Director Dax Shepard denies new film CHiPs is homophobic
Dax Shepard has denied that his new comedy film ChiPs is homophobic “in a bad way”.
The cop-friendship film features a number of scenes where the main characters appear to be visibly disturbed by the idea of male-on-male contact, let alone homosexuality.
One scene sees a FBI agent accidentally face-plant into his partner’s crotch, he then proceeds to freak out about it.
Another sees the agent looking visibly uncomfortable in a police locker room full of men in their underwear.
The film has been accused of “dredging up scenarios where men are confronted with the naked bodies, perceived masculinity and potential desire for other men”, and tackling it in a less than appropriate way.
Shepard, who starred in, directed and wrote the film, defended the choice to include the two scenes to the Huffington Post, claiming that it was “fun and challenging” to tackle homophobia in that manner.
“I do think it’s fun and challenging to have a topic like homophobia be in this movie and to do it correctly. That’s a very fun challenge.
“The intent isn’t homophobic, the intent is actually to be progressive and still deal with that issues because that issue is always going to be funny – all those issues are going to be funny,” Shepard said.
His wife Kristen Bell, who also features in the film, defended Shepard to the Associated Press.
“He is the most un-homophobic person you could ever find – I mean, we waited until everyone could get married before we got married, based on principle,” she said.
