forcefully to the continued shit that queer people have to face here in the U.S. The fact that we may never see or hear from Mario again because he dropped out of the competition presumably for fear of being 'outed' is tragic.
And what of Anwar Robinson? Will he be next for similar concerns? That's another blog entry on to itself.
All I know is I want my Mario Vasquez back!!!!
How did this happen?
What will I do?
Is American Idol even worth watching anymore? *afterthought: wait a second, now that Mario's back in the Bronx and no longer has 30 million people watching over his shoulder, doesnt Frank's dreams of sex, love, and marriage look even more prosperous than ever.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
www.cratchet.blogspot.com
The Superior Blog.
Posted by
Storm Trooper |
3/14/2005
I definitely feel your post. It's a crying shame that I, as a success driven person have to worry about the politics of my sexuality. If Mario dropped out because the show's exposure would open up questions about his queer sexuality, my heart goes out to him.
I agree, the fear of being 'outed' is tragic. It's something that many people in da life face, including myself. But, like Dr. King had a dream. I have a Dream that one day, I won't be just by my race or sexuality but by the content of my character.
Posted by
SmilingOnThaDL |
3/14/2005
i'm feeling you too on the mario thing... and on the outing thing too.
we can only wonder why mario left, but the first thing i thought was about the pressure of being a new public figure and having your personal life become fodder for speculation and discussion.
of course, it could truly be personal and family issues. who knows? i'm sure we all wish him the best in his life and career. he'll be totally fine.
fred
www.fredericksmith.net
Posted by
Frederick Smith |
3/14/2005
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Posted by
Frank León Roberts |
3/14/2005
I really hope that Mario's sexuality wasn't a factor in him dropping out of the competition. To be that close to living a lifelong dream and to end it because of something that might happen? Besides, c'mon, i mean really ... he can't be THAT deep in the closet. I mean ... i mean ... well ... LOOK AT HIM!
{sigh} Maybe he got a fabulous, guaranteed star-making contract with somebody else, but ONLY if he dropped out before they got going with the Top 12. Or maybe it's like one conspiracy theorist suggested: Nikko really DID make it into the Top 12, but a hacker stole his votes.
Nah. Even i don't believe that one.
Posted by
malik |
3/14/2005
I actually heard the "he got a contract and got out before he became legally locked down in the Top 12" theory as well. However, I'm quite partial to the "he quit because he didn't want to be outed" theory- but that's for more personal reasons. If that is the reason, though- I feel incredibly bad for him. Yet another lifelong dream put on hold or simply thrown away because of fear.
Posted by
Will |
3/15/2005
If Mario quit in fear of being outed, that would be very sad. No one should have to stop pursuing a dream because of fear. No one should hide their God-given talents from the world because others may not like who they are.
We must never ask other people for permission to be ourselves. They probably won't give it.
Posted by
Bernie |
3/15/2005
The saddest part about this whole discussion is that all U drama queens have ASSUMED that Mario Vasquez is "queer" in the first place ... and then gone into an X-Files-esque conspiracy theory that his sexuality, particularly in relation to his ethnicity, had ANYTHING to do with his decision to leave this tired TV show ... honey please, all this boo hoo "queer-of-color-being-outed-is-the-root-of-all-brothas'-problems" is over the hill by now. (J.L. King, been there, done that.) For the record, Mario announced on Fox News that all questions about his sexuality should be directed to his "past girlfriends" (and I don't think he meant that in the Chelsea way). Maybe he's str8, maybe he's bi, maybe y'all should just let him decide and go back to jerking off over pics of his bootie.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3/15/2005
I want to believe that Mario got a contract before being bound to the Final 12. It's not hard, however, to believe Mario feared some element of his past coming out, whether it was his sexual identity or that he was some kind of teenage petty criminal or some such. But how can we assume? Is it possible that we take his statements at face value? Maybe his mother is ill? (Whether or not he's gay, he's clearly a Mama's boy, god bless'm, as evidenced on the show)
What we do know is that the show would be more entertaining with him around so it's too bad he had to drop out for whatever reasons.
Peace,
Craig Hickman
Posted by
Fumbling Toward Divinity |
3/16/2005
Not sure how I found my way here, but I'm loving your stuff!!
Posted by
The Pink Panther |
3/16/2005
Brothers are always going through one thing or anutha and Mario is no different.
Posted by
a black boy's dream |
3/18/2005