Painless probably brought the hysteria on himself. It wouldn't be out of the ordinary at that time.

"I've decided to kill myself."

Perhaps the dynamics were disturbing, but to me it's not entirely implausible that a star athlete was consensually hooking up with a co-ed and, when they were caught, the lady in question blurted an excuse.

Duke has to come around in the same way Hot Lips does.

Yep. There's also his "jawbreaker" nickname, but his dick is so big that term would fit gay or straight.

Upvoted for minority opinion.

I think that last sentence is a reach. That's Dish's last night in the camp.

I don't think we're reducing the movie to that. But it is a part of the film.

Yea, but I think it's probable that she said that to excuse her behavior. She was trying to get out of getting into trouble. At least, that's what I interpreted the story to mean.

I think they're treating Painless' hysteria as a joke, not the shame and self-hatred. If anything, I've read the sequence as undermining gay panic.

Yay!

Duke is "pretty cool" in a few ways, but he's also clearly a racist. The movie does call him out for that, though.

"My commission!"

Yeah, I'm not reading the sexual assault angle there.

Also, I don't think the film is really that homophobic. Painless' decision to kill himself because he thinks he's gay is treated as a joke from the outset by the other characters.

I think she would've acted the same at the football game.

Belfort is a sociopath. Hawker and Trapper John are not.

Is this an act? I love this movie but also recognize it has problematic gender politics.

She would've been a cheerleader even if she hadn't hooked up with Duke.

Walter Peck was reasonable? When?