He didn't say a specific person or field, but he did say some of the people you wouldn't even think of. Well-known entertainers. I understand why he didn't wouldn't go into specifics because he's still tryna protect his career. What's crazy is that he said you can make it without doing any of that stuff, but it's like if you do then you may reach that level sooner or have certain doors open for you. The higher ups do this because they can and they prey on people's need to succeed and be famous. Not everybody goes through with it, but they'll take whoever bites. The casting couch is real.
He also said the quickest way to be blackballed nowadays is to say something negative about gay people or activities. The entertainment industry is smaller than what people think and you bound to run into somebody who is connected to it somehow. If they have enough influence then they can make it difficult for someone to get work.
I'm tryna recall the whole convo from almost 10 years ago so I'm sure there's some stuff I forgot. All in all, his point was if you tryna make it into the industry understand what you're getting into. Stand on your principles because people actually don't have to do it, but get taken advantage of because they wanna be famous so bad and this is the easiest way to get ahead. Explains why some people don't have a lick of talent, but get plastered everywhere. They got that spot for a reason. It's not what you know, its who you know.
That's the gist of it. Looking back I'm surprised he even put his career on the line by telling us this stuff, but it was eye opening.
I wanna say Gipp alluded to this in an interview before. He was looking to break into acting and had a role lined up, but had to go to someone's house to "audition" and the role happened to be for a gay character. He said he didn't know beforehand, but respectfully declined when it was time. The director went
and respected his decision not go through with it, but idk if he's been in anything since. Ima find the interview.