January 26, 2011 | Celeb Watch

Alan Cumming: Richard Chamberlain is irresponsible

Rupert Everett and Richard Chamberlain have both declared that actors should think twice about coming out if they want to have a lasting career.

"For an actor to be working is a kind of miracle," said the 76-year-old Chamberlain, "because most actors aren't, so it's just silly for a working actor to say, 'Oh, I don't care if anybody knows I'm gay'--especially if you're a leading man. Despite all the wonderful advances that have been made, it's still dangerous for an actor to talk about that in our extremely misguided culture."

Alan Cumming said such musings were “irresponsible," and both actors should “think about a little gay boy in Wisconsin” before saying these things.

"I think it's so mean-spirited," Cumming explained. "If you're living a lie, that's not healthy, and I think it is really irresponsible of [Chamberlain] and Rupert to say these things.

"... it's not about your work. It's about how you exist as a person in the world, and the idea that your work is more important than you as a person is a horrible, horrible message. I always think about a little gay boy in Wisconsin or a little lesbian in Arkansas seeing someone like me, and if I cannot be open in my life, how on earth can they? Anyway, it's an academic question: How can you know [that coming out affects your career]? Some people get less work than others and it has nothing to do with sexuality."

Like maybe Chamberlain was considered too old, or Everett too whiny ...

Cumming vs. Everett, Chamberlain [The Advocate]