Raul (and his tbcjscpctscroc) thread V - continuing the DL love fest

Can this please be about Raul, and not bitching about the Tumblina's?

Yeah, the last one was by far the worst one

Pic of Raul and Daveed Diggs from upcoming SVU episode. Papi's getting old now, but I still think he looks good.

He bought into the insane Hamilton hype

ODJ, I can't believe the typo I made in the original post! My humblest apologies - I DO know how to spell his name. My fingers are getting old.

Y'know, the way the jeans fit in r1's pic, it looks like he's wearing a codpiece.

Maybe, R6. I just thought it was his legendary bulge?

You can find lots of pics of his notorious bulge.

SVU must be on its last legs, right? That shit needs to end so he can return to the theatre, unless some other show takes him.

From your mouth to God's ears, r8. Apparently Warren Leight is leaving the show at the end of this season. If they're smart, they'll use that as an excuse to finish the show altogether. (Unfortunately, NBC is rarely smart.)

Just today SVU was oficially renewed for season 18th

Does anyone know if Raúl has signed on for season 18 of SVU? As nice at is to see him on TV, I'd rather he head back to the stage soon.

My future husband's BEST episode of SVU is on right now on USA.

But seriously, it show the depth of his acting. He is funny (holding Benson's baby like it's toxic material, he's caustic a/k/a bitchy queen when he's talking to Carisi and heartbreaking when he is with his mother and grandmother.

Oh and he is sexy as hell throughout it all...

You're mistaken, R12. He's MY future husband.

Nothing sexier the Raul saying " electro-probe anal erectile "

Rolled off his tongue quite easily.....

R14, how about the episode where he gets strangled by Roger Bart, and repeatedly says, 'Pull it. Pull it! Show me how you like it!'?

Makes me look at him in a WHOLE different way. hehehehehehehehehehehe

Sort of like when I read on here that BD Wong had a pierced cock and was into S & M

Wonder if Raul has ever had the chance to experience BD's Prince Albert first hand? Now there's an image... They've been one a couple svu eps together.

"Experiencing" a Prince Albert sounds like the absence of fun, like something stuck between your teeth that neither picking nor flossing will get rid of.

Speaking of BD's PA, anyone here ever seen or enjoyed it?

Friend of a friend said he was a big ( short) slut even when he was with the guy he had the kids with.

Any first hand (or mouth or ass) experience from you guys? If he was as big a whore as he told us, SOMEONE must have....

Ahhh, Raul, SIGH!!! SO FUCKING HOT!!!

Hot as fuck.

The Roger Bart episode was his first SVU appearance.

Quite a memorable start!

Very memorable.

Oh, Raul. I'd love to show you how I like it.

Oh god help me DLer's I think I'm venturing into fangurl, tumblina land.

The Raul and Roger clip made me look online and now I found this and others like it.

How long before I order the set of sheets and pillowcases???????

Save yourself, r24, while there's still time! Forsake the insanity! Come back to the safe and sane world of the Datalounge!

Here ya go, R24. Start making DL some gifs from this clip. "You call that being dominant? Show me. Show me! Show me. Pull it. Pull it. PULL IT! Tell me how you like it. Show me how you like it!" Oh, Papi, I'm betting that filming that scene wasn't too much a stretch for you now was it? When can I show you how I like it?

How can anyone possibly think that Barba is straight when he walks into an elevator like this?

Fabulous, R27

I stopped watching a couple of seasons ago. Has Barba's love life been discussed in any way? A hint?

No, r28. He mentions a high school girlfriend at one point, and it seems as though he and his best friend's wife had something going on (before they were married). So only two clues to speak of, and both point towards Barba being straight. But no hint of anything current.

r27 Barba gets in the elevator like the big ole bottom he is

He looks like any other guy getting in an elevator. Some of you queens are possessed by I'm Out of My Fucking Mind-itis.

Love the clip at 27. R30, you made me laugh. r31, you have to click the link to see the full effect, (unless you did and you don't see the humor).

Check out the eye-roll from the last episode.

Oh, come on! The elevator clip is a total MARY! moment, and I love him for that.

Reminds me of those clips from TABOO, backstage with Raul putting on makeup and with his wrist going wild.

Good times

Promo shot from upcoming episode. Papi is old now, but damn I think he still looks good.

He's still VERY sexy.

Barba looks reeeely pissed about something in that photo.

he pissed that we all know he's a member of that elite squad known as bottoms

Rumor has it, that our dear Papi is not renewing his SVU contract and is taking a break before starting on another opportunity. I hope a return to the stage is in the works if this is true.

I don't know...Do you think at this point he would ditch the steady SVU gig for the stage? Maybe it's another TV show.

Wonderful if he can go back to the stage, though

Good question, R39. Unless his role on SVU was only supposed to last a few seasons? At any rate, in regards to his departure from SVU, it's all just rumor and some rumblings at this point. I wish him all the best if he does leave, (I too would love to see him return to the stage), he's so much more capable of an actor than what SVU allows him to display. He basically steals every scene he's in.

is that rumor online anywhere

Seriously, Tumblrina? There's no reason that would be online. Raul is not a celebrity. The media does not cover him, or report on him. He is completely under their radar. The "rumor" is simply what Raul is saying privately. He's working up to a decision. He likes to get feedback from people in his life.

R42, is probably right. I wouldn't expect to hear an announcement even if were to be made official. His departure from SVU would simply be played out in the plot of an episode with no other explanation. I think it's important to remember that despite the fans here on DL and on tumblr, Raul is not an "A-list" celebrity, he has very little media coverage.

Add me to the list of people who would love to see him return to the stage. He is an amazing actor. His talent on stage comes across much better than television.

not that he's A list - or B or C - but there are sites and boards devoted to arcane TV scoop and SVU in particular

Sorry - I need another explication of "tbcjscpctscroc" - All I remember is "thick bisexual cut juicy ______ cuban papi cock that shoots creamy ropes of cum..." I've lost the plot somewhere. Please enlighten me.

tbcj suckable cpctscroc

He looks great in R34s picture.

Thanks R46!

The rumors about Raul leaving SVU have been mentioned on the show's IMDB message board but no one seems to know anything definite, just rumors and speculation.

Raul loves residuals. He's not about to leave TV for the stage if he can help it.

BTW, they love him over on that IMDB board. He's one of the few people on the show who never gets any criticism, just praise.

As it should be, R51. Even if he's camping it up, he's still the best actor in that cast.

You sure are right about that, R52. He's by far the best actor on SVU.

I want a 3way with him and Scanavino

Any of you guys seen this? Who knew.

Made me completely forget who Rafael Barba is...

R55. I am becoming concerned for your well-being. You are venturing into fangurl territory (hot video though).

R56 - yes, I was acutely aware of that danger, but I felt it was my duty to share Raul's abilities, shall we say, with those who would appreciate them, at least as much as a body pillow with his likeness...

he was cute then

R55/57. Please tell me you don't have a full-length body pillow with Raúl's likeness on it. If you do have such a pillow, tell me you aren't sleeping with it.

[59] - no, not THAT crazy - referencing the tumblina's that had them. One of the other threads had pictures of them.

Looking hot at "Disaster."

Age has been kind to Raul.

Pascal, on the other hand...

Oh, Raúl....

Thought some of you may enjoy this clip from Hannibal.

