How long have we had the Internet, 20 years? How long will people keep thinking they can hide shit? Forever, probably. And we will forever have a lot of fun proving them wrong.

If Will Smith is the new face of Scientology, does that make Jada the new beard...?

Oy. Once and for all - Will is gay. Tom is gay. It shouldn't be a problem for them or for anyone else, but it is -- so in order to keep on making the big movies and money, they pretend to be straight, much the same way Rock Hudson and Van Johnson had to do. Scientology exists in large part as a kind of private Mafia to protect this big, gay stars from an often hostile media and from individuals unwise enough to get their attention. They're like a bigger and more anonymous Pellicano, if you will. That is all.

Remember the good old days when being outed as a homosexual was like, bad?

There's like a whole strata of flat-earthers out there who still think that celebs and other high-profile folks can keep secrets. Not in the Web age, kids. Better just fess up. Or as Baretta would say in the case of Will Smith, Scientologist, "don't do the crime if you can't do the time."

Oh, it is so delicious how people think stuff like that won't get out. Almost anyone paying attention knows that big celebrities in Scientology generally have some sort of obvious secret to keep that they think will ruin their careers.

I don't care much about Will's Scientology exploits so long as he's acting well and not preaching to me. That's where Tom lost me. He started telling me how to live my life. Thanks for caring, bud, but tone down the "better than thou"-ness and you might just reconnect with your fans.

And Scientology? That gets chalked up with every other organized religion that hopes to dominate my precious time, money, and mind. There's the door. I'll think for myself, thank you.

Maybe it's just that I grew next to and on the gay summer camp of the Northeast, Fire Island, and spent my entire career in show biz or publishing, not exactly homophobic career spheres, but I don't understand why gay is something you need to hide anymore. Half the attractive and articulate men in show biz and the media are gay, and who really gives a rat's ass. I don't think that Smith is in trouble over the gay issue. He's in trouble over the wacky, vindictive cult issue. He's trying to keep it secret, and trying to keep nasty secrets is like running away from the wolf pack. It switches on everyone's genes for pursuit.

I LOVE that "I Was Legend" comment I heard, figuring his career will tank when thew CoS news hits the proverbial rotating wind generator.

Will Smith is gay??? OMG - no more "Fresh Prince" at 1 am for me - I'm flyover! Flyover Homey don't do dat shit.

@donmiguel: Van Johnson was gay??

@Mike_Jahn: You've had the internet for 20 years? Do you work for NORAD?

@queensissy: First time I heard that one.

@nick_r: Okay, so I was exposed to DARPAnet in the early to mid 80s. But it's not the same thing at all, is it? I can't count. Sorry.

you guys really scared me there for a second. if you hover over the thumbnail on the top of the page, the headline is shortened to this:

even though it makes no sense, my mind still went "what?!" and then "phew" when i clicked through.

@spectatertot: I can see how that would play out - Tucker would gag Will Smith with a bowtie, Olberman would sanctimize him into submission, Matthews would scream until Smith's ears bled, and Russert would give him "The Big Russ" - y'know, sit on him... until he was dead.

@Mike_Jahn: You don't give a rat's ass and I don't give a rat's ass because we're intelligent and enlightened, but many of the dumb hicks who go to big, blockbuster action films are total dumbasses who do give a rat's ass. That's my guess, anyway. Those Red State people -- they care, even if they're secretly engaging in a love that dare not speak its name.

@Mike_Jahn: I'd like to agree with you, but Exhibit A is my mother. She was over for a visit and we were watching How I Met Your Mother (sorry, I have a mad Jason Segel crush), when said she was surprised the producers didn't rewrite Neil Patrick Harris' character once he came out, "because no one will believe him as a womanizer once everyone knows he's gay." I think a lot of people are like that - they have a really, really hard time reconciling an on-screen heterosexual image with an off-screen homosexual reality.

I don't care what these creeps call themselves, Scientology only became a religion to keep from paying taxes. Learning that Will Smith or anyone else is gay would not change my opinion of their acting abilities one iota. Learning they are stupid enough to become Scientologists makes me lose respect for them as sentient human beings.

@Wendy_Kroy: Why watches Ellen, Will & Grace, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?

