Brutally shy singer/songwriter Fiona Apple clearly values her privacy, so it's a little bit shocking to find out that—at one point in her career, at least—she took the time to respond to fan correspondence. What isn't shocking is the sentiment she expressed to then 16-year-old high school student Bill Magee, who wrote to Miss Apple in 2000, asking her to contribute a few sentences to his school's burgeoning gay-straight alliance group. Apple's letter is beautifully sincere and succinct piece of writing that, I'd say, rivals the knockout poetry of her best songs.
Read the entire letter for yourselves right here (via The Huffington Post):
"If a good boy loves a good girl, good," Fiona writes. "If a good boy loves another good boy, good. And if a good girl loves the goodness in good boys and good girls, then all you have is more goodness, and goodness has nothing to do with sexual orientation... A person who loves is a righteous person, and if someone has the ability and desire to show love to another — to someone willing to receive it, then for goodness' sake, let them do it. Hate has no place in the equation; there is no function for it to perform. Love is love, and there will never be too much."
Writing on his Tumblr, Magee had this to say about receiving the astounding letter:
"Quite frankly, 16-year-old me was much more interested in interacting with a celebrity than building an alliance between gays and straights, but Fiona took me at my word and wrote me this really sweet letter... I've met her a couple times since, but I never got a chance thank her for taking some time out and being so thoughtful, especially for a lonely weirdo like me."
If you ask me, Fiona Apple—remembered best by some for her snide acceptance speeches and sometimes tamper tentrum-fueled performances—deserves a world of credit for the letter. Not only is it commendably generous and sweet to take the time to talk to fans, but to do so with such kindness, grace, and wisdom is a definite rarity in her profession. (Keep in mind that even in 2000, it was a lot less common for a celebrity to come out in support of gay rights and issues than it is now.) I think one or two vital organs would shut down if Fiona Apple ever sent me such an awesome letter—cheers to Bill for sharing his with the rest of us.
Don't forget, Fiona Apple verbosely titled new album The Idler Wheel is wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords will serve you more than Ropes will ever do. drops sometime in June.
Follow Brett Warner on Twitter: @Erasurehead
[Fiona Apple's Letter To Gay Teen Goes Viral]
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