I miss him. He needs to come back to the stage.

He's busy making money. No time for stage-door stalkers!

wonder if he's still an arrogant prick

R66 = came all the way from the theatre thread, still angry because Raul rejected him all those years ago. Always looking for an opportunity to bash him. Probably that miserable old"Curtainpullsomething" from BWW.

no r67 I worked with him several times and he was an evermore arrogant guy, never rejected me I was never interested some of us don't think only with our cocks

R66/68 then don't delay, details please!

Raul ARROGANT!? You'll burn in hell for lying!

R26 clip - That episode is on USA right now - introduces papi - a/k/a Barba

God he is a sexy mofo....

Sorry it's half done

Memorable intro.

Any info about Raul staying with SVU?

Raul at "Wall to Wall Stephen Schwartz" at the Symphony Space, April 16, 2016.

Another pic.

Is it me, or is there something weird going on with his hair? Different color or something.

I mean, it's a Schwartz tribute but...

Nah, the color looks different because of the lighting (way different from the lighting on the SVU set). Raul likes to be sculptural with his hair. At least somebody managed to wean him away from the excessive use of hair product!

Raul at Tribeca Film Festival.

Love the salt and pepper beard!

Is he still with his cute bf?

I hope so! They make a good couple.

Raul and Bill at the "Custody" after-party

R72, according to some he's done with SVU at the end of this season. Nothing has been released officially though, and of course, no one from NBC or the show will make a statement until the season finale airs.

I hope they kill him off, the kids from SHitty Shitty Bang Bang can come exact revenge and ride over him back and forth again and again in their magical car that would be Truly Scrumptious.

I read he is back with chicks full time now. Like all bi guys eventually do. Did he ever divorce the wife?

The photo at R81 says otherwise. That's his boyfriend of 4-5 years.

Looks like Trollina is back at r84, and just as lame, stupid, and out of touch as ever.

You've got to admit that Papi has a type. His boyfriend has black eyes and hair and pale skin, just like the ex-wife.

At least it's better than the tumblrinas!

If I remember correctly, r84, he publicly declared his ex-wife to be his soulmate some time back. I wonder how his bf feels about that... Do they have lots of get-togethers?

He did no such thing

Care to bring some clarity to that statement, r90?

Oh please don't be naive to think he isn't dating or hooking up with women, otherwise he'd come out as gay, he is bisexual which means he is also sexually attracted to women, you think women aren't throwing themselves at him day after day and he hadn't hooked up with a few. If he has a boyfriend I guess he has to be ok with it. Bi guys are just gross.

he's gay gay gay just used the bi label because of career and catholic and cubano, bi sounds less gay

Don't you just love the Tumblrinas who are so insecure they insist he has to be attracted to women?

It's a good thing Raul isn't a celebrity (regardless what the Tumblrinas think) because that means he's able to live his private life under the radar of the media. It also means none of his so-called fans (r92, r84), actually know anything about him and how he lives his life, no matter what they've read.

Well r94, he was married, he came out as bi, had a bf for a while, now who knows. If he were gay he'd say he were at this stage, he is openly bi and most probably, like 100% of bisexual men having sex with women. I mean he most probably having sex with men as well, but he isn't gay he bi.

You're making a lot of assumptions, r95, that may sound good in general, but do not apply to Raul. "If he were gay he'd say". How do you know he hasn't, to friends and family? Again, he's not a celebrity, the media doesn't cover him, and when he is interviewed, he prefers to keep his private life private. He's never going to call a press conference to announce he's gay, nobody in the media would care, or bother to cover such a press conference.

To begin with, no matter what his level of celebrity might be, now or in the future, that is something he would never do. And why do you insist he'd say anything, to anyone? Again, you know nothing about the actual person. "Had a bf for a while" "Now who knows". More proof you know nothing about Raul and have no business making blanket statements about him. His family and friends know, total strangers do not.

He came out as bisexual r96, why are you ignore that fact? He came out as bi in an interview with the New York Times, did you not know that?

He never said "I'm bisexual". The interviewer made that inference. The Tumblrinas desperately want him to be bi but wanting something doesn't make it so.

Please, inference or not, it's highly logical to label at bi someone who was married to and sexually active with a woman for so many years.

Not to mention all the heavy emotional attachment to her he was blubbering about at the time.

He is labeled as bisexual al over the place and in every interview he does, or did for a while when he first came out, they used the word bisexual, if he weren't bi, he would have corrected them. The truth is he is a middle aged bisexual man, who is in probability sexual active with both men and women.

"If he weren't bi. he would have corrected them". No, he wouldn't. Again, don't put words in his mouth because you think you know him. You Do Not. And in none of those interviews did anyone ever ask or call him bisexual to his face. The truth is you do not know Raul. Don't try to pigeonhole him because you will be wrong. THAT is something he's said more times than I can count.

Well being another "bi-man", I guess I am considered by bi because I was married for ten years, although I have been with nothing but men for the last twenty. Oh did I mention that it's my friends that say I'm bi.

I'm telling you Tumblinas this, because, just because I was married, doesn't make me bi, it made me a closeted gay man trying to fit in.

Why is it that everyone here is so interested in claiming that Raúl is gay? You're all just erasing his bi-ness, yet claim to be fans. Real fans would accept Raúl for who and what he is instead of erasing something (his bi-sexuality) that is a part of him. People here need to grow up and stop claiming Raúl as one of "their own." And, R103, just because you lived as a closeted gay man, doesn't mean that Raúl did. He loved and still loves his ex-wife. The fact that he also sleeps with women is none of your business.

Ohh, there got the Tumblrinas again, with their fancy little SJW words. "Erasing" my ass. It's you Tumblrinas, you fans, who are trying to make Raul into something he is not because you, have to have your little fantasy and can't accept anything else. Once again, you do not know anything about Raul. Stop projecting your fantasy onto his reality.

Excuse me, R105. How exactly do you figure that I am a "tumblrina" and that I don't know anything about Raúl. I know more about him than you do. You don't even know how to spell his name correctly. Why is it that you find it so hard to believe that the man is bisexual and is attracted to both men and women? Why is that such a difficult concept for you to grasp? Even if he was gay, he wouldn't be interested someone as narrow minded as you.

I wonder if Raul and Mariska ever slept together?? They certainly seem enamored of one another.

Ages ago trollina used the "is he still with the wife?" argument to take cheap shots at Raul. The truth was that at the moment he was seen by EVERYONE as a gay man trying to save face, since the gossip from the moment people started to notice him (almost at the start of his NY career) was that he was hooking up with chorus boys left and write, something he kind of hinted in a long, lost Broadway.com interview during his TABOO days.

The moniker "Raul and his bisexual cock" that Miranda Priestly introduced had also a similar reasoning. In no way they were being factual, but making fun of the fact that he seemed so confused and fucked up from his catholic upbringing ("on the fence" as Forbidden Broadway put it).

It's just recently that some people have taken the assumption made on that NYT article to heart....But whatever! Even if he really were, the fact is that he has been only with men since that article came out, with DL having knowledge of at least 4: Fred Rose, Nick Mayo, Bobby Steggert and now his current bf Bill Curran.

It does seem like a pipe dream to think that at this stage, and considering all of this, he's going to drop his bf of 5 years to hook up with some SVU fangirl.

