Leno: Perry Wore Same Jacket in Anti-Gay Ad as Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain

December 10th, 2011 1:54 PM

Jay Leno on Friday took what many might think was a double entendre poke at Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry.

After playing the Texas governor's new ad dealing with gays serving openly in the military, the Tonight Show host quipped, "It's the same jacket Heath Ledger wore in 'Brokeback Mountain,' but we won't go there" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

JAY LENO, HOST: Now, speaking of political ads. This Rick Perry ad that just started airing this week, I want to, give me your opinion of this. Run the ad.

BILL O’REILLY: Alright.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY: I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian. But you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know that there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school. As president, I'll end Obama’s war on religion, and I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage. Faith made America strong. It can make her strong again. I'm Rick Perry, and I approve this message.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LENO: What war on religion? Hello? What did he kill Santa Claus now? What happened?

[Laughter]

O’REILLY: You gotta admit, the jacket is good though. [Laughter] Love the jacket.

LENO: It's the same jacket Heath Ledger wore in "Brokeback Mountain," but we won't go there. We won’t go there.

[Laughter]

Well, not exactly, but Leno was certainly implying Perry himself is gay.

As for the similarity, Leno wasn't the first to notice. Britain's Daily Mail wrote about this Friday.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.