#morality clauses

[ellewantsrevenge]

[frommybookbook]

Fuck "Morality" Clauses

I'm getting towards the tail end of S3 of Perry Mason and something just feels...off. The last few episodes I've watched just haven't been great. It doesn't feel like the main cast has had their heart in it, and after doing some reading, I'm realizing why.

The episodes in question aired in April of 1960. The timing here is very important because in March of 1960, William Talman, the actor who played District Attorney Hamilton Burger, was arrested after a raid on a party he attended. CBS cited the morals clause in his contract and fired him from the show. Morality clauses weren't uncommon in Hollywood in this era, in fact nearly every contract had one. But invoking them wasn't particularly common. Talman was eventually reinstated in December of 1960, after lobbying by show producer Gail Patrick, the rest of the cast, and a letter writing campaign from fans.

With this in mind, it makes total sense that the rest of the main cast—Raymond Burr, William Hopper, Barbara Hale, and Ray Collins—would seem off their game and not as vibrant as usual in the episodes of the show that aired beginning in April of 1960. It's also worth noting that the two episodes of the show that aired in March of that year are not available to stream currently, my theory is that those episodes featured Talman and were filmed before his arrest and firing but have since been "erased" from the record.

Raymond Burr was a gay man, by 1960 he had met his life partner, Robert Benevides (on the set of Perry Mason), whom he would be with until his death in 1993. William Hopper was also said to be gay, or bisexual, though much more private about it than Burr. For both of them, the threat of their own "morality" clauses had to be a constant source of anxiety and fear.

By all accounts, Barbara Hale and Ray Collins were fiercely loyal friends. Hale in particular remained extremely close with Burr for the rest of his life (tragically, Collins, Hopper, and Talman all died very shortly after Perry Mason went off the air). Seeing their friend persecuted (unjustly) couldn't have been a good feeling.

All that to say, the firing of William Talman couldn't have done much to create a pleasant working environment, to say the least. I like to think that the fact that (at least so far), there hasn't been a new DA, only a series of deputy DAs, means that Raymond Burr, Gail Patrick, and others were actively fighting for Talman's return from the start and were working to ensure that no one else would be the District Attorney for LA County on their watch.

[mafaldaknows]

All this talk of shamming and how it’s a necessary evil – it’s not – made me think about Richard Madden and how much I respect him for how he manages his career and private life. Granted, Timmy wants a career on a different level but Richard is the living proof that you can have your cake and eat it too. Hopefully Timmy’s team won’t be that greedy and understand that mental health is more important than box office results in the long run. And Armie and his (non-existent) team get it that it’s okay to not be constantly attached to a female and super duper straight in public. Richard is still following Armie – even after his scandal – so maybe Armie should hit him up about some advice because let’s face it, the people around him are complete shit at it.

Hello, Anon:

If shamming is not a necessary evil, then why do the powers that be in Hollywood still insist on it, even in the 21st century? I would like to think that most reasonable adult moviegoers don’t care what actors do in their private lives or with whom, they just want to watch a great movie. But deep-pocketed investors, and the producers and studio execs who must pander to them don’t want to risk alienating audiences in countries where homosexuality is against the law.

I saw DUNE twice in the last two weeks and not once during the entire 2 hours and 35 minutes either time did I pause to consider any of the details of the cast members’ personal lives.

Somehow someone decided that even in this day and age that antiquated morality clauses for performers were still necessary in order for movies to succeed at the box office. I couldn’t give a 💩 about who anyone in a movie goes home to at the end of the work day or spends their weekends with. Only the most judgmental of assholes could possibly care about such an inconsequential detail about someone else that’s none of their business to begin with, and that has no bearing on their own lives.

I don’t get it either, Anon. I would love to see more performers defy this bigotry to find the confidence and strength to live their lives freely, on their own terms, like Richard Madden. But there is also something to be said for playing the game well enough to gain the leverage and power to change the system from the inside out.

Patience, darlings. These things take time.

Thanks for your comment. 💜🌈❤️🧿

[ajw720]

Finally got a copy of Stranger than Fanfiction. Only read chapter 1, so no real spoilers. But I can't stop laughing at the haters. Cash Carter is the perfect combination of Darren and Chris. A person tied to a contract with a morality clause at risk for being sued for any violation. What more does Chris have to do to get his point across? If you claim to be his fan. Pay attention to what he is saying to you. No wonder the haters have been attacking so much. Reason to doubt indeed.