Dear deluded Tumblrina at r106 et al, you seem to forget, or more likely refuse to believe, that there are people here on Datalounge who have known Raul for many years, long before he became a "tv star". We do know who and what we are talking about. And all your bleating about "erasing" and insisting he's bi will never make it into reality.

Very neatly said, r108. Unfortunately because all of that happened before the Tumblrinas discovered Raul, it doesn't count, in their eyes. If they would just accept the fact that their fantasy is just that, a fantasy, that would be fine. But insisting they know more intimate details about a person they've never met, than someone who has known him for nearly twenty years, well, that's just farcical.

You also need to remember that his first real relationship was with a man, and that after his parents found out they "suggested" therapy and he rushed to marry his highschool sweetheart.

No, R110. He was with Michele, his high-school sweetheart before he ever dated men. In the NY Times interview, he said that he "liked girls" in high-school, and that he didn't consider anything else until he was older. He didn't even date that instructor until he was in university. And, even then, he didn't call him his boyfriend. So, think what you want. Raúl himself has publicly stated that he liked girls and is bi.

Ah, so so so delusional. He has never said in any interview anywhere that he is bi.

oh this is a sad thread

What's sad about it [R113] - talking about Raul makes me quite happy!

Raul was happy last night performing at Jazz at Lincoln Center

He's so MEGA!!! WHAT A FUCKING MAN!!! I wonder what it is like to be him - I mean hot, gifted, career on track, and loved by the world! What must that be like? SIGH!!!

plus having a big dick

He's looks very good!

OMFG!!! What it must be like to be Raul Esparza!!! What a charmed life this man has been blessed with!!!

Somebody's off their meds.

[R120] What makes you say that?

Looking good at the NBC Upfronts today.

So I guess he's staying with SVU

Looks like Papi has his own "Special episode" Can't wait to see him being vulnerable.

We can only pray a topless scene - right?

Is Papi's character dying? Is he coming back to Broadway?

No, not just yet, r125.

In that article it sounds like he's coming back next year. Fuck he's hot

If anyone here has actually really fucked Raul, I certainly hope you called him Papi during it

He was the one yelling out "papi", R128!

That front view Normal Heart scene is online now, if anyone was wondering.

You still can't see anything, r130.

Normal Heart front

Normal Heart front view

I can't see anything!

R134, in the second gif, watch for the moment before she moves her hands away and before he pulls up his shorts. You'll get a bit of a view of the top of his tbcjscptscroc. You might have to click the link and enlarge the gif a bit. Wish it was a better look at it, but this is better than nothing.

You can only see a bit of the shaft. It seems that for this particular performance he didn't want to pull the whole thing out.

But you definitely can tell it's big. Just look at the way it bounces back when he pulls his underware up.

TBCJSCPCTSCROC confirmed!

You're right, R136. It sure does have a bounce to it! Lucky Joanna!

Does this mean that there is another recording of "The Normal Heart"?

[quote]underware

I'll " oh, dear..." myself

It seems like he also has big balls

Someone was arguing with me saying that he is a grower and you dont see much here, that his is small. But no, you can tell its only part of what he has, the rest is hidden.

There's always been two recordings of The Nomal Heart, r138. One from the back and one from the front. As you can see, you still can't see anything, really.

Is it Raul's bf in SVU 17x16 episode (Star-Struck Victims), just behind him, in the courtroom scene around 37:00 minute ?

No, R128. He's back with the ladies and is dating a tumblrina.

No, r143, it isn't.

Ha ha ha, r144, very funny. Do you write horror novels for a living?

Any plans for the summer? A play, movie?

Nothing so far, R146. Probably keeping a low-profile to dodge his tumblr fans and other nutcases who stalk him. I wonder is he misses the old days; before SVU and Hannibal, and before the mentally unstable tumblr girls discovered him? At least before his television fame, he could walk around and not be bothered by groups of troubled young women fawning all over him and writing stories about having one of his characters babies. Poor papi. From some of the poking around I've done on twitter, tumblr and other social media, many of his fans seem quite obsessed. I sure hope he has good security. I can't believe how different the Raul fans of today are.

He's taking a well-earned vacation right now, and then SVU resumes filming in July, so that's pretty much his plans for the summer.

well-earned? because he shot a TV series for 9 months?

Spoken by someone who knows nothing about television production, and is unable to even conceive of the idea that Raul might have a life (a busy, complicated one) aside from SVU.

r150 I think avoiding you is the most complicated part of his life

Awww, you're cute, r151. Clueless, but cute.

Raul looking cool and casual at the opening of The Taming of the Shrew last night.

More.

....

I thought it was Matt Sizemore for a moment

Is he going to be back in Law and Order next season?

Yes.

Is there a possibility that Raul could be one of the replacements in Hamilton? I think he'd be awesome as Burr or even King George. People over at BWW boards were discussing this, but seemed to think he wasn't ethnic enough for Burr.

No, no possibility. He's tied to SVU for the next season, he thinks he's too old (even though he really isn't) and he is the wrong ethnicity for Burr, at least. Also, he doesn't do replacements. Probably the biggest reason.

Ah, ok. Thanks R160. Too bad though. I'd love to see him return to Broadway.

He doesn't do replacements now, but he was one of the best Emcees in Cabaret back in the day.

I don't think we'll see him in another musical soon, unless is Sondheim related, like Sweeney. He's always expressed his desire to play that role.

and why would Hamilton want or need him

You're all nothing but a bunch of racist douches who will stop at nothing to erase Raúl's sexuality.

Fuck off hater at R163, Hamilton would love nothing more than to land Raúl. He's just too busy for Broadway right now, and if he ever reads these threads about him, I highly doubt he will ever return to Broadway and face you so-called deluded "fans". You should all stop talking about him as though you know him, or even know anything about him and his personal life. You're all just a bunch of wannabes who think you're his personal friend, or that he wants to fuck you.

Who let Tumblrina out of her padded cell??

I'm not a "tumblrina" R165. I have the right to post here too.

Raul is all around the Nantucket Film Festival with his boyfriend. Fangirls are puzzled!

Well, in the interest of full disclosure, Raul IS in a film (CUSTODY) that is being screened at the Festival, so there's that reason for his presence, too.

Yeah, but even if he didn't have the film, he would still be there. Bill works for the festival. Raul's been there like 3 or 4 times already.

And they've been photographed together, something that never happened with Nick. I guess Raul doesn't care anymore.

I hope Raul is aware of the freakshow borg that stalks him and takes the proper security precautions. All of you are sick fucks!!🐍🍎🍉🍍🍠🍓

Quite right, r169. As I said, I only mentioned that in the interests of full disclosure. Which raises the question, would CUSTODY have been included in the Festival at all, if Raul's boyfriend hadn't been the Festival Producer?

maybe not

I've seen these threads forever but didn't know what tbcjscpctscroc meant or that the threads were about Raul Esparza. Who knew he had such a following on DL?

Personally, I was more into Danny Pino and his musky hole but Raul has his charms as well.

The only freakshow in the mix is Raul's following here. And even if he has a boyfriend doesn't mean he's gay, so get over yourselves. Besides, he's never said that he is in a relationship, so how do you know that he even has a boyfriend? And whether or not he has a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, it is none of your business, so stop gossiping about him as if he isn't a real person.

r174 is a troll, but there is the fact that Raul was pleased as punch to parade his forever VFF and former wife to the world. Not so much with any boyfriend - they're always carefully hidden.

