Ellen DeGeneres torn up over teenage gay murder

**NicoleWasHere** · February 28th, 2008, 09:25 PM

Ellen Torn Up Over Gay Murder
Posted Feb 28th 2008 7:40PM by TMZ Staff
Ellen DeGeneres broke from comedy for a few minutes on the show she taped today and got deadly serious.

Ellen looked into camera and talked about the murder of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student in Oxnard, Ca. King, who was gay, was allegedly shot to death by a fellow male student whom he asked to be his Valentine.

Ellen was on the verge of tears and as close to political as she gets. The show airs tomorrow, check local listings.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TV, Ellen DeGeneres

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I can't say I blame her.

**baked_tater** · February 28th, 2008, 09:29 PM

Aww. That is so sad.

**tkdgirl** · February 28th, 2008, 09:30 PM

Such a tragedy.

**sparkly** · February 28th, 2008, 09:45 PM

Such a needless tragedy. I'm glad she's speaking out about it.

**OCK** · February 28th, 2008, 09:45 PM

You know what's easier than shooting an innocent person who happens to think you're attractive? Saying "thanks but I'm not interested" and moving on with your life.

**nycgirl** · February 28th, 2008, 10:06 PM

that is just so sad, good for her for speaking out though

**AgentOrange** · February 29th, 2008, 12:33 AM

The other side of the coin is that the kid who was the object of the crush was probably terrified of what the other kids would do to him. High school is a hot bed of homophobia. Now that's not excusing it, just pointing out what a mean and vicious place the schoolyard can be to anyone who's a bit different. The kid has escaped playground cruelty, but will spend some hard time in prison. The guys in there may be more forceful in expressing their affection. Perhaps one fine day we'll grow up.

"Lord make me an instrument of Your Peace"

**Folieadeux** · February 29th, 2008, 12:57 AM

What happened to this boy was monstrous. I tear up every time I see it. In fact, I'm at the point where I usually skim over updates on this case because it's so distressing.

I hope the little snot who shot this kid spends a lot of time in prison. Ordinarily I wouldn't say this but... I couldn't care less if he shoots himself. One more homophobic asshole down.

**DoveFeatheredRaven** · February 29th, 2008, 04:32 AM

He just thought high school teasing could be bad. Let's see how popular this kid is in prison. Take some lube, kid.

As to what she said- she is right! But the hate starts in so many churches across the country or people use the Bible as their basis of hate. You don't know how many times a kid lays his or her hate of homosexuals off on the Bible or something he or she has been taught in church. I always call them down on it but every time wonder if I am risking a reprimand if a parent complains to my admin. That is a sad fact of living in the good ol' Bible Belt.

I hope Obama or whoever is elected has the balls to get rid of legislated hate. By not protecting them, we are legislating. We are saying it is okay. If the kid was killed because he was black, it would be a hate crime. But he is just gay. Last time I checked it didn't fall under hate crime legislation. THAT is wrong.

**HelpMeRhonda** · February 29th, 2008, 07:26 AM

Wow.. so many lives ruined..for what? Wow is all I can say..

**Bijoux** · February 29th, 2008, 09:54 AM

Oh...that's horrible

**aabbcc** · February 29th, 2008, 10:39 AM

Tragic.

**Laurent** · February 29th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

The other side of the coin is that the kid who was the object of the crush was probably terrified of what the other kids would do to him. High school is a hot bed of homophobia.

Probably true, but life is filled with these hot beds. Remember several years ago the guy that appeared on the Jenny Jones Show and revealed his crush on a male friend? The friend then promptly killed him because it embarrassed him and he was scared what other people would say.

Sad to say adults are just as influenced by that kind of garbage as high schoolers.

**aabbcc** · February 29th, 2008, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Laurent

Probably true, but life is filled with these hot beds. Remember several years ago the guy that appeared on the Jenny Jones Show and revealed his crush on a male friend? The friend then promptly killed him because it embarrassed him and he was scared what other people would say.

I remember that, but I think there was a bit more to it. If I recall, the friend seemed okay with it on the show and actually got together with the guy later. I'm thinking there was more going on with him than just being embarrassed.