Letters threaten actors(Taye Diggs & wife Idina Menzel recieve death threats)

newsday.com ^ | 12 5 04 | ROCCO PARASCANDOLA AND DEBORAH S. MORRIS

[freepatriot32]

Threatening letters critical of the interracial marriage between a Tony Award-winning white actress in the Broadway smash "Wicked" and Taye Diggs, a popular black film and TV actor, have sparked a NYPD probe and an increase in security at the famed Gershwin Theatre, sources said.

One of the letters "threatens bodily harm to Taye Diggs," according to a police source. That letter was received Wednesday by Jed Bernstein, president of the League of American Theaters and Producers, the industry's major trade group, with offices on West 47th Street.

Sources said that before Wednesday, two other handwritten letters were sent to the Gershwin Theatre, on West 51st Street, addressed to Diggs' wife, Idina Menzel, who stars there in "Wicked," a revisionist look at the "Wizard of Oz."

"The letters go on and on about their marriage," a second source says. "They say they're each a sellout to their race."

[cyborg]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004875/

[cyncooper]

It is very weird, especially since it was tied to the inauguration of President Bush!

Oh, I see you sent a link...thanks in advance!

[cyncooper]

Cute!

And one of the actors to break out of soaps, I see.

[cyncooper]

BTW, just to be clear: I don't HOPE this is a publicity stunt, I just suspect it right off the bat because I'd never heard of either and, well, now I have. However, my mind is open and if they are being targeted and threatened I hope those harrassers are found and stopped. Real threats and comments like that would be extremely upsetting, in addition to frightening since physical violence is threatened.

[cyborg]

Some people have issues. I have my ideas of who wrote these letters. Bet I can find some women who would agree. Look at that four eyed witch Julianne Malveaux!

[cyborg]

I hope it's not a publicity stunt either. You never know with hollyweird.

[Lijahsbubbe]

I'm in my car thinking "Like Clarence Thomas?" What kooks.

LOL!

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

It hasn't been an issue for about 40 years.

I'm not sure that I'm following you. I know that laws against interracial marriage were overturned about 40 years ago, but that doesn't mean that people aren't still criticized for it. This article, as well as the experiences of friends of mine, are proof of it.

[cyncooper]

I have personal experience with this, too, and while there will always be a fringe element of bigotry, it is not the stigma it used to be. Not even close.

[baseballfanjm]

True, true.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

...it is not the stigma it used to be.

Thankfully, that is true.

And thanks for clarifying. I'm a little slow on the uptake tonight.

[freepatriot32]

Actor - filmography (In Production) (2000s) (1990s) Rent (2005) (pre-production) .... Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III Cake (2005) (filming) Slow Burn (2004) (post-production) "Kevin Hill" (2004) TV Series .... Kevin Hill Drum (2004) .... Henry Nxumalo IFP Gotham Awards 2003 (2003) (TV) .... Presenter Malibu's Most Wanted (2003) .... Sean Basic (2003) .... Pike ... aka Formation extrême (Canada: French title) Chicago (2002) .... The Bandleader Equilibrium (2002) .... Brandt ... aka Cubic (Europe: English title: video title) Brown Sugar (2002) .... Andre Romulus 'Dre' EllisDre ... aka Seven Days Cross the Line (2002) .... Jamal Boy Just a Kiss (2002) (uncredited) .... Andre New Best Friend (2002) .... Artie Bonner The Way of the Gun (2000) .... Jeffers House on Haunted Hill (1999) .... Eddie Baker The Best Man (1999/I) .... Harper Stewart The Wood (1999) .... Roland Go (1999) .... Marcus How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) .... Winston Shakespeare "The Guiding Light" (1952) TV Series .... Adrian 'Sugar' Hill (1997) ... aka Guiding Light (USA: new title)

[Sister_T]

I don't believe this. This smells like a publicity stunt. These two have been married for about a year now and only NOW are they getting threatened? Puhl-ease! Black men and white women have been dating, mating, marrying and divorcing for the longest. Those who don't like interracial relationships don't give a rat's hiney about yet another black male/white female coupling, at least, not enough to threaten them. This just doesn't pass the smell test.

[Bella_Bru]

It was.

[MAWG]

" Believe it or not there are still white people with dumbass issues such as people marrying people of other races."

Do you show the same hostility toward Orthodox Jews and traditional Japanese who also frown upon marrying outside their own race/culture?

[Bella_Bru]

They generally do not send people FReepmail referring to their "dirt babies". If you are a bigot, I'll call you one. Even if you are a member of my tribe (I'm Jewish).

[MAWG]

You didn't answer my question.

[k2blader]

Why does it matter what color the writer is?

Are you a racist?

[Bella_Bru]

Yes, I am hostile to bigots is they behave like them. If you are against interracial marriage and you can state your reasons without whining about your grandchildren not being lily white, fine. Otherwise, you are a bigot.