^^^BFF

New papi pic.

Flip-flopped feets!

I was wondering how long before someone commented on his flip-flopped feets! Are you one of the original feets trolls, R178??

I am! Nice to see that Raul is not only showing his feets again, but he's being photographed with his boyfriend of several years.

Of course, it would take a photo of him sucking Bill's cock for some people to admit that he's gay....And maybe they would still deny it.

Oh!!!! What an honor, R180! An original feets troll. I was wondering if there was anyone left from the old days, or if this thread has been totally overtaken by Raul's legion of "new and true" fans. Here's a pic of Raul and his boyfriend, just for you.

One more. No flip-flopped feets, but he sure looks great!

He needs to invest in some teeth whitening.

Yeah, R181/182, very different now with all the tumblr trolls.

But some things never change, like the wonder of his flip-flopped feets and his questionable fashion sense.

I am glad to see the original "flip-flopped feets" dude return!

His feets are like everyone else's- ugly.

Blasphemy!

He's starting to look more like Tom Sizemore. Or Laird Cregar.

I wonder if all the recent photos of Raul and his boyfriend will cause his tumblr fan-base to settle down and realize they don't have a chance?

Not likely, r189, where's the fun in that?

R180 (nice to see you, Original Feets Troll!) is right, they will simply refuse to believe it.

Raul went to see LMM in Hamilton one last time last night.

Why are y'all so invested in whether or not an actor is gay. Not just Raul, but any actor? What difference does it make? And he's not even that cute, and I bet he's hairy.

"and I bet he's hairy."

Is that suppose to be bad? What are you, 15?

I'd really like to know, is Raul a bottom??? Someone must know the truth. What is your opinion, feets troll?

It's widely accepted that Raul is versatile.

Proof that Raul did get the birthday present. And you all thought he wouldn't have seen it or else threw it in the garbage. He not only received it, he was moved by it. You're not always right, datalounge!!

Anyone else watching the Barbathon of SVU on USA?

All my favorite episodes - well, because Papi is at his bitchiest and snarkiest

R197 I just came here to mention that. It'll be on until 1 am ET (except from 10-11 pm).

The ep is on now where Raul asks to get strangled and the perp gets turned on in front of the jury. I'm in Eastern Time.

I love Barba's snarky comments toward Carisi. Ya know that Barba just wants to tap that so badly.

First day back on the SVU set. Raul and Max von Essen.

Max has aged a lot, damn. Raul should be glad he's aged nicely.

Papi's debut episode on SVU is always a good watch, he looks hot as hell with that belt. He's still sexy now but has aged a bit, and one thing that stands out to me about him is that his torso is disproportionately larger/wider than his legs. But anyway, looking forward to another season of Barba's hot ass

He's back on twitter, talking about 'hot plumbers', Ginger Rogers and Barbara Stanwyck....

Is that gay enough for the tumblrinas?

Bill probably took this shot:

You don't think that's Bill IN the shot, r205?

Raul said it was him

They were filming SVU around the courthouse today. I was sitting near a group of hysterical fangurls waiting to catch a glimpse of Papi. When he finally appeared on the steps, the fangurls went mental. Raul, if you're reading this, stay away from your waiting fans today. These women seemed unhinged.

Oh, forgot to add that if these fans are examples of so-called "tumblrinas," then all I can say is poor Raul. His new fans are nuts. Simply nuts. I'm not even joking when I say that I really hope that he is aware of that.

Raul is performing at the DNC tonight, in a presentation called "Our America" with other Hispanic performers.

And video of said performance.

Wow! Poor Raul, holding that performance together. The other guy was off and the woman didn't know the words...I bet he was pissed!

At least he looked/sounded good

What is up his fans? A bunch of them are planning on making a birthday present for him. What makes them think he'd want or even receive a homemade gift? I get it's the thought that counts, but really? What do they actually expect to do with it?

I wonder if there is much cross-over between the unhinged Raul-stalkers and the unhinged Cheyenne-stalkers.

I think this is the second or third time it happens, R213. I know one year the gift was money for one of the charities he supports (which is a very nice gesture) and another one some flip-flops, I think....

Thanks, R215. I checked the old Raul thread here and yeah, you're right. This is at least the second time they've done this. According to the old thread, last year they gave him a collection of poems, stories, and art that they made themselves, but there was disappointment that their efforts weren't acknowledged. The money fora charity he supports is a nice idea, but fan-girl stories, letters, and videos is bit much. Maybe it's me, but I'd feel awkward if a group of people got together to write poems about how important I am to them. Some people have no boundaries I suppose. Poor man.

Does anyone know if he is returning to SVU? Has anything been confirmed?

Yes, he is. He's already filmed three episodes, and he's prominently featured on the Season 18 poster.

Once again, bare feets. Papi at 2016 Joyful Heart Mele.

More bare feets.

He also does that leg lift "thing" he often does (e.g. During his song at the GMAC)

I wonder if bf Bill is with him. He's in photos from previous Hawaiian Meles when Raul sang. Guess I'll have to wait for official photos of the event.

Aloha, Guess who was just in our store..... Raul Esparza from Law & Order SVU ( I am a BIG fan of the show )...He and his wife are such a nice couple had a great conversation with him... Told him I was just wondering what else they could put Det. Olivia Benson( Mariska Hargitay)..thru he said yes he does too... Guess I will just have to watch and see... Just never know who is going to walk thru the door here at The UPS Store... :)

Ha, R223. I always told people he was still with his wife. Now what do all of you who claimed he isn't bisexual say? Here's the long awaited proof that he is bi, not that anyone with a brain didn't know that already. I'm glad he's back with her. She seems like a nice woman.

...................

Trolls never learn

Tumblrina, Tumblrina, Tumblrina dance, Tumblrina sing!

Is there video of that event? Why is he barefoot?

I'm sure he does like cock, R226, but obviously he's bi. Why else would he be in Hawaii with his wife? How would the woman who made that facebook post have known the woman he was with was his wife unless Raul introduced her as such? It kind of is evidence that he's back with her, wouldn't you think?

It's evidence the woman who posted it is a Tumblrina.

Though I'm not sure it was a tumblrina that made the Facebook post about Raul and his wife, there is no doubt in my mind that the tumblrinas live under a cloud of delusion. They clearly don't get that he's dated MEN in the past and present. It's evident that they come here for information and to spread their deluded fantasies...

As has been said many times in many different threads, Raul and Michele are very close friends, and their divorce did nothing to change that. They are still often seen together in public. This does not mean they are married, or even "back together"; they are not. They are two extremely close friends who took the opportunity of Raul's business trip to Hawaii to take a mini-vacation together (besides, Bill was working, couldn't go).

Poor Tumblrina isn't mature enough to understand the concept of a platonic relationship.

It's pretty obvious he's gay if you watch any of his interviews. But why is he intoducing her as his wife still? He can't still be worried about coming out affecting his image in this day and age

You don't know that he introduced her as his wife. The person may just have assumed it. Raul is very polite, very courteous in public, and I can see a total stranger making that mistake. You don't even know that it was was Michele. The poster in r223's link said the conversation was with HIM, not THEM. Several people have jumped to some erroneous conclusions here.

