2ND UPDATE: The damage control tour by The Bachelor star Juan Pablo Galavis continues with another apology, this time to the gay community through GLAAD. He also will be meeting with LGBT Latinos next week:
I have heard from many gay Latinos today who are hurt because of what I said and I apologize. I know gay parents and I support them and their families. They are good parents and loving families. I am a father and I know the feel of being a father, why wouldn’t I want my gay friends to also be happy parents? I also want gay and lesbian youth to know that it is fine to be who you are. Gay or straight, Black or White, Latin or American, what matters here is to respect who we are.
UPDATE, 1 PM: ABC, Warner Horizon and The Bachelor executive producers just issued a statement slamming Bachelor star Juan Pablo Galavis’ statements that gay people are “pervert” and shouldn’t be allowed to be on The Bachelor. “Juan Pablo’s comments were careless, thoughtless and insensitive, and in no way reflect the views of the network, the show’s producers or studio,” the statement read. It mirrors A&E Network’s reaction to Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson’s controversial comments about gays — 
but the network and producers stopped short of reprimanding Galavis, a move that created a backlash for A&E, which suspended and then un-suspended Robertson. In the case of The Bachelor, all episodes of Galavis’ season have already been shot with the exception of the Women Tell All and After The Final Rose specials. It is unclear if ABC will proceed with them as planned. Galavis also issued a statement on Facebook, apologizing for his comments and insisting that they were taken out of context. He blamed the use of word “pervert” in reference to gay people on English being his second language and professed his “respect for Gay people and their families.” You can read his full statement under the post.
PREVIOUS 10:20 AM: It’s been what, a month, since the star of a hit reality show made controversial comments about gay people? Cue Juan Pablo Galavis, the popular star of the current cycle of ABC‘s The Bachelor. In an interview with TVPage at ABC’s TCA party last night, the single dad and a former Venezuelan soccer player was asked whether it would be a good idea to have a gay Bachelor. He was firmly against it. “I don’t think it is a good example for kids to watch that on TV,” he said. “I don’t know if I’m mistaken or not, I have a lot of friends like that, but (gays) are more pervert [sic] in a sense, and to me the show will be too strong, too hard to watch on TV.” It remains to be seen what Galavis’ gay friends as well as ABC and The Bachelor producer Warner Horizon will say about those comments. While not as incendiary as last month’s statements by Phil Robertson, star of A&E’s juggernaut Duck Dynasty, Galavis’ stance on the sensitive topic is sure to raise eyebrows and could be damaging to the show. The Bachelor, which already has grappled with accusations of racism for its casting choices, is very female skewing, and some viewers may be put off by Galavis’ comments. The controversy comes as The Bachelor is running high, with Galavis as one of its most popular stars in awhile. He has reinvigorated the franchise, and ABC has been airing Bachelor specials in addition to the regular episodes. Just yesterday, the network added two more hours of The Bachelor. Following the Duck Dynasty controversy, the ratings for the hugely popular series went down. We will see if Galavis’ comments would have a similar impact.
Related: ‘Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson Suspended For Anti-Gay Comments
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Like with Robertson, it seems that Galavis’ position is rooted deeply in his beliefs. “Obviously people have their husband and wife and kids and that is how we are brought up,” he said. “Now there is fathers having kids and all that, and it is hard for me to understand that too in the sense of a household having peoples, two parents sleeping in the same bed and the kid going into bed. It is confusing in a sense. But I respect them because they want to have kids. They want to be parents.”
Related: ‘Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson Breaks Silence
Galavis’ statement:
I want to apologize to all the people I may have offended because of my comments on having a Gay or Bisexual Bachelor. The comment was taken out of context. If you listen to the entire interview, there’s nothing but respect for Gay people and their families. I have many gay friends and one of my closest friends who’s like a brother has been a constant in my life especially during the past 5 months. The word pervert was not what I meant to say and I am very sorry about it. Everyone knows English is my second language and my vocabulary is not as broad as it is in Spanish and, because of this, sometimes I use the wrong words to express myself. What I meant to say was that gay people are more affectionate and intense and for a segment of the TV audience this would be too racy to accept. The show is very racy as it is and I don’t let my 5 year old daughter watch it. Once again, I’m sorry for how my words were taken. I would never disrespect anyone.
interesting that both Duck Dynasty and The Bachelor are both on networks owned by Disney.
I don’t think that fact has anything to do with the personal beliefs of an individual.
As a native Spanish speaker, “pervert” in Spanish is “pervertido”. No way he can blame the language barrier on misusing the word. It means the same thing and is written the same way. That’s a joke of an excuse.
