John Wayne, the Hollywood icon who died on June 11, 1979, was named one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute in 1999. However, two decades later, his legacy suffered a severe blow when a 1971 Playboy interview resurfaced in 2019.
The interview quickly went viral, sparking massive backlash due to Wayne's explicit use of slurs and bigoted remarks against the LGBTQ+ community, Black people, and Native Americans. While decades-old interviews often raise eyebrows when viewed through a modern lens, Wayne's remarks were so extreme that they reframed his entire career.
Wayne's Controversial Comments
During the interview with Richard Warren Lewis, Wayne raged against what he called "perverted films," specifically naming Easy Rider and Midnight Cowboy, both released in 1969. Despite the films' critical acclaim—Easy Rider earned two Oscar nominations and Midnight Cowboy won three—Wayne used a homophobic slur to describe the actors. He then extolled the virtues of heterosexual intercourse, which was the least disturbing part of the conversation.
Wayne also railed against African Americans and acknowledged his support for white supremacy. "We can't all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks. I don't believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people," he said. Regarding slavery, he declared: "I don't feel guilty about the fact that five or 10 generations ago these people were slaves. Now, I'm not condoning slavery. It's just a fact of life..."
Additionally, Wayne defended the taking of land from Native Americans. "Our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves," he fumed.
Fallout and Legacy
While Wayne was known as one of Hollywood's staunchest conservatives, his views were extreme even for his era. However, cancel culture did not exist then, so his career remained intact. In 2019, the public was less forgiving. The University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts removed a prominent John Wayne exhibition after student protests. Politicians in Southern California passed emergency resolutions calling for the removal of his name from John Wayne Orange County Airport, though these efforts ultimately failed.
Wayne's family and defenders argued the remarks were taken out of context. His son Ethan Wayne publicly stated that the late actor was "not a racist" and felt his true feelings were misrepresented. Despite his controversial remarks, Wayne was reportedly good friends with gay actor Rock Hudson. In another interview, Wayne reportedly said: "Life's too short. Who the hell cares if he's q****?" It remains unclear whether Wayne was trying to be provocative in his Playboy interview, but the impact on his legacy is undeniable.
