Published: September 28, 2007 06:23 pm            

ADAM SANDLER: Actor says he hopes to work with gay-rights groups after starring in 'Chuck and Larry'

MEXICO CITY (AP) _ Adam Sandler says he would like to work alongside gay-rights groups after starring in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry."

Sandler, who was in Mexico with co-star Kevin James to promote the film's opening in theaters here, told a news conference: "If I can help anybody in any way, I certainly would."

But the 41-year-old actor-comedian stopped short of calling himself a potential gay icon.

"I don't think that's gonna happen, dude, certainly not," Sandler said. "If I was a gay man, I wouldn't want me to represent" the gay community.

"I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," scheduled to be released on DVD in the U.S. in November, tells the story of two straight firefighters who pretend to be gay domestic partners for pension benefits. The movie raked in about $35 million in U.S. box-office sales on its opening weekend despite weak reviews and some complaints of homophobia.

"Of course, we didn't want to offend anybody or hurt anybody," James said at the news conference Thursday. "If we can help people too along the way, that would be great."

Sandler described the kiss the two actors shared during filming as "not bad."

"He was clean, and he seemed to brush his teeth and all that," Sandler said.

        

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