Taye Diggs gave fans a pleasant surprise last week when it was announced that he would become the first Black man to take on the lead role of genderqueer rock star Hedwig in the Broadway revival of Hedwig and The Angry Inch. Not surprisingly, some fans were shocked that Diggs would play a genderqueer character and in a recent interview with the paparazzi, he decided to play up the shock value with an even more jaw-dropping set of jokes.
In a new video posted by TMZ, Diggs can be seen being questioned by a photographer about preparing to play a gender-bending character. At first, Diggs gives a typical answer about learning his lines, but then he begins making shocking jokes about having explored homosexuality.
“There’s a lot of glitter. I mean, I went through a stage where I was a drag queen in high school in 10th and 11th grade, and I experimented with homosexuality, a– play. And outside of that I worked the streets, male prostitution,” Diggs said while maintaining a straight face.
“I’m kidding,” Diggs then said as the photographer realized he was just joking.
When the photographer replied “you were born for this role,” Diggs joked back, “I have a flaming homosexual inside of me, so I’m raring to let that out.”
We’re glad that Diggs isn’t taking fan reaction about him playing a genderqueer role seriously, and we’re also happy that a Black man is taking on such a coveted Broadway role and showing some diversity on stage.
Diggs will begin his stint as Hedwig for a limited 12-week engagement starting July 22 at the Belasco Theatre in New York.