Anybody watching the SVU season premiere tonight? Raul's supposed to have a pretty good story line.

And tonight co starring rumoured gleeful bottom Max Von Essen!

Nice pic of Raul and Max on von E's twitter

Max got a couple of sentences and HD made him look old.

Nice bulge in Raul's tan suit. I don't like his longer hair this season. The silver is nice, though.

Raul owning the beige suit in the SVU season opener.

And here:

I liked his new haircut--a subtle version of the hipster cut with a shorter side and longer on the top. It actually made him look more youthful; either that or he had some work done. Looking less haggard than last year, and also a bit slimmer

Actual sizemeat, or just big balls?

Or, perhaps a shower and not so much a grower? Anyone here know for sure?

Empirical evidence as presented in previous discussions seems to indicate more of a shower, but that the show is pretty impressive all on it's own. Also some rather surprised observations that the balls are quite spectacular.

Thanks, R244. Very important information. I would love to see the subject myself, but will have to be satisfied by all the scientific information provided here.

big dick, average balls.

I heard a rumor that poor Papi knows SVU is a terrible show and that he really doesn't like it. He's apparently unhappy with the show and feels like his character has never been developed properly. Have any of you heard similar? I wonder how long he'll stay with the show.

He may not like the show but you can bet he loves those residuals.

He likes the people he works with, not the show. No matter what, he's outta there end of this season, maybe even sooner, if something good on Broadway comes along.

Really, R249? Do you know for certain he's leaving after this season? I can't see him leaving sooner, but wouldn't be surprised if he did depart the show at the end of season 18. Whatever he does, I hope he's happy.

I do. The sooner is just a maybe, but either way he's through with SVU by the end of the season.

his character started strong, but they are never really developed his character. I guess it hard to do when the show is basically just the Olivia Benson hour..

If he comes back to Broadway, we can stalk him again and make special presents for him!

As long as he sends us a thank-you tweet, R253!

Papi is almost 46 years old

Happens to the best of us, r255.

Raul attended The Cherry Orchard opening night with bf Bill

Any pics?

Small photo of Bill & Raul at startraksphoto.com

Raul turns 46 today

46 and looking great! Hope he returns to the stage soon.

Having fun with the birthday boy on set today:

Happy birthday to one of DL's original faves!!

Sharing birthday cake with Mariska. The gray looks good on him!

Raul's not leaving SVU. Why would he? He's making more money now than ever before, and he gets to work with one of his best friends, Mariska? Why would he want to give all that up?

r265: Agreed. Nobody wants to give up TV money and residuals. Those who want him back on Broadway only want him there because they will again have easy access to stalk him.

Who on earth would be interested in stalking a 46 year old??

Obsessed Tumblrinas.

Raul, Raul, Raul, Raul, did you get our birthday gift??? We made it specially for you!! Acknowledge us Raul, we live and breath by your every word! Each of us are patiently waiting for you to select one of us to be the vessel for your future baby. Oh, pick me, Raul, pick me!!

You left out the custom made flip-flops, r269.

Good God, R270!!

I hope that Raul is doing whatever makes him happy. Selfishly, I do hope he leaves SVU or, at least makes a return to the stage soon. Don't worry, I have no intention to give him any custom made flip-flops though (?!). I hope the feets troll hasn't sunk to such levels though.

I believe even the beloved DL feets troll expressed horror at the Tumblrinas' obsession with Raul's flip-flops.

He's not entirely happy with SVU, hasn't been for some time, but he does love the people he works with so it's still worthwhile. Even so, this will be his last season.

OMG. So many crazyasss mother fuckers on here, all obsessing and weird and speaking like they personally know his feelings and thoughts.

Fans are nuts.

Can't tell if those are pecs from working out or regular moobs....

Hahaha. They're from working out. He's kind of a gym rat, and his body fat percentage is like 8%.

R272, if you know for sure that he's leaving, do you know why? Is it the schedule and the pace of filming a series that he doesn't like? He's got to be making some good money now, but of course money isn't everything. Or, is he unhappy with the direction of the show or his character? Anything that you could share with the rest of us? And, if you are seriously in the know somehow, and what you're saying is true, I think I'm tempted to make a tumblr page just to watch the tumblrinas fall apart when it happens. That may be some good entertainment!

There's no one specific reason why. The money is great, but he's never been overly obsessed with making a buck. And just the residuals alone will keep him in hair product for the rest of his life, anyway. He's been unhappy with a lot of things on the show for a long time, but he is extremely loyal to the people he works with, particularly Mariska. But he's reached a point where he knows that's not enough any more, and he feels he has to leave for the sake of his career. He's restless, and really misses the stage. There's nothing in the offing there yet, but I think he'd bail from SVU in a heartbeat if the right project came along.

LOL r276, but I'd be afraid you'd break Tumblr.

Interesting, R277. How do you know he's leaving? Not that I am doubting you, but it seems like this site is always full of those who say he's leaving and those who say he's staying. I guess we'll all have to wait until the end of SVU's season to know for certain. Anyway, I hope what you are saying is correct, and that he's leaving SVU. It's not a good show and he really doesn't get a chance to exercise his potential and range as an actor. Can't wait for him to return to the stage. Hopefully it will be sooner than later. And I'm only half kidding about making a tumbler page to witness the obsessed individuals wrath. I'd never even heard of those fans until I read about them in the previous Raul thread. Those people are truly unhinged, can't imagine their reaction to their beloved vanishing from their TV screens.

Because that's what he's been saying privately, to his friends, for some time now.

Don't do it, r278, it/they are just not worth it. Save your brain cells for DL.

Maybe Raul will have no choice in the matter, R277. You have to wonder how much life is left in SVU. Maybe Raul is preparing for the inevitable.

The Powers That Be at SVU want to break the mothership's record of 20 seasons, and NBC seems quite happy to go along with that, and the ratings bear that out. So there's another three seasons at least after this one ends.

Raul appears in the current New York magazine issue on a page featuring actors/attendees at the opening night of The Cherry Orchard. Raul is quoted saying rats came up from his floorboards in an early apartment.

Raul is at the protest today.

R222 I guess Bill was not with Raul at the Joyful Mele in Hawaii in September. Raul must have taken Michelle. His ex appears in a photo with Raul on the Joyful Heart site from the Hawaiian gala.

Raul will be performing this Monday at the astep benefit at Joe's Pub. I wonder how many tumblrinas will be there in their crazed glory? Watch out Raul!!

This was just posted in a thread talking about Mariska Hargitay:

[quote]I'm actually a bit surprised that Raul appears to be so taken with her. I use the word "appears" because I've heard that they're not really all that close, and that while they are friends, a lot of their publicly advertised friendship is for the benefit of NBC and the show. I find that in the age of social media many casts of television shows all seem to be "besties" in real life, so I kind of doubt the depth of their friendship. I don't know Raul personally, but I know people that do, and they say that he is so laid back and not into such snobbish pretences and image the way Mariska is. A mutual acquaintance says Raul doesn't fit in with Mariska and her Hamptons/UWS buddies, so sometimes I do wonder if their friendship is publicly crafted, at least to a certain degree.

Sorry, forgot the link to the thread.

Thanks for the heads up, R285!!

The feets troll will go ballistic - Raul performed barefoot at the ASTEP benefit yesterday.

