The popular TV producer and host of “The Merv Griffin Show,” Merv Griffin, has been accused of leading a “secret gay life” while he was still alive. The media mogul’s son from a previous union with Julann Wright is known by the name Tony Griffin. Griffin allegedly started dating Hungarian-American actress Eva Gabor after their divorce.
Only that they were connected spiritually was asserted, though. Griffin was questioned regarding the claims that he is gay; however, his co-stars and the cast have confirmed that this is the case. Griffin declined to either confirm or deny these rumors. Griffin was also mentioned in two cases that were filed by two different people, proving the TV personality’s covert existence.
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In the 1960s, Merv Griffin hosted one of the most well-liked and lucrative television talk shows. He was successful in creating the Merv Griffin Enterprises empire in less than 30 years, which was home to many of the most popular television game shows, including the all-time favorite “Wheel of Fortune.”. ”. Soon after reaching the pinnacle of his success as an “Atlantic City casino magnate,” Griffin was charged with making a paternity claim in April 1991.
A $200 million contract breach lawsuit was filed at the time by a Florida man named Brent Plott, then 37, who claimed to be Griffin. Griffin reportedly pledged to always look after him. According to Plott, who claimed that Griffin had declared his love for him, they shared a bed and lived together for four years before Plott made the decision to depart in 1985.
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Griffin was not only Plott’s “lover,” to whom he had promised “solace and emotional support,” but also the TV mogul’s “business consultant,” according to Plott, who also claimed to have contributed to the choice of Vanna White for “Wheel of Fortune.”. ”. Plott was lying to get money, so Griffin refuted his assertions.
In this blatant attempt, I’m being blackmailed into paying money. This former bodyguard and horse trainer worked for me for six or seven years, earning $250 per week as a security guard in one of the two apartments beneath my former home. He leveled ridiculous and baseless accusations. ”.
Plott claimed to have met Griffin in 1976, the same year that he divorced his ex-wife, Julann Wright, in Monte Carlo. Griffin allegedly begged Plott to live with him for years before getting his approval. Judge Diane Wayne of the Los Angeles Superior Court dismissed the case with prejudice in November 1991 and assessed a $2,000 fine against Plott.
Griffin’s second lawsuit was brought by “Dance Fever” host Deney Terrio a month after his first lawsuit was dismissed. The TV personality demanded $11.3 million in damages after alleging that Griffin had sexually assaulted him in 1978. Terrio contended in his lawsuit:.
“Beginning in 1978 and continuing throughout the duration of the parties’ business relationship, the Defendant, Merv Griffin, made overtly homophobic advances toward [Terrio]. Griffin insisted on getting these things and kept bringing up the money Terrio would make as a result.
The Los Angeles federal court dismissed the case in June 1992 after Griffin’s attorney refuted the charges. After the cases were dismissed, many gay men in New York began donning t-shirts with the slogan “I didn’t sleep with Merv” printed on them. Merv completely avoided the LGBT community and stopped backing gay rights initiatives as a result of the ongoing claims and public revelations about his sexuality.
Griffin and actress Eva Gabor from “Green Acres” were frequently seen together. From her passing in 1995 until her death, they reportedly only had “platonic” relationships. They were regularly seen together on dates. Eva’s sister Zsa Zsa rejected the idea that Griffin would “cover up” or “hide” his homosexuality by spending time with Gabor.
Eva Griffin and Merv Griffin are getting married. They recently returned from their trip to the Bahamas. I know I shouldn’t, but I just can’t help myself.
Although Griffin’s spokesman, Warren Cowan, said he could not confirm that the couple was getting married, Zsa claimed that Eva and Griffin were in a serious and “real” relationship. Cowan claimed that he would be “surprised” if Eva and Griffin got hitched. ”. The Gabor family remained “close friends” with Griffin, who Zsa Zsa referred to as a “wonderful, wonderful man”.
Griffin’s sexual orientation and background were fully revealed following the “Jeopardy!” creator’s passing in 2007. Many people who have openly discussed the TV personality’s “closeted lifestyle” claim that he lived in secrecy due to the homophobic environment in which he was raised. ”. Due to this, Griffin would make an effort to keep his identity a secret, but his coworkers and staff were said to be aware of it.
