I am a big Joel McHale fan, so I was disappointed to read on Radar Online that Joel allegedly mocked Bruce Jenner in emails uncovered as part of the Sony hack. Radar claims that “In another mean-spirited message Community writer and actor Joel McHale allegedly sent to Sony President Steve Mosko, an online report that [sic] detailed how Jenner was taunted on the golf course he played at in Thousand Oaks.” McHale sent that message, which was simply the text of this TMZ report, to Sony President Steve Mosko. Mosko responded from his phone “Ha!!!!!!!!!!” which Radar claims is “a cold response to the story that McHale sent.”

The thing is, if you read the actual text of the message/original report, it’s about Jenner basically owning the bullies in the locker room. TMZ reports that Jenner was taunted, but they’re really positive toward Jenner and make him sound like the winner in this scenario. So McHale’s original forward and Mosko’s response seem like support for Jenner rather than any kind of shade. Here’s the original message, via Wikileaks:

From: “Mosko, Steve”
Subject: Re: This was in the E! News email yesterday
To: Joel McHale
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 17:10:38 +0000

Ha!!!!!!!!!!

Sent on the run

> On Oct 31, 2014, at 9:20 AM, Joel McHale wrote:
>
>
>
> “BRUCE JENNER TAUNTED ON THE GOLF COURSE
>
> Bruce Jenner has been taunted where he golfs everyday … by a few jerks who think Bruce’s new look doesn’t belong on the links or in the locker room. Sources connected with Bruce tell TMZ … almost everyone who golfs with Bruce at his country club in Thousand Oaks has been gracious … but several people are acting like 14-year-old boys. In one case … a golfer passed Bruce on the green and screamed out, “How’s your d**k” … suggesting it might not be there much longer. Bruce was cool — he laughed and responded by pointing to his crotch and saying, “It’s right here. It hasn’t worked in 20 years.” Another guy heckled Bruce in the locker room, mocking his ombre hairstyle and threatening to cut it off. Bruce still goes to the club religiously, and most people treat him warmly and with respect. As for the 2 idiots … it’s 2014, and people have a right to live their lives the way they want as long as they don’t hurt anyone. And Bruce can probably kick their asses in golf. (TMZ)”

[From Wikileaks]

So how is this “mean-spirited” or taunting at all? It’s possible that Joel is forwarding the message because of Jenner triumphing over the bullies, and it’s possible that Steve is saying “ha!” because Jenner responded in a self-deprecating and funny way. To me, this email chain reads like an acknowledgment that Jenner is handling jerks well. This is the problem I have with the wikileaks Sony material, it’s been interpreted in all sorts of ways without people linking to the original emails.

Radar also claims that director Cameron Crowe and former Sony exec Amy Pascal were mocking Jenner. They sort-of were, but it was more on Cameron than Amy. Cameron used the phrase “does Bruce Jenner want boobs?” as one might use the phrase “does a bear sh*t in the woods?” Here’s that exchange (which we covered briefly in an earlier story about the hack.)

From: “Cameron Crowe”
To: “Pascal, Amy”
Subject: Re:
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2014 12:52:47 -0400

DOES BRUCE JENNER WANT BOOBS? HELL YES I HAVE SOMETHING
TO SHOW YOU!!!! (looking at tuesday)

On Oct 6, 2014, at 9:29 AM, Pascal, Amy wrote:

> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW ME THIS WEEK?

[From Wikileaks]

That was tasteless and uncalled for, but it’s not the worst. Plus, who uses all caps in messages anymore? I guess people who make transphobic jokes do.

In conclusion, Joel McHale did not mock Bruce Jenner, he forwarded a TMZ report about Jenner owning bullies. Crush intact.