I'm not the foot troll, but he does have nice feet. He can definitely go without shoes, but not in this current cold snap.

R290 = Raul. Oh, and Raul, sweetie, it's feets troll. Not foot troll.

Why is he performing barefoot? Does he explain?

Has it been confirmed that Raul is leaving SVU yet? Has he got any other projects in the works?

Not publicly or officially yet. No, nothing specific.

Ah, OK r294. Does anyone know if he plans to stay with SVU for another season, or are the rumors upthread about this being his last true?

He's said repeatedly, in private, to friends, that this is his last season on SVU. He hasn't said anything to indicate he's changed his mind.

I love how people on datalounge always love to lay claim to Raul. You know nothing about him or what he says to his friends and family. There is no evidence that he is leaving SVU at all. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. But there's no way anyone on this site has any information. Stop lying that you know Raul or that you are friends of a friend or whatever. And, if there is any chance that you do know him, then you should be ashamed of yourself, spreading lies and untruths about Raul, his career, his personal life, and even his sexuality. I've bit my tongue long enough, and now you're spreading lies about him leaving SVU on a gossip site. Fuck you, R296 and everyone else here. Stop talking shit you don't know about.

Triggered Trollina

I believe that all of the Barba seasons are now available on Netflix, except for the current one. Can someone tell me which episodes are the best Barba ones? I'm a frau who adores sexy Raul!

Nailed it, r298. Poor Tumblrina can't handle a truth that doesn't fit in with her fantasy world, so that truth just has to be a lie. She's also insanely jealous that somebody presumes to know Raul better than she does, because of course nobody possibly could! She knows him better than anybody! (She'll probably take offense to the sarcasm here, too).

What's the frau equivalent of a guy living in his mother's basement?

Oh you just know so much, don't you, R300? I've met Raul a few times, but I've never claimed to know him, unlike some of you delusional DL posters. You hate the fact that Raul acknowledges and appreciates his female fans and his SVU fans and that you have to "share" him now, which is why you make stuff up about him, such as, "Raul told friends he's leaving SVU." Your lies will be found out soon enough, when SVU announces who is coming back for the next season. When Raul returns, then you will be exposed for the liar that you are. You don't know anything that he's told his friends, and none of you are his friends either. And no, I'm not "triggered," but I can sure tell that you are, R300 and R298. How can you call him your friend, and then lie about him on a gossip site? If you're such a great friend to him, then stop trying to label him to suit your own sick fantasies.

Stalkers Here! Stalkers There! Stalker Fan Fraus everywhere!

Run, Papi, Run!

So just because I met Raul, I'm a stalker? Sounds like you're jealous to me. Whenever I met Raul, he was very nice and gracious. He asked me personal questions and was interested in what I had to say. I'm not claiming to be his friend, but at least I've met him. He's very fond of his fans and takes time to talk to them and even get to know them a bit. He's very friendly and approachable and appreciates all of the people that support him. The only people he probably wouldn't like are people who come to gossip sites to lie about him and his personal life.

Stalker please!

Grow up, R304. Sorry that you didn't get to meet Raul. Oh, and he doesn't want to have sex with you either.

[R301, 303] you sound like the crazy girl on Tumblr who criticizes and picks fights with anyone who disagrees with her..

You sound like you think all the people on Tumblr are crazy, R306. Again, you probably are just upset because you can't pigeon-hole Raul into what you want him to be.

Like shootin' fish in a barrel.

If Raul does leave SVU after this season, then you were lucky with your guess that he's leaving. Although you clam to know him personally, no one posting here does. Do you really expect me to believe that you are some friend of his or that you are somehow in the know? I have no idea if Raul is staying on SVU or not, I think and hope he is. After all, why would he want to give up a great paycheck and the chance to work with his friend Mariska? I can't wait to see the reaction from some of the posters here if Raul does renew with SVU, how are you going to eat your words? Or are you going to lie again and say that he must have changed his mind? Time will tell. And by the way, stop insisting that his SVU fans are stalkers and obsessed fans. You're the ones who tell lies about him and his personal life.

Y'know, Lexi, now you're just being predictable. Which makes you boring.

Wow. Does this person check hourly for updates? Someone needs a hobby or two🎨 🚲 🏊

Who is Lexi?

Typical DL, accusing others of being the very thing they are. Quit pretending that DL has any insight whatsoever into Raul, his life, and his career.

Is Raul out of town? Is that why he's not at the SVU party tonight?

He should leave SVU because it's a POS, as simpl as that. Mariska might be a great friend and blah, blah...but she's no Meryl Streep. Raul has done Shakespeare, Pinter, Sondheim, Stoppard.... He must know he's wasting his talents on SVU.

I know the Leap of Faith experience was really discouraging, but he needs to come back to the stage, or at least pick a good show if he wants to stay on TV. Love his talent and think he's extremely sexy, but I had to stop watching SVU...it was horrible!

Besides, If he comes back to the stage, then I can stalk him and shower him with handmade gifts!

Mariska is his best friend and she's a great actress who does a lot of work to help victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Those issues have become important to Raul too, so I doubt that he's going to just walk away from all of that. SVU is not a piece of shit TV show. It's still one of the top-rated dramas on TV after 18 seasons, so your argument doesn't fly. I don't get why you would think he's wasting his talents there. He's getting national exposure now, and his character is interesting. He gets to show off his acting abilities in all of the courtroom scenes and I'm also sure he loves the pay. I hope Raul sticks around on SVU for a long time, but if he decides to leave the show, that would be his decision, and I'm sure he hasn't talked about that with any DL poster. Get over yourselves.

Also, what is so wrong with giving an actor gifts? Celebrities are used to receiving gifts from fans all the time and I don't get how you think that equates to stalking.

I am of two minds about Raul staying on SVU. Granted, his character has been my favorite on SVU since his debut, and since I enjoy watching him, part of me would love to see him stay on SVU. However, I also think his character has been sadly under developed after all of these years (though maybe it is better to be underdeveloped than drowning in pathos and melodrama like some of the other SVU characters' personal lives) and I agree that his talents are so far being wasted on SVU. So I would completely understand if he chose to leave SVU, and part of me would be relieved, especially if he worked on a project that made better use of his abilities (plus I would like to see him on stage).

Wow. That's one heck of a fantasy. Mariska is not Raul's "best friend". She's a friend, even a good friend, but "best"? Hahaha no.

If you think his talents are not being wasted on SVU then you clearly haven't seen the man onstage.

As if you have a clue, R318. Mariska and Raul hang out lots. They've gone to the Hamptons together, he attends all of the Joyful Heart events, and they love working together. He loves her and she loves him. He's even said he would love to live at her house, and she said she'd love to go to Paris with him. There are pictures of them hanging out together all the time. Ever since they started working together, they've become very close and his other friends have taken a back seat to her. I don't blame him, she is a fun and kind person. I'm sure he is well acquainted with her husband and her children too since he spends so much time with her.

His character is underutilized on SVU for sure, but I wouldn't say he's being wasted. He still acts the hell out of Barba when he has the chance, especially in the courtroom scenes. He and Mariska have a natural chemistry on-screen, and he's even said how much he loves working on SVU, so I highly doubt he's complaining about working on the show to anyone at all.