God forbid people think differently and people who watch The Bachelor are losers
People who watch cr@p television like this deserve cr@p television. God help us all.
He is exactly right with what he said. Everyone knows that including gays. What’s the big deal?
Disney has nothing to do with their personal views
Yes, clearly Walt is controlling their minds…FROM BEYOND THE GRAAAAAAVE!
These remarks are shocking only because the media rarely reports the crude, unvarnished beliefs of typical blue-collar workers. I have heard these same views many times over the years from cab drivers and contractors. Gay love really bothers many people. These remarks are from people who never were trained in how to lie to the media in interviews. They aren’t traditional actors like us, who come to accept the lifestyles of the gay and straight people we work with.
Why should he have to apologize…It is his belief…Regardless of whether it is wrong or right…Tolerant or Intolerant he has a right to his opinion…Why is that these networks brow beat people for their beliefs…you all are so crazy, don’t you know that we are in America and as surely as Gay People can be Gay, Anti Gay People can be Gay…No reason in the world why Juan Pablo should have to apologize for his beliefs or the way he was raised…
you all are so wrong for doing this!!!
This is America the “Land of the Free”
Sorry In I correct the part where I wrote Anti Gay people can be “Anti Gay” not “Gay”
I sure hope he doesn’t get HBO or Showtime, he would have heart failure. Nickelodeon sounds more his speed.
The real reason a gay Bachelor wouldn’t work is that hetero males would feel threatened and not watch.
You’re suggesting that there are straight guys watching The Bachelor now?
Hah maybe not, in which case, go crazy. Straight girls love watching hot guys slobber all over each other.
OTOH, if they want to bring in the straight male crowd, Lipstick Lesbian Bachlorette is the way to go.
It’s a female heavy show. This is a fantasy show for heterosexual women. A very specific genre of reality fantasy. What would the point of a gay bachelor be?
Now why women like watching a show where 20+ women practically claw each other’s eyes out for the attention of one man that they have never met is beyond me. I can almost see the appeal of the bachelorette since multiple men vie for the attention of one woman and that’s a fantasy that women can place themselves at the center of, not to mention the wide range of , mostly white, half naked male flesh that’s always on display… but the Bachelor, I don’t get.
PS: And yes I agree with everyone about the ridiculous “Glass Houses” situation this douchebag’s put himself in. I mean date more than one person at once in your private life but when you date twenty women, on TV with an eye toward proposing to one of them at the end of a couple of months pretty much takes away your right to assert any standard about what’s perverted and what’s not.
The point is that straight women have been writing gay porn for decades now. It’s an entire industry in the making, so a gay show of this type would be a big hit.
I seriously doubt any straight men watch this show
Most gay men do not watch it because the whole premise of the show is ridiculous. Think about Women wanting to get married to GOOD LOOKING RICH ENOUGH MAN” so they don’t have to work…
Good to know to speak for most gays. Do they know you’re doing this?
I tried once a few years ago, but found the guy to be such a D-bag, and the women so enthusiastic to shed any ounce of dignity or intelligence not flushed away by the audition process, that I was too embarrassed for the whole lot to enjoy any of it. Watching became this perverse obsession for me, because the more I was revolted by the stupidity, the more I had to watch. Thankfully the last episode cured me of that, as the guy chose the wrong woman (who ended up dumping him a week later when the cameras were turned off and she regained her sanity) instead of this girl Bevin (God help me, I still remember her name somehow) who was practically made for him.
The whole affair was similar to the one season of American Idol I watched, just for the sake of Sanjaya. Whatever happened to that kid anyway? Is he going to release a duet album with the “Friday, Friday” girl?
Finally. Is everyone on here a 24 year old gay secretary?
Twilight and Hobbit make the comments cum. Anything smart or indie you get two comments. I’m doing an algorithm. Seems very very gay and dumb.
If by “threatened” you mean “completely disinterested,” then yes, you’re exactly right. I doubt vegans spend much time watching BBQ cook off competition shows either, but somehow I doubt you’d label them as “threatened.”
There’s something to be said in this situation where you have a bunch of singles together, and it isn’t 12 going for 1, it’s simply a free for all. Like if the girls on Bachelor just said screw it and went after each other instead. Come to think of it, I’d watch that.
Oddly, I believe the demo of the bachelor are single women and gay men
Exactly. There goes half his audience!
There goes 3 percent of his audience, at most.
