The Shatner/Takei "Feud" Escalates

Beam me up, Scotty.

I feel like I am feeding into a joint publicity stunt that has been created by two old farts desperate for attention, but it is my job to report this kind of stuff, so here it goes:

The war of words between Star Trek's Captain Kirk and Mr. Sulu rages on.

William Shatner has just released another video on his Web site. In it, he responds to George Takei's claim that he did indeed invite Shatner to his wedding.

"Well, he didn't, okay," Shatner tells a woman posing as an interviewer, "and I understand him not inviting me to his wedding."

"I would not expect him to invite me to a place where he'd want to be surrounded by love, and he'd see my little red face poking out there, and look at me and feel whatever enmity he feels, for whatever reason I don't know," Shatner shares, going on to once again speak about how Takei has been mean to him "for decades and decades."

Shatner claims that he has never said anything derogatory about Takei—well, there was the last video in which he suggested that Takei might be suffering from psychosis, Shatner acknowledges, going on to theorize that Takei might be straddling the line between neurosis and psychosis.

So much for playing nice.

Anyway, and here's why I am getting suspicious about this all being a joint publicity stunt, Shatner concludes his latest video by extending an invitation to Takei to come speak to him on his Biography interview show Shatner's Raw Nerve.

Interesting, huh?

We'll see if Takei says yes, confirming my suspicions!

What do you think of the Shatner/Takei feud? Are you caught up in the quibbling? Do you think they're faking it? Are you fed up with it?

Comments

[Randy Veeser]

I think that this is just one way for William Shattner to once again make it in to the spot light. He is still bitter that he didn't get a part in the new Star Trek movie. Pathetic!

[chris]

At this rate he's gonna make Joan Crawford look like a sweet thang.

[Anthony Look]

Takei and his partner were the Master of Ceremonies at the Palm Springs Pride a few weeks back; though I didn't get a chance to speak with them, they appeared to be a very kind and subdued couple; indeed almost shy.
As ridiculous as this Shatner thing goes, it may prove to be just a misunderstanding with Shatner interpreting shyness for disdain. Shatner should take note that he is not making friends in the Gay Community by his boisterous berating; indeed, truth be told he's acting like a drama queen. Come to think of it his acting style; well, let's be nice and not go there.

[OldFartsNeedtoRetire]

definitely a publicity stunt and very trite and pathetic...

[Steve!]

C'mon gay.com
Step up a bit.
I HATE to be JUST a critic---but is this like...Gay Enquirer and..who really wants to know? Writing about this--only perpetuates more of that shallow, sound byte, unintelligent gossip mentality that stalks our culture and very identity.

Try to engage us--our intellect--our sense of a social identity that MATTERS-with more features about world economy, gay rights, adoption, put some gay world history in here (that's relevant to our 21st century place in the evolution of our culture)...

Please don't respond with--oh its just "entertainment".. Theres a feature on organic (ok ok--so its "green") cosmetics, a "fight" between a couple actors and fashion? Unless someone out there can point me to a more intelligent gay rag or website--that's newsworthy--I think gay.com owes it to us--as arguably the foremost virtual link to each other--to be a force that links our sense of what's TRULY valuable, important and can bolster our identity individually and as a whole.

Other than that--cool job on Prop 8 and linking us to the various protests around the country! THAT makes me proud! Not just to be gay--but to exercise my rights as an American. That--to me--is what we CAN be. And should be. And ARE. Active, invested, interested and an interesting culture of men of character, fortitude, from every walk of life.

[Your_Fear]

Who cares?!

Enough said.

[Paul Morralee]

Who cares! You said it Steve! With all that is happening in our society today we have other pressing issues, not to hear someone belly ache about something that is between two people. This is also a shameful way of advertising Shatner's TV show.

[Dan in Plattsburgh, NY]

I agree with Steve! wholeheartedly! This STINKS of another publicity stunt. Looks like Mr. Shatner is bitter over not being cast in the next Star Trek series.
MR: SHATNER: DON'T LOSE HOPE! I HEAR THAT SPEILBERG IS CASTING THE NEXT JURASSIC PARK MOVIE AND HE'S LOOKING FOR DINOSAURS! I'LL BET HE'S GOT A PART WITH YOUR NAME ON IT!!

