Gerard Butler might be bisexual. Is this shocking? Actually, it is. To me, at least. Of course I’ve heard the “gay” rumors about Gerry throughout the years. I always tuned them out, mainly because the man strikes me as a hardcore womanizer, a gourmand of young, willing women. But this strange piece of information is bubbling up over the past few days, and I’m not sure what to make of it.

At first, it was just an innocuous joke Butler told, as explained on Towleroad, “a site with homosexual tendencies”. The piece is called “What does Gerard Butler know about a gay guy and a cucumber?” The first part of the piece is just a little press from Gerry’s Ugly Truth promotion. While in London, Gerry told the story about meeting The Ugly Truth’s openly-gay director Robert Luketic for the first time, and how he got the part by telling a “joke”. Here’s the joke (wording by Gerard Butler): “A gay guy walks into a greengrocer and he says ‘Can I have a cucumber please?’ And the greengrocer says, ‘Eh would you like that sliced?’ Ha ha. ‘What do you think I am, a slot machine?’ It’s not very funny. It’s just that the way I said it.”

The second part of the Towleroad piece is a “recently rediscovered” interview Gerard allegedly did with the now-defunct magazine Movieline in 2004. The seemingly-archived interview (posted first to NYCWave) was posted to Female First, and it’s now slowly spreading around. I honestly don’t know if this piece is for real. Part of it sounds like Gerry, but some of it… I just don’t know. At first he’s talking about his panic attacks when he was younger (I had them too, when I was 18 and 19, so Gerry and I are soul mates), then he talks about his “struggles”, referring to his smoking and drinking. And then the interview goes into some sketchy territory. Gerry says, “I have been in relationships with women. And men. That doesn’t make me gay. That doesn’t make me straight.”

Gerard Butler’s life story is by no means a fairy-tale.

“When I was 16, I had terrible panic attacks about dying. At 24, I thought dying might be a relief.”

Apparently, Gerard Butler’s pearl-white smile hides some dark truths. Abandoned by his father from birth, Gerard Butler endured a rocky childhood that eventually manifested itself into a rebellious period during which the young Glaswegian dabbled with alcohol and drugs.

Gerard now admits he feels happier in himself. He says: “During some of the most miserable periods of my life, people thought I was very happy. And now that I’m actually happier, I don’t have to show it. I’m more comfortable with myself.”

Almost to demonstrate that, Gerard Butler has gone where many of his peer actors would never venture by giving candid and open interviews.

“My fans now know about my struggles,” he insists, referring to his failed attempts to quit smoking (he is alleged to smoke 60 cigarettes a day!) and his inability to sustain a relationship.

One aspect of himself that he is not yet fully able comprehend is his sexuality. “I talk about my sexuality,” he says, “But it’s always glossed over. People seem to shy away from the issue. Whenever it is discussed, its distended and exaggerated. ‘Gerard Butler is gay.’ No I’m not. I don’t know myself what I am so it can be bewildering to see that being plugged. I have been in relationships with women. And men. That doesn’t make me gay. That doesn’t make me straight. Its hard enough to go through these things in my mind without being scrutinised about it so there are times when you want to close the door and say my sexuality is my own personal business.”

[From Movieline via NYCWave Archive]

Let me just be clear - I have no problems with anyone being gay, or anyone being bisexual. But I’d always considered Gerry as a lothario just for the ladies. Now, to discover that Gerry could have been romancing not just a bevy of ladies, but a bevy of gentlemen? I’m beyond shocked. And yet, I still haven’t decided if I buy this interview. I get that Gerry has a history of not wanting to talk about his personal/romantic life, so the whole “my sexuality is my own personal business” part rings true. But the “And men” part is still shocking. Does anyone have any 2004 back issues of Movieline? Or should I just get over it, and come to the realization that Gerard really will nail anyone?

Update by Celebitchy: According to Movieline, this quote is fabricated and never originated in their magazine. Thanks to Stacy for the link!

Gerard Butler is shown at the UK premiere of The Ugly Truth on 8/4/09. Credit: WENN.com