May 6, 2011 | Arts / Entertainment

Blake Shelton accused of being anti-gay

Country music singer Blake Shelton is one of the judges on NBC's new hit singing competition, The Voice. But it's some of his comments off the show that are gettng people's attention.

He was first questioned about his views on the LGBT community when at the Country Music Awards (CMAs) in April he joked about Jake Gyllenhaal's sexuality. Reba McEntire asked why Gyllenhaal would break up with someone like Taylor Swift, to which Shelton replied: “Wait a minute… He was in 'Brokeback Mountain!"

Then on Wednesday night he tweeted: "Re-writing my fav Shania Twain song. Any man that tries Touching my behind He's gonna be a beaten, bleedin', heaving kind of guy..."

Oh oh! The tweets of anger were almost instantaneous. He was labeled a homophobe. He was told he had gone too far. The ever vigilant GLAAD led the charge with, "No, @BlakeShelton – violent, anti-gay statements are not what a woman wants. Apologize now."

"Ba! Ha! Reading all my anti-gay hate tweets.... Ha! Ha! If people only knew even a little about me, my family and friends. Dumb asses," he responded. However, he later clarified his initial comments: "Ok try this. Its meant to be from a girls point of view."

He also sent a tweet to GLAAD. "@glaad hey I want my fans and @nbcthevoice fans to know that anti-gay and lesbian violence is unacceptable!!!!!"

Are these the makings of a homophobe? We're not convinced. During the CMAs, as with all award shows, the jokes are scripted and often result in moans over giggles (and who hasn't kidded about Gyllenhaal's possible interest in men?). As for the tweet, the reaction to it seemed more disturbing than the tweet itself. Maybe it's time to stop looking for reasons to be offended and get on with, well, life. (Yes, GLAAD, that means you.)

Blake Shelton has a misunderstanding on Twitter with GLAAD [Entertainment Weekly]

Blake Shelton's Homophobic Tweet Advocates Violence Against Gays [Huffington Post]