Thomas Dekker Responds to "Heroes" Gay Controversy

Actor Thomas Dekker who played Zach, the infamous gay/straight character on NBC's "Heroes" has responded to the gay controversy surrounding his exit from the show by saying: "I, nor my management have ever had any kind of problem with creating a gay character," directly contradicting the show's executive producer Bryan Fuller. Who is the liar? Fuller or Dekker?

As you may have read last week, executive producer Bryan Fuller of NBC's "Heroes" revealed in an interview more details about the "Heroes" gay controversy saying the management of actor Thomas Dekker insisted, once it had become clear that the writers were going to make his character gay, that the storyline be nixed and ended up pulling the actor off the show. "It got really ugly," said Fuller.

Now, Dekker responds to the controversy for the first time on his My Space page with a statement that does seem to allow for the idea that he was not happy with the direction of the storyline, but claims that had nothing to do with the character's sexuality, but rather him not being under the impression the character was going to be straight and playing it out in that way.

I personally find too many vague points in his statement including the section about "a combination of miscommunication, confusion, surprise and last minute decisions" that does little to explain what really happened.

Also, if he takes himself as such a serious actor why was it such a problem to adjust the portrayal of the character to the storyline development?

You be the judge. Here is the actor's full statement:


"Hello everyone, this is Thomas.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for all their messages and comments on my page.

For those of you interested in my music, I am in the middle of working in the studio on my second album right now, and your support is especially appreciated at this time.

For those of you who have sent me messages regarding "Heroes," and more importantly "the gay controversy", I hope my words of explanation will not fall on deaf ears or hearts.

I am truly sorry for what transpired on the series and who it has effected. I have been shown a lot of, to be blunt, hate mail directed at me and my manager for the way the character of Zach played out.

I would like it to be known by everyone, that I have played a gay character three times before in my career, one when I was twelve (which is on youtube), one when I was fifteen, and another when I was seventeen.

I, nor my management have ever had any kind of problem with creating a gay character. To me acting is about being prepared to play all kinds of roles and it is an honor and a challenge to portray ANYTHING that comes my way.

What transpired on "Heroes" is something far more complicated than anyone being "afraid" to make Zach homosexual. The character that I created in the beginning of the show, a process I take very seriously, was based on Zach being an outcast who had a burning love for Claire, a crush that drew him to her and effected every ounce of his self esteem around her.

I created the character that way because it was WRITTEN IN THE ORIGINAL SCRIPT that he was in love with Claire. Please do remember, I was never under contract with "Heroes". I was hired per episode, and was not informed in the beginning of the series, of any planned character arc, because I was told there wasn't one.

What ensued later was a combination of miscommunication, confusion, surprise and last minute desicions, not a knee jerk reaction from me or my team.

Lastly, I want to make it VERY clear that me leaving Heroes has NOTHING to do with this "gay controversy".

You will notice, I filmed five or so more episodes after the situation, and only at that point, months later, did I even begin to audition for Sarah Connor Chronicles. Only then, once I got the part of John, was I not permitted to do any more episodes of "Heroes." That's just how television networks work.

I write this because I believe it is only fair, that you know what actually happened and how, and not what you are being told in other areas of information. mis-information.

I would love at some point in the future to play a gay character, that I was aware was intended to be gay, that I had a chance to know, and a chance to really infuse with the performance that THAT character would deserve.

Thank you for your time, your support, and to those that this situation has hurt, I, and everyone affiliated with the series are truly sorry.

Yours,
Thomas Dekker"

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