Gay men watch this show? I don’t get it. I spent five minutes watching it, duly noted the obvious (Juan Pablo is handsome), and then changed the channel. Though he is clearly handsome, Juan Pablo seemed to be lacking in something that I couldn’t put my finger on. Something made me think he must be a jerk – and I guess part of that would be my negative assumptions of any guy putting himself in a position of having women humiliate themselves to gain his attention. And then rejecting them one by one with such a bland demeanor…. Yeah, that’s not my idea of a decent human being. Someone like that could have all the looks in the world and still be immensely unappealing, in my opinion.
So this tool who is on a TV PROGRAM which PERVERTS love and marriage INTO A GAMESHOW is allowed to comment on how gay love is PERVERTED?! I mean… The irony is jaw-dropping.
Your entire statement is an oxymoron. The whole damn thing.
I think the whole bachelor crew needs to relocate to Russia where they’ll all be happy and feel safe!! Any bachelorettes staying on after knowledge of Juan Pablo’s statements will also be labeled as homophobic, as they should. I think people should be screened more carefully before acceptance on this show….homophobia or bigotry of any kind has no place in a high profile show such as the Bachelor.
Here we go again…
He, himself, is a pervert by appearing in show like Bachelor!
I only watch the first episode of the very first season and decided that this is not worth my time!
Are any hetero males watching the Bachelor, though? I think it’s straight women and gay men. But sadly, some of those straight women in middle America probably think a man with 25 women is a great role model but don’t feel the same way about a gay man.
I hope ABC addresses this, but I fear they may not.
But dating a bunch of women at the same time on TV is a good example for kids? Oh, ok…
Oh ok Juan. Like kids are watching your sleazy ass on the regular bachelor?! Douschebag. And you’ve got a daughter.
Seriously, who gives a rat’s ass what these nimrod “reality stars” think?
Considering he’s a guy basically selling himself on national television to supposedly get a good wife for him and his daughter I don’t think he has much room to cast dispersions.
What a complete moron. Disney blows it again.
No pun intended, of course.
If they put out an all-gay version of “The Bachelor,” just imagine the blowback and all the blasts of steam coming out of the ears of culture warriors.
Why does every one of your stupid comments contain the word “blow?”
I wonder how this single dad explained to his kid(s) how, exactly, he was going about finding them a new Mommy.
Methinks this guy headed the ball a few too many times.
So a guy banging 20+ women on a game show is a good thing for families and children to watch? What a sterling endorsement of heterosexual moral superiority! This guy is a piece of work – purple hosiery and all. The whole show is ridiculous. That it has an audience of any kind is tragic. All this hetero crapola – Kardashians, Housewives, Bridezillas – and y’all are worried about a few gay people who want to get married? And THIS jackass is given a platform to further lower humanity’s IQ? Damn if it ain’t time to hit the reset switch on this effed-up world.
All of you guys who are posting the negative things here are hypocrites. Juan can’t say what he thinks or believes without you all being so hateful and outspoken, but you can?????? Give me a break.
No, being a hyprocrite is calling out others for “setting a bad example for children” when you yourself are doing the same thing. Your comment doesn’t make any sense, other than to demonstrate that you obviously believe with his position. So shame on you too.
Agree with, I meant.
LOL, a deadbeat Dad whose pay had to be garnished for child support and who is pimping himself out on television should not be talking about perverts unless he looks in the mirror first. Juan looks like a creepy douche.
He is probably a self-hating closeted gay in addition to being dumb as a rock.
In a country where loving couples are denied the right to equality due to “the sanctity of marriage” these awful game shows have been handing out marriages to vapid idiots like this guy for years. It’s disgusting. The whole franchise should be shut down. And not just because of this meat puppet. The whole thing is wrong.
this from a man(?)that goes on a show featuring cat-fighting
sluts.. who’s the perv???
Could have meant perverse which is a tad softer. English is not his first language after all. In any case it is unlikely he meant to label gays as perverts. He failed to state his case properly and who cares what he thinks anyway. Dumb show, not exactly peopled by Mensa members. Sad commentary on the viewing public that it has lasted so long.
Gays, really, you’re going to comment on the gay community? Ok got it, Mr full body shave that spends too much time at the gym. POT. KETTLE. BLACK.
Yeah, ’cause only gays shave. Wow.
Yeah, and only gays go the gym. Damn, what an idiot.
DIP SHIT.
I would say a lot of young, closeted LGBT kids hear this on the news and think maybe there IS something wrong with them. Suicide rates among LGBT youth are horrifying. It’s a problem. It’s costing lives.
You’re lying again.
A show having over 25 ladies lined up and parading around and fooling around with 1 so called gentleman is sexist and degrading. Especially when most of these gentleman go in the show to become famous and the women make fools of themselves by drinking too much. Yes! This is a show all children should watch. Is he out of his mind???
Does that mean that the Bachelorette is sexist and degrading to men?