Billy Crystal: I dislike gratuitous sex on TV, not just between gay people

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Billy Crystal has clarified comments he made earlier this week that modern gay storylines on TV shows are “pushing too far”.

Crystal played one of the first regularly openly gay characters, Jodie Dallas, on 1970s comedy ‘Soap’.

Speaking to the Television Critics Association, earlier this week, the star claimed that he doesn’t want TV to “shove it in our face” with regards to gay issues.

He said: “Sometimes I think, ‘Ah that’s too much for me.’

“Sometimes, it’s just pushing it a little too far for my taste and I’m not going to reveal to you which ones they are.

“I hope people don’t abuse it and shove it in our face to the point where it feels like an every day kind of thing.”

In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, Crystal clarified saying: “What I meant was that whenever sex or graphic nudity of any kind (gay or straight) is gratuitous to the plot or story it becomes a little too much for my taste.”