There is no denying that Tom Selleck was America’s heartthrob in the 80s. But for the machismo (and mustache!) that sealed his status as a major sex symbol, the actor has long faced rumors about his sexual orientation.
Selleck has denied persistent charges that he’s homosexual and even pursued a $20 million lawsuit against a tabloid to put an end to the speculation. Take a look at the unusual circumstances that led to this notorious bit of gossip and find out why there’s no truth to the rumor that Tom Selleck is gay.
Tom Selleck vs. The Globe
Selleck’s reputation as a dreamboat led to garden variety gossip about his sexual orientation in the 1980s and 90s. But the actor drew a line in the sand after one particular story was published in a July 1991 edition of The Globe.
Earlier that year, a group of gay activists called Outpost attempted to “out” various public figures by plastering placards of their faces around New York City.
A photo of Selleck with the phrase “absolutely queer” was included in the campaign.
The Globe, a supermarket tabloid with a circulation of 1.2 million, published photos of the posters for a story titled “‘Gay’ Stars Stop Traffic.” After the paper refused to publish a retraction, Selleck sued them for libel and invasion of privacy.
A 16-page complaint claimed that the story was “intended … to directly injure [him] with respect to his family relationships, reputation, character, profession, trade, or business, among other things.” In addition to $20 million, the actor sought unspecified damages for “shame, mortification, hurt feelings, embarrassment and humiliation, and damage to his peace of mind.”
‘The Globe’ Was Forced To Publicly Apologize
By August 1991, he settled out of court with the publication for an undisclosed sum. However, as part of the settlement, The Globe agreed to publish an apology, which read in part: “By publishing the article, the Globe did not intend to express or imply that Tom Selleck is or ever was a homosexual.”
Selleck made sure to clarify that his suit was not a condemnation of homosexuals.
“Look, it’s not anti-gay to say you’re not gay,” Selleck said in a 1997 interview with The Morning Call. “When The Globe printed the gay story, I had made a commitment to my wife, who’d given birth to my daughter. I have a 29-year-old (step)son. This tabloid was implying that I was leading a double life. It was hurtful to other people, which is where I draw the line.”
Tom’s First Gay Character Movie Role
But the rumors didn’t stop Selleck from taking on the role of a gay man in the 1997 film In & Out. In the movie, he played a closeted TV reporter whose sexual orientation was exposed by a tabloid years earlier. It was a familiar premise, and he hoped that a stunning male-on-male kissing scene would put a stop to charges that he was a homophobe.
“Because I had sued several tabloids for falsely saying I was gay, people were saying I was anti-gay,” Selleck said in a 2015 issue of TV Guide. “Playing the role ended both those rumors.”
We Can Confirm That Tom Selleck Isn’t Gay
Taking him at his word, Tom Selleck is decidedly heterosexual. The actor is twice married. His first wife, model Jacqueline Ray, was married to the actor from 1971 to 1982. Selleck also adopted her son, musician Kevin Shephard.
In 1987, after a courtship with the actress (and Tom Cruise’s ex-wife) Mimi Rogers, Selleck married English actress Jillie Mack. Mack gave birth to their daughter, Hannah, one year later.
(Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com)
After three decades, the couple is still happily married, and Selleck seems no longer bothered by accusations to the contrary.
“I don’t know where it comes from,” he told TV Guide, referring to the rumors that he’s gay. “I guess some folks who are gay want me to be gay. That’s fine with me. You haven’t made it until people want to make up things about you.”