[kaleid-tay-scope]

@taytaysbeard can you imagine if this...

"♠️ The turn of the decade befalls the facade."

Means Taylor Swift co when she wins artist of the decade? And exposes her previous "'morality" contract clauses??

I doubt but I can wonder. ✨🌈🌙

[ajw720]

Do you know what a morality clause is? It's about CRIMINAL OFFENSES. Not what it was 100 years ago which is your constant and very "convenient" fallback. Robert Downey Jr had a morality clause related to his drug use. At one point he couldn't even be bonded - do you know about bonding in HW? DO YOU? Mark Salling had to use his insurance to settle with the girl who wanted to sue him - DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ACTOR'S INSURANCE? Cash Carter is likeRobert Downey Jr. There is no hint of no Darren anywhere.

Dear Anon,

In fact, I did invite people to send me asks with rational, intelligent arguments. But sadly for you, you clearly have no idea what a morality clause is and how far it can reach.

Agreed, a morality clause absolutely includes criminal acts but it is much more encompassing than that.  Here is what Wikipedia has to say:

A morals clause is a provision within instruments of a contract which curtail, or restrain, or proscribe certain behavior of individuals or party(s) to the contract.A moral clause within contracts used as a means of holding the individual or party(s) to a certain behavioral standard so as not to bring disrepute, contempt or scandal to other individual or party to the contract and their interests. It attempts to preserve a public and private image of such a party to the contract. In essence one party to the contract is purchasing the other party’s good name or reputation. These clauses are most seen in contracts betweenactors and actresses and their studios, athletes and their organization or proprietors of a product that the athlete(s) may endorse or as a part of a marital settlement. Commonly proscribed activity include the use or abuse ofalcohol, the use of illegal drugs or narcotics or illegal or illicit sexual activity. 

While engaging in homosexual acts are becoming more and more accepted by society, many religious groups and societies still consider this to be an illicit sexual activity (X). 

Here is another definition of a Morals Clause from USLEGAL.Com

A morals clause is a provision in a contract or official document that prohibits certain behavior in a person’s private life. They deal with behavior such as sexual acts and drug use. They were commonly used in the contract between actors/actresses and film studios to uphold the public image sought to be portrayed by the studio. Morals clauses are included today in certain contracts of public figures, such as athletes, actors/actresses, and others.

And here is a sample morality clause that was leaked from an MTV Reality Show personality’s contract and published by TMZ

As you can see,it includes “any public act that brings the Artist into public disrespect, scandal, contempt, or ridicule that shocks, insults, or offends a substantial group or community or reflects unfavorably on the Artist or Producer….”  

Do you live in the same world where i do? The one where one of the most powerful countries just elected a Vice President who believes in conversion therapy? Don’t delude yourself. While there are so many wonderful, accepting people, there are still so many that live in 1950 and are offended by the thought of homosexuality. The Catholic Church still teaches that it is a sin.  Homosexuality is still illegal in 74 countries and punishable by death in 12. (X)

And here is one final article that confirms that Studios do in fact keep actors from revealing their sexuality through the use of morals clauses (X). Specifically the article states:

Hollywood studios can legally keep actors and actresses in the closet. And the very easy answer is: Yes, yes they can.  It’s called a “morals clause,” and most stars of television series and even some movies have them.

Anon, before you crawl into my box and send an anonymous ask. And I know you have done so multiple times before, please do your research. Because what your wrote is completely inaccurate and completely naive.

Please stop denying what has been laid in front of you. And if you do choose to continue to live in denial, please stop reading my blog. You aren’t going to change my mind. You are just proving that you are scared of the truth.

[kaleid-tay-scope]

When everyone finds out that big machine is a homophobic record label, what do you guys think about the future of the artists still contracted with big machine? Will they be affected for a long while or not at all? Or it will be different based on their responses?

[yerbevan]

Opinion | Must Writers Be Moral? Their Contracts May Require It

“No way. I’m not signing that,” a New Yorker writer said when she saw the terms.

Cult of personality marches on. Check the writing and see if it measures up to industry standards. --Bevan