Merv’s sexual orientation was acknowledged, but it wasn’t often discussed at work. He jealously guarded his privacy, so we were unaware of his relationships.
Griffin’s sexual orientation was well known in Hollywood and did not need to be mentioned due to “privacy laws” that prohibited such information from being made public. As opposed to coming out as gay, as Griffin did, it is acceptable to make up a wife and kids.
Griffin was referred to as a “closeted gay talk show host” despite being able to avoid questions about his sexuality by having Gabor as a companion. ”. According to game show creator Bob Stewart, Griffin might have felt the need to conceal his sexual orientation for the reasons listed below.
Being that he wasn’t a leading man or sex icon, he could have been open without worrying about the consequences. He was self-sufficient. His Catholic upbringing, Republican political views, and generational internalization of guilt and shame may all have contributed.
Griffin’s former four-game show announcers have come forward to confirm his homosexuality, according to Stewart. The four claimed that when working with extremely attractive men, Griffin would find it increasingly difficult to conceal his interest. According to the sources, Griffin was out on a romantic date in a dimly lit restaurant when they observed him flirting with another man.
American director Matt Tyrnauer revealed that Scotty Bowers had confirmed Griffin’s sexuality during their earlier conversation a second time. According to Bowers, Griffin informed him of a gas station that served as a sort of brothel for gay men and was the location “you would go to get in trouble.”. “The public is still divided over whether or not Wright and Griffin’s union was one of “real” love. Many continue to wonder if their union was a hoax intended to refute the TV producer’s alleged homosexuality.
Griffin made several attempts to keep his sexual orientation a secret. The legendary TV production figure was well-known for frequently touring Hollywood while pretending to be dating women. Griffin acknowledged on television that no matter what he did to try to keep his life private, eventually the world would learn about his business.
I openly declare my quartersexuality. Anyone can work with me for a quarter.
Later that year, the same year that The New York Times published the initial account of Griffin’s claim, CNN Entertainment Correspondent Lola Ogunnaike confirmed it. Griffin’s claim about live broadcasting was confirmed by Ogunnaike:.
“Well, you know, he was dating married and divorced Eva Gabor. His sexual preferences have been a topic of much discussion. His former employee had sued him for palimony, but the judge had dismissed the case. But when I said to Merv, “Merv, this stuff is out there; talk to me about it,” he was surprisingly open-minded and truthful. ”. I told the man, “I’m a quarter-sexual.”. ”.
Tony Griffin is the name of Merv’s child from a previous relationship with Julann Wright. Rober Q. an on-air program. Lewis introduced Griffin to his first and only wife, Julann Wright. Before they got engaged in May 1958, the two started hanging out as friends. Griffin and Wright split up in 1976, but they remained close friends for the rest of their lives, up until Griffin’s death on August 12, 2007.
American actor and writer Tony Griffin is the son of the former couple. Donovan Mervyn, a son, and Farah Griffin, a daughter, are Tony and Tricia Griffin’s two offspring.
When Griffin passed away from prostate cancer at the age of 82, he still had his cover identity with him. Men tended to conceal their sexual orientation when they were in the spotlight at the time in Hollywood, where it was fairly common. on the basis of the verse in Facts:.
“Griffin suppressed his sexuality while he was married. Queer celebrities frequently marry to cover up their sexual orientation, especially those from earlier eras. Many famous people, including Rock Hudson, Anthony Perkins, and Elton John, have used this tried-and-true strategy.
Griffin’s charm and charisma allowed him to have a successful career, but his real self was never revealed. Griffin requested that Wright and Gabor keep his identity a secret before he passed away.
Whether or not what Wright and Griffin shared was “real” love is still up for debate. Many people still ponder whether their union was an elaborate ruse to hide the TV producer’s alleged homosexuality.
Tony, Wright’s son, is 63 years old today, while Wright is 94. Regarding whether they think Merv had a “secret” existence behind closed doors, the mother and son have not yet provided an answer. Griffin’s family did, however, continue to honor him and gave Griffin their all at his funeral in 2007.