@Shumina:

Hallelujia! I am with you!

It is so not a coincidence that I'm watching the Veronica Mars episode about the Moonie cult right now.

sorry, but i have no glib comment now. I just think it's sad that gay people are so afraid.

I, for one, fondly look back at the good old days when you could torture your naive, tone deaf college roommate by telling her "Wait...you do know Johnny Mathis is gay, riiight?".

And no, I'm not 90, my roommate's musical "tastes" were...

I don't give a rat's ass if he's gay. I do, however, care that he's giving money to a vicious cult. He won't be getting any of my moviegoing dollars anymore.

Buh-bye, Will, I thought you were smarter than that. How could anybody in their right mind fall for that Xenu crap? And how can anyone not be aware of the human rights abuses committed by CO$?

and here i thought it was jada who was the gay one...

Well the first reviews of Hancock came out, and apparently it STINKS. I really hate to say it, but they are SMART to try to shut him up about Scientology and kill any stories about his involvement. All they need to to have him sink their latest 150 million dollar investment in his career and their only summer tentpole. Hell, it's the only thing they've got going this year.

Actually, I hope he does screw up and start mouthing off about Scientology. It will be funny.

The reason nobody believes Doogie Houser bangs chicks is because we have eyes.

an interview in time magazine a couple? few? months ago profiling will smith gave an in-depth look at will smith's aspirations, and he doesn't care about being a credible actor, he is extremely obsessed with being a movie star. like sits-with-his-manager-and-analyzes-box-office-trends obsessed.

i have a feeling the scientology kickbacks were prooobably part of his weird success strategy, but he didn't foresee the repercussions and now it's all backfiring.

i would also theorize he started giving them money in exchange for connections to film executive scientologists a long time ago, before tom cruise blew scientology's discretion with all that katie holmes mania, but then smith got stuck because he was getting blackmailed.

man this comment was long, but scientologists and certain celebrities are sick enough that this is totally feasible. and theorizing is fun?

Hey, look, two new reasons to not see Hancock. It's paying off a criminal organization and it sucks.

As it turns out, either of those reasons would have been enough.

@Tippi from Toronto: Narrow-minded, ignorant prejudice - just like homophobia!

Seriously, the studios may think the way you do, but it just isn't true. Even most of the rednecks don't care anymore. Everyone knows someone who's gay and it's just not that big a deal.

@ronbo: I would hope so, and apologize if I seemed narrow-minded and prejudiced, but there must be SOME reason the studios don't want their actors coming out, and there has been a ton of market research and audience polling on this front that has got them all spooked.

I really should write that story about the gay black jewish scientologist...

from the article:

Editor's note: Msnbc.com was not contacted by Sony executives or Will Smith's publicist about removing this item.

facepalm, defamer!

The reason the thought of Will Smith being gay or a Scientologist gets folks in a tizzy boils down to this- Billy Bob in Louisiana wants to enjoy his $12.50 worth of shit being blown up and cheesy one liners, and he wants them to be delivered by someone whom he can enjoy imagining to be, not having to fend off, be it due to his sexuality or religious zeal. Billy Bob's not just buying two hours of special effects in air conditioned comfort- he's also buying a fantasy that he could be that hero. For many in the aduience that fantasy doesn't include AstroGlide.

@spectatertot: That would've been an even more interesting story, wouldn't it?
@sawzy: Facepalm?

I find it more intersting that his cult...er "church" friends where more concerned about donations then any negative effects that the story may have on him or his life. Anyone with any basic knowledge about the cult...oops "church" knows that it is first and foremost a business but its always amusing to see when they accidentally become transparent about it.

It is nice to know there is another celebrity out there who will stop and help should I ever be in an accident in the Los Angeles area. They have no choice, because they "know what they know".

Powerful, whoosh, bang, HA HA HA HA HA HA!

It's the best feeling!

Have I ever met a SP? HA HA HA HA HA!

They don't come up to me, because my bodyguards won't let them.

I SOOO wish I could romp and play right now . . .

But I can't because I "know what I know".

Whoosh, BANG! YEAH!

I for the life of me don't understand why in God's name the AP entertainment division wasn't all over this! What the hell do you have to do around here to get people off their asses?!!!!