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Female Impersonator Sues Simon Cowell


SIMON COWELL FEMALE IMPERSONATOR X390

A female impersonator who claims he was portrayed as a transvestite on Britain’s Got Talent wants Simon Cowell and other producers of the U.K.-based reality show to pay up for defaming him.

Philip Grimmer made it to the semifinals of the show with a tribute to Madonna. He says he was made a laughingstock by Cowell when he appeared on the show last December and that producers made it appear to audiences that he is gay.

"I'm a female impersonator, that's what I put on my application.,” Grimmer told The Sun. “It's my niche, I'm not gay or a transvestite.”

A producer for Britain’s Got Talent’s production company says the show's executives are unaware of any pending suit.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Bruce
    Date posted: 8/5/2010 12:36:53 AM
    Hometown: LA

    Comment:

    Even in the early 80s when I took a sexuality class at NYU, it was well-established that the vast majority of cross-dressers identified as heterosexual. Films like Julie Newmar, Too Wong Foo, and La Cage Aux Folles with Robin Killiams (oops, Williams), just fan the flames of the stereotype that all gay men want to be women and when given the opportunity, will dress as they dress. It's just not true. Perhaps the lawsuit if it proceeds and the man has standing, and the case is summarily dismissed, will do some good by educating the people who are involved and the media who follow it.

  • Name: johann
    Date posted: 8/2/2010 12:01:58 PM
    Hometown: Orange County Ca

    Comment:

    Well....he is pretty...you have to admit.

  • Name: Wes
    Date posted: 8/1/2010 12:09:16 AM
    Hometown: charlotte

    Comment:

    If these show would cut out the sideshow/freakshow wannabe's, this would never have made news. This guy looks about as much like Madonna as I do.

  • Name: Greg
    Date posted: 7/31/2010 6:38:35 PM
    Hometown: Providence RI

    Comment:

    Females should sue this guy for defaming them, judging by his picture. "Grimmer" is certainly a good name for him.

  • Name: Franz
    Date posted: 7/31/2010 3:18:33 PM
    Hometown: Seattle

    Comment:

    I agree that Britain has fucked up what it means to be defamed. No one has to "portray" a man that dresses as a woman as being gay...that's just what the general public has been socialized to believe. I don't think that he even has a case. And he has less of a case against Cowell, who hates everyone.

  • Name: Alex
    Date posted: 7/31/2010 3:13:37 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    I'm not sure I understand why nobody here seems to accept the fact that there might be heterosexual men who like to dress like women. Gender identification does not necessarily imply the type of sexual attraction. Your narrow views about sexuality and its possibilities is astonishingly similar to that of an average homophobic straight man who thinks that every male who doesn't identify with his biological sex and doesn't feel attraction for the opposite deserves scorn and lack of sympathy.

  • Name: Kate
    Date posted: 7/31/2010 11:20:12 AM
    Hometown: New Bern NC

    Comment:

    I was not real clear on the distinction myself, but apparently a 'female impersonator" is a man who dresses as a woman for money; a "transvestite" (often heterosexual) does so because he enjoys it. I can see how there might be some overlap. In his case, I guess what was defamatory is the implication that he enjoys his work ;-D

  • Name: Ryan
    Date posted: 7/31/2010 6:22:16 AM
    Hometown: Boston

    Comment:

    Many courts, at least in the United States, have said that being called gay is not defamatory. Britain has fucked up libel laws, though, so who knows what they'll say.

  • Name: Frank
    Date posted: 7/31/2010 2:40:17 AM
    Hometown: Elk Grove

    Comment:

    He is not gay, he is not transgender or transvestite. Well, I'm relieved because that leaves any potential GLBT support out of the equation. This guy is amazing, you can insult him all you want and don't feel any guilt by self hate or homophobia. After all, who is going to come up to his defense, street mimes? I have no sympathy for Tom Cruise for suing anyone who even insinuating that he was gay, why am I going to be more lenient with, miss whatevers here for doing exactly the same thing.

  • Name: David
    Date posted: 7/31/2010 2:23:54 AM
    Hometown: Indianapolis

    Comment:

    Well just LOOK at him! lol Hasn't he ever watched the show before? Everyone knows this sort of thing happens all the time on these talent shows. Especially when Simon is involved. This almost sounds like he walked in there looking for a lawsuit. A lot of people don't realize there is a difference between a female impersonator and a transvestite.



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