What difference does it make how much or how often Mariska and Raul "hang out"? What a goofy thread line to beat into the ground

You really, truly, literally believe all the SVU/NBC publicity hype? I didn't know people could still be THAT naive.

Hmmmm. The stalker now not only knows him, but also Mariska? How else can it know she is kind and fun, blah, blah, blah? This is starting to sound like a parody of a fan stalker.

How is it hype, R322? He went with Peter and Mariska to the Hamptons to see Sutton Foster in a play there. He was in Hawaii to support Mariska's organization. How is that hype? It's obvious that they are great friends, and he loves working with her. He's said so on many occasions, just as he's said how much he loves working on SVU. The point is, that someone on this thread is claiming that they have inside knowledge that he's leaving SVU. Why would he if he has stated publicly many times how much he loves it as well as how much he loves working with Mariska? He's even said that he's lucky to work with such a beautiful leading lady. Sounds like he's pretty happy on set to me. If by any chance he is leaving the show, why on earth would he discuss that with anyone that posts here?

I never said I knew either of them, R323. I'm just telling you what everyone who works with and knows them say. Everyone who's worked with Mariska says the same thing, that she is lots of fun to be around and one of the nicest people and she has a great reputation in the media compared to a lot of other celebs. I'm a huge SVU fan and follow the show and some of ts actors on social media, and I've never heard anyone say a bad thing about either of them.

Honey, you need to get a life. Really.

The people that need lives are the ones who come here and say they are friends with Raul and have insight into his life.

That's one hella deep fantasy hole you're in, Trollina.

Why don't we discuss anything important?

WHO IS HE FUCKING? WHO'S HAD HIM?

@328 is what DL is all about. Dont forget it!

R328, the better question would be, who hasn't?

Also, where is the feets troll these days?

In r289 pic, does he have a foot tattoo? Or is that just a shadow?

Its just a shadow, r331. No tattoos at all.

R289 - can we bring three thread subjects with their own trolls together?

[quote] The feets troll will go ballistic - Raul performed barefoot at the ASTEP benefit yesterday.

What was Raul doing at a benefit for Asperbers Syndrome Training and Employment Partnership?

I think he was there selling used textbooks, R333.

Gross, R328/329/330

We need The Whore from 71st Street (or was it 72nd Street?) to come back and enlighten us some more, r328.

I thought The Whore was from 73rd street, R336! Am I right in remembering that he said that Raul was a bottom?

I am not the Whore from either street, but I do recall that he is a bottom.

I guess The Whore gets around alot on the UWS? Not sure, but I believe the overall consensus has been that he's a top/versatile.

We need more stories from The Whore!

The story that went around on one of the Broadway Sex threads wasn't from the UWS whore though, was it? I think that was a different person...I believe he said Raul was versatile as well.

The Whore was definitely from W 73 st.

Any Raul thread is incomplete without the beloved flip-flopped-feets troll.

The beloved flip-flopped-feets troll made an appearance up-thread, R341!

Raul was cute last night when he forgot the words to "Being Alive" when performing at the Transport Group benefit for Mary-Mitchell Campbell, his friend , accompanist, orchestrator. He did wear shoes and Bill was there.

He forgot the lyrics!? HA!

People from a certain site that must not be named finally opened their eyes and realised that Raul is taken (and has been for 5-6 years). They freaked out, of course.

Raul engaged in a PDA with Bill in full view of the Tumblrinas who were there to worship him. That's what triggered it, r344. And now the Tumblrinas are wailing in anguish, and cyberstalking Bill.

Are you serious, R345? They're cyberstalking Bill now too?

Yes, totally serious. If you have the stomach for it, check out the "raul esparza" hashtag on Tumblr. If you have the stomach for it.

I don't have tumblr, R346, so I'll take your word for it. Good God, cyberstalking Raul's boyfriend, that's pretty low. What on earth were the tumblrinas doing at Raul's performance? Do they actually attend his events in order to meet him?

Your sanity is probably safer that way, r348, And yes, that's just why they were there. They stalk Raul anywhere they can - whenever SVU is on location, or at any event where he's scheduled to perform. And since these days those events are usually fund-raisers, the cost can be pretty steep. That's an obsessed fan for you. I would be totally unsurprised to find out they've discovered where he lives and stalk him there and in his neighborhood.

I had no idea he really has stalkers, R349! Jeez, I hope he's aware.

But they are making such beautiful waste-backet-ready gifts for Raul!

Note the Tumblrina hasn't been back to respond to the recent activity in this thread; that Raúl/Bill sighting must have shut her up for good. Long live PDA!!!!

But, I met him, and I love him and I'm sure he loves me too. I'll just have to work harder and make him better gifts so that he'll give up on men once and for all! Maybe I'll show him the my sheets and pillow cases! Maybe some new flip-flops are in order! Do you think I should show him my Barba fanfics I wrote while fantasizing about him?? I mean, he's bi, right? So he could literally fall in love with a woman again, right? And that woman will be ME! You'll see, you horrible bi-erasing, kink-shaming cis-gays!

What kind of PDA does this entail? His boyfriend is cute.

Has Raul planned any upcoming tropical trips with his ex-wife? It seems he likes to travel with her.

Is Raul staying with SVU?

Guess Raul won't be at the Nantucket Film Festival this year. Boyfriend Bill left his job there and found 2 new jobs as Director of Operations at the TriBeCa Film Festival & Projects Producer at the 25th anniversary of the Hamptons International Film Festival (October '17), both in NYC. So probably more photo ops with Bill at local events.

My guess is that he's going to stay with the show. It's terrible, but probably easy money for him.

Raul was in Custody on Lifetime last Saturday. He played a child services worker who gets suspended when a child he returned to a home is starved by her mother.

Tumblrinas finally accepted Bill as Raul's bf...at least most of them. Raul was photographed with Bill and the rest of the SVU recently.

Tumblrinas also noticed that Bill was wearing Raul's shoes!

Raul is excellent on SVU

When does the episode air featuring Lens Dunham as the victim? She's found in Central Park with pebbles and stones pushed up her vagine. Her older sister is the suspect.

Now that SVU has been cancelled, does Raul have any other projects in the works?

Hahaha, r362. But I wish you were right.

Tumblrinas realize that Raul has a boyfriend and is taken, but they still fantasize about him and insist he's bisexual. One of them even hopes he will find a younger woman to have children with, and insists that Raul is "desperate" to have kids because he said something about wanting kids in an interview when he was in Chitty.

Anonymous asked: Do you ever think that it's sad for Raul to go to set and be surrounded by all those babies? He's the only cast member without children. Someone give him a baby!!

Honestly anon, I worry about this for him. I know he has said he wants kids. I think he would be an amazing father, if anything he can adopt. Any child would be so lucky to have this darling as their dad. He would basically be like my Chilty hc as a dad, imho. He would love his kid so much, be there for everything every school play, every sports game. And he would want to be home a ton for the child, I think. So I hope if he still wants it, as I think he does, he gets it. I mean just look at him with Iain, most devoted Godfather EVER. sorry this got long. But most Godparents are not that involved, and he constantly involves Iain and it’s clear he adores that boy. I just want Raúl to get all his heart desires thanks anon answered asks I'm getting all verklempt with raúl dad feels raúl esparza

And clearly, some tumblrinas don't understand biology....

