Current Events > Christina Ricci: "Johnny Depp taught me what gay was"

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https://www.justjared.com/2022/08/04/christina-ricci-learned-what-being-gay-means-from-johnny-depp/2/

Christina Ricci is sharing an interesting new detail about her longtime acting relationship with Johnny Depp.

The 42-year-old actress sat down for an interview with Andy Cohen on SiriusXMs Andy Cohen Live on his exclusive SiriusXM channel Radio Andy.

During the conversation, she revealed how, as a 9-year-old, she learned about being gay during a phone call with Johnny Depp, courtesy of Winona Ryder.

When asked if Johnny Depp was on set with her when they shot Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, she said: Yes. Yes. And Johnny [Depp] is actually the person who explained to me what homosexuality was when I was nine.

There was something going on on-set and someone was not being nice to someone else. And they were like, oh, well he might be homophobic. And then I was like, well, I dont understand what that is. And, and I was in Winonas [Ryder] trailer and she was like, I dont know how.. so she put me on the phone with Johnny. And Johnny explained it to me, Christinasaid.

And like the simplest terms yeah. He was like, its when a man wants to have sex with a man. And when a woman wants to have sex with a woman and I was like, ah okay.

This is on the set of [1990's] Mermaids, she clarified of when she had that phone conversation, When I was nine. My first movie set. Just very matter of factly. Like I just did.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/0/9/AAaB-xAADhzt.jpg

The simplest explanation is often the best.

Based

"And that's when Johnny taught me how to be gay" became the new Albert Einstein meme.

ZannoL posted...

During the conversation, she revealed how, as a 9-year-old

And like the simplest terms yeah. He was like, its when a man wants to have sex with a man. And when a woman wants to have sex with a woman and I was like, ah okay.

I'm for kids knowing that LGBT means and all, but that's a blunt way to approach it with a 9 year old.

SquantoZ posted...

The simplest explanation is often the best.

This

TBF we could just say when a woman likes a woman and when a man likes another man. Using sex in the example to a young kid only gives ammo to homophobic conservatives.

Sayoria posted...

I'm for kids knowing that LGBT means and all, but that's a blunt way to approach it with a 9 year old.

Yeah, That was a little too straight forward. Not sure if talking sex to a 9 year old that isn't your child is the smart thing to do.

When my kids (who where 7 and 4 at the time) asked why my brother-in-law always brought his boyfriend (and eventual husband) to all the family dinners and vacations, we simply said "you know how mom and dad really love each other and decided to live together and then get married? That's how Uncle John feels about Eric. He really loves him and they're probably going to get married."

They both just kinda gave an "Oh, OK"

Sayoria posted...

I'm for kids knowing that LGBT means and all, but that's a blunt way to approach it with a 9 year old.

This. Could have just said that a man can love a man the same way a man can love a woman.

You mean she was told at age 9 that gay people exist and it didnt force her to be gay?

CARRRNE_ASADA posted...

TBF we could just say when a woman likes a woman and when a man likes another man. Using sex in the example to a young kid only gives ammo to homophobic conservatives.

They will oppose it no matter how 'clean' you make it.

I'm just confused why Winona Ryder would call up Johnny Depp for the purpose of explaining homosexuality to a child. Famous people are fucking weird.

Her face is too big for her face.
See also: Anne Hathaway.

Derwood posted...

Her face is too big for her face.
See also: Anne Hathaway.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/2/3/AAaB-xAADhz7.jpg

Im not saying "sex" directly to a 9 year old >_>. My hope is that they keep their Innocence until puberty so that they can just enjoy being a kid without thinking about grown people shit. It's not like she was in any situation where it was even personally relevant. Iunno. Weird. But if it helped her in the long run, cool, I guess.

Seems like Johnny didn't have any motives, but if a grown man was talking to my 9 year old about sex, We're gonna have a long sit down so I can see how you felt that was even remotely necessary. A woman as well. But, men got a worse reputation, so, it hits different. Then we talkin men in Hollywood? Sheeesh. We're definitely having a sit-down

DeadBankerDream posted...

I'm just confused why Winona Ryder would call up Johnny Depp for the purpose of explaining homosexuality to a child. Famous people are fucking weird.

lol

DeadBankerDream posted...

I'm just confused why Winona Ryder would call up Johnny Depp for the purpose of explaining homosexuality to a child. Famous people are fucking weird.

Because they were dating at the time and Winona knew he could give the best straightforward answer without casting any judgment on the subject.

Remember this was the 90s so it was still taboo back then.

wtf

Man some people really don't want kids to know gay people exist

I feel sorry for the pearls that are being so viciously clutched to the point of shattering in here

Lol. This could have been an actual scene in the movie Mermaids, for anyone who's seen it (Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci are sisters)

bigblu89 posted...

Yeah, That was a little too straight forward. Not sure if talking sex to a 9 year old that isn't your child is the smart thing to do.

