Ehrenstein with fellow example of gay excellence, Todd Haynes (Image via Facebook)

David Ehrenstein, a film critic with a never-ending knowledge of the medium who was known for his take-no-prisoners approach on topics about which he was passionate (gay culture, politics), has died.

According to close friends online, Ehrenstein, who had been in an assisted living residence and battling what had seemed to be minor health problems, died early on March 12.

He was 78.

Ehrenstein's The Fablog was for many years a ferocious compendium of all he held sacred, especially his views on gay men in popular culture. He was a Facebook friend and occasionally commented on my posts, which always gave me a start, as he knew his stuff and I dreaded being in disagreement with him.

Ehrenstein had a long career as a writer, but will forever be remembered as the guy who wrote the essay “Obama the 'Magic Negro,'” an opinion piece that made use of a trope but that hit the media like an atom bomb It was widely discussed, dissed, celebrated and even adapted into parodies. 

For a deeper dive, check out his Open Secret: Gay Hollywood 1928-1998. Absurdly, Tom Cruise threatened to sue him just for writing that Cruise appealed to men and women. That's it! Just appealed. Sheesh.

In 202o, he published a book of photographs he took through his long career called Photo ops, which was co-authored with his husband, Bill Reed. Reed preceded Ehrenstein in death, dying at 82 on July 7, 2023.

RIP David.