Isabeli Fontana Does Some Damage Control

In an exclusive interview today to Folha Online, top model Isabeli Fontana got a chance to explain that unfortunate moment on Monday night when she said she would not like to have a gay son.

"Everyone can interpret things the way they want to. What I said is what I think. I love gays. I have tons of gay friends. They are the most fun people I know. I said I would not want to have a gay son because I know how much prejudice they suffer. And no mother would like to see her son suffer."

The sad thing here is that the prejudice she is so afraid her son would have to live with if he were gay is the very same prejudice she is permeating with her statement on live TV.

"I live in a gay world. I am around gay men all the time. If I didn't like gays, I would have picked another job," said Isabeli.

I am sure she meant no harm to begin with, but I hope she learned two important lessons: (a) when you are a public person and you can make a difference, think before saying anything, especially on primetime national TV, and (b) if the gays can make you, they can also break you.

Click here for a video of her Monday night interview. It is now the most watched clip on Videolog.

Isabeli is now at the second slot at Models.com, behind Raquel Zimmermann.

Comments

[Leigh]

Its nice that Isabeli is trying to explain herself. I hope all goes well for her. However, I disagree strongly with the ideas that gay men can 'easily' destroy her or destroy her at all. As some one pointed out a great many people who work on the other side of the camera in positions of authority are women, and most of them would not turn against her, and there are gay men who are not offended by what she said, and even those who were would try to be professional in dealing with her. I've read up somewhat on Isabeli and how she got in the industry, and most of the people helping her were women not gay men. And even if i could honestly believe that it was only gay men who helped to make Isabeli successful, they no longer have the power to destroy her, she's far too big a model for that, even if she is not a 'celebrity' in the U.S.

[Leigh]

Regardless of how many people, whatever their genders or sexual preferences, recognise a model's talents and abilities, a model will only succeed if she, or yes, he, is willing to work hard for it. Isabeli is as much responsible, if not more, for her success in the industry as are the people behind her and who style her.

[Made In Brazil]

I was just joking about the gay comment because the whole episode became so controversial here in Brazil.

[Leigh]

Maybe I did take what you said too seriously, its just that I've always been a big admirer of models and can be almost too protective of them. I think you have a great blog. I love Latin America as a whole, but Brazil is one the few individual nations that I am really passionately interested in, which is why I've posted here for two years now. I'm trying to find plenty of other good Brazilian blogs to read and am even trying to study Portuguese. Sorry, don't mean to ramble, just trying to say that I'm not trying to attack you or your blog.

[Luka]

Bullshit. She is not afraid her son would suffer prejudice. In fact she is afraid of suffering prejudice for having a gay son. "What would people say??".
That's why she is a model. Much better with her mouth shut.

[André]

She was certainly instructed to justify what she said by bending her previous statement.

[Thales]

I only hope that she pay with her career.

[Gustavo Rosales]

I think she took the punch with dignity,she didn't apologize..well kind off,but all the time she stick to that was her opinion and just jusfy it, that is way better than try to change your version!
Besides the damage is already done(and recorded) what else she could so about it?
Giselle Bündchen would never say something like that im sure...
I hope that Isabeli continue with a long career(cause even if she is or not homophobic or stupid or whatver...she's a good model) i hope that in future interviews she talk less and smile more,,,,if u can't say anything clever girl just smile!

[Linda Loira e Japonesa]

If I saw her face to face, that's what I would tell her:

No, Isabeli, you wouldn't have picked another job simply because you CAN'T.

You are not smart, you are not brilliant you were luckily born with a cute face and a slim body.

-----

Nao, Isabeli, voce nao teria escolhido outro trabalho simplesmente porque voce nao PODE.

Voce nao eh inteligente, nao eh brilhante, foi sortuda em ter nascido com um rosto bonitinho e um corpo esbelto.

[andrea]

omg - some of you people are idiots! ... get a grip & have less hate, you aren't making Isabeli look bad - you are all just making yourselves look bad! anyone who thinks this will affect her career are just plain stupid & know nothing about the industry ... As for the person mentioning Gisele - didn't she say something controversial about the catholic church / condoms / abortion that caused a huge media storm in Brasil - I believe she did.

[raluc]

she an IDIOT!!!

[rafael]

My god. why are you all so revengefull?

Haven't you learnt anything about being treated with no respect?

"If gay men can make you they can break you!"

or

"Let's harm her career now!".

People who sufer prejudices from irational groups should know better about fighting with the same weapons.

But, well, I guess they don't.

It seens that most of you are no different than right wing religious group, and are becomeming a right wing gay group. It seens that most gay men are lening to follow that way, instead of trying to live in a peacefull way with oneself.
It is a pitty....

[mike]

Is too late. The damage has been done.

[Gustavo Rosales]

So if straight people attack us we should put the other cheek right? cause if we don't put the other cheek we r some right nazi gay group...yes we r bad, we r idiots cause the only thing that gay people should do is put the other cheek,..let the straight people attack us,insult us,kill us...that's ok cause they r straight and if we gay people defend ourselves then we a bunch of revengefull right wing nazi little queers!...can u imagine poor straight people who have to deal with queer who do not put the other cheek,gay people should try to leave in peace,put the other cheek and be thankfull for the homophobic comments of Isabeli Fontana!

[Craig]

Yeah, she loves the gays as long as her own son isn't one of them. Just like my neighbor who claims to have lots of black friends and that she loves them but wouldn't like her son to marry one of them. If that isn't prejudice I don't know what else is.

[Linda Loira e Japonesa]

Again, I wish people wake up and stop hiring her.

There are many other models, in a sea full of top models, why not picking up one that is gay friendly?

And someone said it right: she's afraid of how she would deal with it, she's not thinking of her son.

[lvb]

You people are stupid! Aids killed our power in this industry years ago. Now it's just alot of wimpy eccentric little clowns marching behind powerful women and straight men hoping their ideas are accepted!!!! This chick and most women is our industry could care less about what we think. Maybe, she's just sorry she hurt our little feelings.

[thevegasstyleguy]

I don't see where she said anything wrong. Face it, how many people would want their children to be gay if they had a choice? Honestly and without anger think about it. A gay child has to deal with a lot a crap from ignorant people that they wouldn't have to if they were brn straight. In some countries this includes death or severe violence. We all know this to be true. I don't think she made a statement against gays. I think she was thinking just like everyone of our mothers who only want to protect us from the bigots and violent people of the world. My mom excepts me but I bet she would feel I was safer if I were straight. Ask your own mothers the same question and when you get her answer come back here and apologize to some one who just was speaking their honest feelings. Do we really want to become the thought police? If so we're no better than rednecks here in the US or islamists in Saudi Arabia or skinheads in Russia. Is that what we want to become?

[Vítor]

I couldn't agree more with you.

[Fred]

great comment "thevegasstyleguy" very well stated

she simply said what a lot of people think. most parents want as little pain, suffering, and difficulty in their children's lives.

and being gay can be a difficult life.

[Fernando Castor]

Too much mothers think in the same way. Unfortunately she dont expressed with the better words.