When my kids (who where 7 and 4 at the time) asked why my brother-in-law always brought his boyfriend (and eventual husband) to all the family dinners and vacations, we simply said "you know how mom and dad really love each other and decided to live together and then get married? That's how Uncle John feels about Eric. He really loves him and they're probably going to get married."

They both just kinda gave an "Oh, OK"

i KNOW i got the full talk for the first time when i was 2 (Obviously dont remember anything of it... but i dont recall the last time i was confused about the subject either), but yeah.

I doubt i would have used the word Sex to a 9 year old, but you could easily substitute that with "Being in love", or "Dating" i suppose.

But then again, it seems to have worked, and maybe the somewhat more rough language was necessary? i cant say.

Are moms not typically on set with their 9 year old children? I feel like it's weird that Ryder and Depp even needed to step in

Instead of making it about sex I'd probably describe it as a man who loves men or a woman who loves women. But I think that leaves some room for confusion because love has so many meanings.

HairyQueen posted...

I feel sorry for the pearls that are being so viciously clutched to the point of shattering in here

Youre really going to act like he could have used love instead of sex when describing homosexuality to the 9 year old is some crazy prudish pearl clutching stance?

Tenlaar posted...

Youre really going to act like he could have used love instead of sex when describing homosexuality to the 9 year old is some crazy prudish pearl clutching stance?

Acting like this is in any way a deal of any size is pearl-clutching nonsense.

Sayoria posted...

I'm for kids knowing that LGBT means and all, but that's a blunt way to approach it with a 9 year old.

It was a simple, honest explanation that a nine year old could immediately understand, and it wasn't graphic.

Relax.

Tenlaar posted...

Youre really going to act like he could have used love instead of sex when describing homosexuality to the 9 year old is some crazy prudish pearl clutching stance?

If you're going to react like this, then yes.

meh, most kids learn about sex in school when they're 9 or 10 anyway. and judging from her response she knew what it was already.

If you dont want to be an abused child actor you have to be aware of what sex is or have to be very well protected

Tenlaar posted...

Youre really going to act like he could have used love instead of sex when describing homosexuality to the 9 year old is some crazy prudish pearl clutching stance?

I see why some have an issue with it but it's frankly crazy that people don't think 9-year-olds should know what sex is and that adults who love each other do it.

Sometimes the direct answer is better.
https://youtu.be/lqouUMUzFLc

DeadBankerDream posted...

I'm just confused why Winona Ryder would call up Johnny Depp for the purpose of explaining homosexuality to a child. Famous people are fucking weird.

I think she was still in high school at the time (or at least high school age) so she probably thought it was better for an adult to explain it?

DeadBankerDream posted...

I'm just confused why Winona Ryder would call up Johnny Depp for the purpose of explaining homosexuality to a child.

He's commented on social elements like that before without it ending in riots after his head. Wouldn't surprise me if he was also talented at explaining it without hitting someone over the head with rainbows. On the other hand, some other people don't feel as confident to bluntly explain a sensitive topic like that to a child, but will at least attempt to hand it off to someone they know who can. Both reactions are reasonable.

Kids who don't get satisfactory answers will seek them somewhere else anyway. Better the explanation comes from people conscientious about the child's welfare and careful about the answer instead of some slob who just completely sends a horrifyingly morbid impression that gives the kid nightmares.

Famous people are fucking weird.

This is also true.

DrizztLink posted...

If you're going to react like this, then yes.

React like what, exactly?

DeadBankerDream posted...

I'm just confused why Winona Ryder would call up Johnny Depp for the purpose of explaining homosexuality to a child. Famous people are fucking weird.

I know that they were dating at the time. They met at a movie premiere and started dating in 1989. Mermaids was shot in 1989 and released in 1990.

Winona was probably too uncomfortable explaining it so she just let her boyfriend handle it.

Tenlaar posted...

React like what, exactly?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jFqhjaGh30

Maybe I'm different but I knew what sex was at 9. I didn't know the ins and outs of it. But I had a decent grasp of what was involved. Only part where I was more innocent was I thought good people only did it for kids where as others did it for fun.

HairyQueen posted...

Sometimes the direct answer is better.
https://youtu.be/lqouUMUzFLc

lmao classic

Sufferedphoneix posted...

Maybe I'm different but I knew what sex was at 9. I didn't know the ins and outs of it. But I had a decent grasp of what was involved. Only part where I was more innocent was I thought good people only did it for kids where as others did it for fun.

Yeah even small children understand "There's a hole and a thing that goes in the hole" even if they don't know the science behind it.

People act like kids are a lot more stupid than they really are.

Guns_of_Verdun posted...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jFqhjaGh30

Well thats not even remotely accurate.

What a random story but can we talk about how great Mermaids was? I watched it for the first time last year and it idk just made me feel some things. Wonderful movie