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NEW: Brown Prof Apologizes for Comments on Politicians’ Sexuality

Saturday, January 04, 2014

GoLocalProv Political Team

The Open Mic fallout has begun. Brown University Professor Wendy Schiller has apologized for commenting that certain high profile RI politicians are gay.

The story reported by GoLocal included the transcript of a taping of a WJAR-10 political segment in which political reporter Bill Rappleye and Brown University's Schiller claimed to know that they had insider knowledge from the Police that Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and other high profile elected and appointed officials are gay.

In Schiller's apologies via Twitter she said, "My apologies for live mike comments about RI politicos private lives. I made a mistake, I am sorry, and it won't happen again." and in a second tweet, "I should not be talking about RI politicos private lives that way. Sorry to have done so."

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WJAR Refuses Comment, Rappleye Tweets

WJAR has refused comment, but Bill Rappleye did Tweet, "Not so huge that reporter hears, shares rumors. Bad form to do it with microphone attached."

Dufault and Carcieri

Open Mic bring backs strong memories of the 2005 episode in which former Democratic Party Chairman Guy Dufault and former GOP Chairman Mike Levesque were caught on a tape commenting about the personal life of then-Governor Don Carcieri.

At the time, Carcieri aggressively pursued apologies from both Dufault and Levesque, which they issued. The Providence Journal's political reporter M. Charles Bakst wrote, "For someone who makes a living by giving people public relations and political advice, former Democratic state chairman Guy Dufault is stunningly inept in handling the furor he created by claiming to have dirt that could destroy Republican Don Carcieri."

Both Levesque and Dufault publicly apologized for their comments.

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Missing Providence Journal

The Providence Journal, who wrote more than a dozen stories, columns and editorials on the Dufault/Levesque and Carcieri episode, have yet to report on the Channel 10 open mic, while national media bloggers have posted the story, including Jim Romenesko.

The original episode was spotted by Miles Grant and first reported on Twitter - READ TRANSCRIPT BELOW.

New York City reporter Stephen Miller than pushed the story via Tumblr.

(beginning at 9:45 in the video file)

Bill Rappleye: “It was from a cop.”

Wendy Schiller: “A cop?”

Bill: “And he says one reason you might think it’s true is, you notice all the Cicilline holdovers — his drivers are still on the job. They’re discrete with the former mayor. They’re not going to [inaudible] —”

Wendy: “Yeah but nobody in Providence cares if he’s gay. Nobody in the state cares if he’s gay.”

Bill: “Yeah, but then why’d he get married?”

Wendy: “That was because old Catholic women do not like it if you have a kid out of wedlock and don’t marry the woman. That’s a different demographic.”

Bill: “Neither do I as a matter of fact. I don’t like that either.”

Wendy: “So that’s a different demographic. David Cicilline is gay. Nobody cared.”

Bill: “Right but —”

Wendy: “He was always gay though. I mean, and Gordon Fox was always gay — nobody ever tried to hide it, right?”

Bill: “Yeah but Gordon didn’t come out until the surprise at the state house one day, at the rally. Others have never come out.”

Wendy: “Avesi — It’s got to be Azunya (sic).” [ed: Scott Avedesian? Schiller was unclear here.]

Bill: “Steve Costantino, he never came out.”

Wendy: “Oh, I didn’t know he was gay.”

Bill: “Well, it’s accepted that he is. It’s called the Velvet Mafia up there.”

Note: I am not familiar enough with RI politics to identify who Wendy is referring to by “Azunya,” though the beginning of her comments indicate she is referring to Scott Avedesian. Help, anyone?

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Kate Brierley

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NEW: Rappleye, Schiller Caught Speculating Politicians’ Sexuality

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