[Matt]

I completely agree with Steve! I'd like to see substantive news, gay history, and major issues addressed here - not this petty squabble. This is a momentous time in history, and gay rights is the major emerging human rights issue. There are similar problems within the LGBT community, such as transphobia and, among gay men, ageism that is almost never addressed directly. My personal feeling about Shatner is that he is giving vent to antigay prejudice, but again, let's focus on serious issues in which we all have a stake.

[Sean Egan]

WTF???

[opinionator]

To Steve - Why are you complaining about gay.com? Excuse me, this is gay.com. If you are want of substantive news, try the Advocate. Anyway, I believe this is all Perez Hilton's doing. That bitch has his tentacles on everything that's base and vile and shallow. I just want to see him contribute something "substantive" to the human race, like offering up his gelatinous body to science - in a cage preferably.

[Chawly]

I love it! It's entertaining, thats all. And yes, it probably is a publicity stunt by two old farts but what the heck. We'll all be old farts one of these days, if we're lucky, and at least Capt. Kirk is giving us a good example of how not to act... and carry on hehe. Keep it up!

[Todd]

I think Shatner genuinely doesn't get Takei's (and Nichols' - Uhura - as well) ill feelings toward him. What happened between them 40 years ago, which seems to be primarily on Takei's side anyway, no altercation seems to have actually occurred, seems mostly irrelevant today. Shatner has never - ever - said a negative word about his 'Star Trek' co-stars, but they have had plenty unkind and unflattering things to say about him. Maybe he is a ham actor with delusions of grandeur, people have done much worse. He also has had 3 series on television to Takei's 1, plus enormous success as a sci-fi author and work in movies and lending his famous voice to a number of documentaries and science and history channel programs. It seems likely to me that Shatner, ever the ham is milking this a bit, but so far I haven't seen him say anything demeaning about Takei or taking any cheap shots. It certainly is not a story about gay discrimination or homophobia: Shatner seems wholly unconcerned with that aspect of the affair, it seems his feelings were a little hurt about not being invited. And George Takei can be a bitchy, nasty queen, I think all of us who have ever known who he is could attest to that.

[keygrip20]

Spielberg, I think it was, did an episode on his "Amazing Stories" series where a frustrated man pointed the tv remote at his wife and pressed the MUTE button, which shut her up. I wish it would work on Shatner. I'm sink of hearing his voice - it drives me insane. Where's Spock and his shoulder pinch when we need him?

[would pay a dime for this]

just goes to show why on this Veterans day the huge gap between reality and "reality TV" just grows larger in America.

Steve makes a comment asking the largest online media channel for the world wide gay community and he gets called down and told to go to " The Advocate".

Gays (and Americans in general) get what they deserve. and only what they work for. This is your reward oh great gay community.

Enjoy

[Todd]

Shatner is not venting antigay feelings. I think he's genuinely puzzled over Takei's ill feelings toward him. Whatever happened between them over 40 years ago seems a little...petty today. And Takei has said frankly unflattering things about William Shatner during that time. Shatner seems more hurt at having been snubbed than anything, and has in fact never previously said anything even remotely negative about any of his 'Star Trek' co-stars. Any 'Trek' fan can also probably tell you that George Takei can be a very bitchy, nasty queen, though generally a witty, gracious, and honorable man. Shatner's milking it, of course, he's in his 70s and enjoys attention. I hope Takei takes the high road from here on, but somehow I doubt this is the last time it'll come up.

[David]

I am getting somewhat tired of the Takei-Shatner Drama. I don't know whom to believe. I can see this issue from BOTH sides. For some reason, I don't see Shatner as being Homophobic. However, Mr. Takei has know Shatner much longer than any of us. I wish Mr. Takei and his LEGAL husband much happiness now and always :) I will pray for the Prop 8 to be "overturned". These fricking Mormons are psycho!

[Bruce]

I don't think Shatner cares one way or the other, and yes he does have a book to hype. It is well known that on the sets of ST (the tv and movie sets) that Shatner was pals with Nimoy and DeForest Kelley and virtually ignored, if not snubbed, the other cast members.

[Lou]

Shatner is just trying to cause drama as always, and needs to stop being his sappy self as always