While the controversial gay joke was taken out of the trailers for Universal's Ron Howard-directed "The Dilemma," the studio has confirmed that it's staying in the movie, slated for release in January.
Wrote Howard to "The Big Picture's" Patrick Goldstein:
"I don't strip my films of everything that I might personally find inappropriate. Comedy or drama, I'm always trying to make choices that stir the audience in all kinds of ways. This Ronny Valentine character can be offensive and inappropriate at times and those traits are fundamental to his personality and the way our story works.
"Will comedy be neutered if everyone gets to complain about every potentially offensive joke in every comedy that's made? Anybody can complain about anything in our country. It's what I love about this place …
"If storytellers, comedians, actors and artists are strong armed into making creative changes, it will endanger comedy as both entertainment and a provoker of thought."
