If Foster’s Not Coming Out, CNN’s Coming In

One major price of fame is, famously, the lack of personal privacy that comes with the package. This issue gets trickier when it comes to homosexuality and the practice of outing public figures, as various media outlets have long attempted to do in Jodie Foster’s case.

Foster’s sexuality has been the subject of speculation for years, and she has rarely divulged details about her behind-the-scenes life. That’s a political choice in and of itself in the opinion of some critics of the “closet” who believe that celebrities’ silence on the subject constitutes a missed opportunity for visibility or a tacit signal of shame. But, despite the chorus that reliably chimes “Who cares?” whenever the topic comes up, coming out is still a highly charged choice for stars constantly navigating the blurry zones between privacy and publicity.

Whether or not pressure from the media or elsewhere had anything to do with it, Foster appeared to inch her way toward revelation territory at the recent Women in Entertainment Power 100 breakfast in Hollywood, during which she made a heartfelt show of gratitude to “my beautiful Cydney,” as she referred to film producer Cydney Bernard, who “sticks with me through all the rotten and the bliss.” Since then, CNN and a slew of other sources have jumped on the story, effectively declaring Foster to be out at last — and once again demonstrating that the closet isn’t big enough for celebrities and camera crews to share.

Follow this link to watch the CNN story clip, entitled “Jodie Foster thanks gay partner.”