Another Ryan Murphy quote

I'm not trying to nitpick or dissect his every comment, but I'm confused by this quote in the Hollywood Reporter article:

"...It didn’t cross my mind there would be this big controversy. … But I never judge the actors because I know they all felt bad about it. And I think all parties involved learned a lesson about how parents look to the show as something inspirational and aspirational. We all realized that we have to be a little more careful when it comes to sexuality.”

The bolding in the quote is my doing. Murphy is talking about the GQ photo debacle involving Lea Michele and Dianna Agron. Am I reading this wrong, or is Ryan actually trying to place blame on the actresses?

I was under the impression that photo shoots were mandatory for actors, musicians, etc. And I also was under the impression that sets and costumes and those kinds of plans were decided by other people. I recently saw a youtube video where the ladies of “The View” were discussing this topic, and Barbara Walters said repeatedly during the discussion that it was Dianna’s and Lea’s “decision” to do the photo shoot, that they had a “choice” to do it or not do it.

So maybe I’m wrong. But still, I wish Ryan hadn’t said that. It really smacks of throwing your employees under the bus. “This photo shoot was set up and planned by other people, but I don’t blame them for actually going through with it.” That’s what he seems to be saying. Or maybe he’s saying that the actresses should have been the ones to smell trouble on the horizon and stopped the photo shoot from happening? This just doesn’t make any sense. Or maybe he’s just blaming them for the suggestive poses. I think with most photo shoots the photographer tells the person being photographed what the set up is, and offers some direction, but the artist or musician is responsible for most of the poses. Perhaps Lea, Dianna, and Cory were having so much fun that they got a bit carried away. I could see that happening. The cast is extremely close and comfortable with each other. Lea and Dianna have or are still sharing an apartment. And we know that Lea is not uncomfortable showing her body. When she was in the musical “Spring Awakening” she went topless in one scene.

Regardless, I think a series creator and executive producer should protect and stand up for his actors. If a decision is made, either defend it or apologize for it, but don’t deflect it. I also find it interesting that he mentioned being more careful about the sexual elements of the show. Perhaps when he said that he didn’t know that the show was planning to have several of its cast members shed most of their clothes in an upcoming episode.

gleekette