CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
John J. O'Connor, a television critic for The New York Times whose 25-year tenure included the coming-out of Ellen DeGeneres in 1997, died on Friday at age 76. The cause was lung cancer, according to Seymour Barofsky, his partner of 47 years.
An obituary published in The New York Times said that O'Connor joined the newspaper as a television critic in 1971 and retired in 1997. The Bronx native chronicled an industry undergoing sweeping changes, including the advent of the miniseries, the rise of cable, and the groundbreaking Ellen episode.
"Mr. O'Connor remained on the job just long enough to review the 1997 coming-out episode of Ellen DeGeneres's sitcom Ellen," reported the Times. "He found it 'a sensitive transition' made with 'refreshing candor and disarming humor.' He marveled, however, that what is often 'a delicate, if not traumatic' rite of passage for gay men and women was now being used as 'a promotional tool.'"
DON'T MISS THE OUT100 SPECIAL 3 DAY MARATHON STARTING NOVEMBER 24TH!
Journey through the year’s influential Out100 – the most iconic and long-standing celebration of LGBTQ+ icons and allies – in a 1-hour television special spotlighting the LGBTQ+ people shaping the world today.
WATCH & LIVESTREAM ON ADVOCATECHANNEL.COM
AND ON THE ADVOCATE CHANNEL APP
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lauren Boebert Caught Fondling Date’s Genitals During Family-Friendly Musical: Video
September 15 2023 11:20 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Prosecutors Say Nonbinary Mexican Magistrate Died in Horrific Murder-Suicide
November 25 2023 1:45 PM
Most Americans Don’t Want States Able to Ban Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Kids
November 24 2023 11:55 AM
Log Cabin Republicans President on Giving Antigay Mike Johnson 'The Benefit of the Doubt'
November 24 2023 8:53 AM
Stephen Miller's Legal Firm Sues Arizona School District Over Trans-Supportive Policies
November 23 2023 12:17 PM
Mike Johnson Says His High School Friends Would Have Claimed to Be Trans to Spy on Girls
November 22 2023 5:00 PM