Raul being a dad: I think he's still young enough to have biological children, I mean people keep having kids later in life now. Prehaps he feels too old to have kids now or hasn't found the right person to have them w/? Just as long as he's happy!

True it’s really all about him whatever makes my sweet cinnamon roll happy.

Gorgeous.

That was such a great production. They were all wonderful!

The Raul threads around that time were really fun as well...

"Sweet cinnamon roll"? Are there really delusionals that write these things about someone they've never met?

"raúl dad feels" ......What? They have "feels" about Raúl being a father? "Someone give him a baby"? And someone is worried for him because he doesn't have children? And what is Chilty hc?

And why does someone "think" that he still wants to have kids? Not saying he doesn't, but how would tumblr person know?

Stalkers here! Stalkers there! FanFrau stalkers EVERYWHERE! Run, Papi, Run!

I thought svu was cancelled. I haven't seen it on TV in ages! I just assumed.

'Chilly' I supposed is a reference to his Chilton character in Hannibal, but have no idea what the hc means.

I believe "hc" means "head canon", an idea or relationship or personality trait that the fan has invented out of thin air and has no basis for existence within the show's "canon". In this case, Chilton being a father is "head canon" something the fan has invented, because there was never anything related to personal or family matters said about Chilton anywhere in any of the episodes of the show.

How odd, R375!

Papi is getting some voice work. He'll be voicing Moreno in Ferdinand.

Has there been any word on whether or not he'll be staying with SVU yet?

On May 15 Raul & others will participate in a gala honoring Stephen Schwartz

Has SUV been canceled yet?

Not yet, R379. I don't think NBC will announce anything until May. I'm sure it'll be renewed, no idea if Raul is staying with the series though.

It's been mentioned that both the network and Dick Wold really want to see it surpass the original L&O, so I'm pretty sure they'll limp it along to season 20 at least. It's a god awful show with all around terrible acting, targeted towards the tumblr crowd. At least Raul is making a decent paycheck.

Raul managing to look hot even while wearing dorky glasses, at the Groundhog Day opening. Mariska inexplicably wearing hood ornaments around her neck.

Those glasses are awful. I wonder who told him they look good? Otherwise Raul looks great. The other two, not so much.

Respectfully disagree. He doesn't look so hot - he looks like he's wearing a bad hairpiece (even if that's his real hair). Hopefully that's a just a bad picture.

Oh, it's his own hair, r384. He just has an unhealthy obsession with hair product.

Such an intelligent and talented man. Such horrible taste in glasses. Oh well, at least his clothing seems more fashionable and actually fits him these days.

I heard he brought the wifey to that

I think Raul looks hot in those glasses. He must wear contact lenses most of the time.

He did, R387. I can't imagine how low her self esteem must be. Raul cheated on her and hid his sexuality from her, and still she remains friends with him. Clearly the woman hasn't moved on. Bill must have have self esteem issues too if he's ok with Raul holidaying with his ex and taking her out on the town. Meanwhile, Raul has the best of both worlds at his beck and call.

Wow. Projecting your own issues onto someone you've never met and know nothing about. How very Tumblrina of you.

Well, he did fool around with men while they were still married, everyone knows that. He does trot her out to public events and takes her on holidays. That's public knowledge. Typical loathsome bisexual behavior. He's lucky he found two suckers willing to put up with it.

Bulge!

There used to be a nice collection of bulge and feets pics in the old Raul threads. The new ones need them, to balance the trollinas and tumblrinas

We'll find out soon whether or not Raul is staying with SVU! I kind of hope the poster upthread is right and that Raul leaves the show. It'd be worth it just to see the tumblrinas fall apart.

They want him to leave the show so he can come back to Broadway...and then they can stalk him again and give him special presents.

They stalk him and give him special presents now anyway, R395. I wonder where they get their money from. They don't all live in NY, and somehow they all seem to have enough money to fly across the country to attend his singing engagements. They were all in a tizzy a while ago when a few of them actually saw Raul and Bill together, and some of them started cyberstalking Bill and his family. What do you want to bet that they're not happy for Raul, and are actually seething with jealousy.

R389 Or maybe Michele knew all along. Or at least much earlier than you seem to give her credit for. If we as casual observers knew about Raul and Jeffrey Carlson back in 2004, I can't imagine his wife was oblivious. Maybe their marriage was open. They'd hardly be the first.

You're probably right, R397.

I don't really get the fascination with him or his personal life. He's a terrific stage actor who got lucky with a terrible TV show. None of these new fans even heard of Raul before either Hannibal or SVU, so it's not like they were fans of his stage work. He's not as good looking as he once was and he's not aging all that well. Besides, isn't he old enough to be most of these fangirls father?

If you want to make a tumblerina's head spin, just ask them why, if Raul is bisexual, he didn't just stay with Michele?

The latest from Tumblr.

Raul has neither confirmed nor denied that he is dating Bill. Biphobia may be the reason for Raul choosing to keep his relationship private (if he is in one).

There are many photos of Raul & Bill together at functions [399] so the relationship is not private. They've appeared and posed together at several functions the last 2 months. And when Raul is interviewed Bill often appears behind him.

I know, R400. It's tumbrinas denying Raul and Bill's relationship since Raul hasn't released a "public" statement about his relationship status. They think it's possible that he's keeping it private because of "biphobia."

WTF are they on? Raul is nowhere near A list status (I don't think he can be consider 'Broadway A list' anymore) to release some sort of statement. Delusional much?

From Tumbler:

anonymous asked:

"What part of the media does not report on Raul do you not understand?"

"It’s called the internet. I understand that it won’t be the headline in the Washington Post tomorrow, but there are other sources of media. IF he says something, it will be on the internet in an instant, and anyone who wants to know can find it.

But every Broadway/SVU/Hannibal/ect. blog/newsletter/ect. will cover it. Not to mention Twitter. It’s not about making a big media splash. It’s about people knowing. He does not want the broader public to know, and I respect that."

anonymous asked:

"Just because an actor has representation and people to "make statements for him" does not mean anybody will listen, or care. Press releases are made to the media and the media doesn't care in the least about Raul's private life. He is not news. He's way under their radar. So his agent or PR person could make a statement every day and it would never get printed. Which is why nothing will ever be said publicly about his private life."

You are the public. Yes, he does not have the reach Tom Hanks has, but are you telling me you wouldn’t care if he said something publicly? Judging from this website there are others like you. Some of those people are assholes. Some of them will say mean things. My point was and is: there is a reason he hasn’t said anything on Twitter or any other sort of other platform. I respect whatever that reason is.

anonymous asked:

"I respect Raul's privacy, but if he chooses to pose with Bill at functions (recent photos at the Andre Bishop function, the Custody after party, the Bailey House Gala, etc.) then he is no longer keeping this relationship as private as he was before. IMO."

But he hasn’t said “Hey guys, this is Bill, my boyfriend. Everyone say hello to Bill, my boyfriend.” My point, in that very bad dramatic interpretation, is that he hasn’t explicitly said anything. No tweet, no statement, no sky writing.

Maybe he doesn’t want to make a big deal about it, or doesn’t think it concerns anyone what he does, and who he does it with. I get not wanting to politicize your sexuality. Especially when there are people, in your own community, who call you all sorts of names, promote nasty stereotypes about you, and tell you that you aren’t really part of that community.

Holy cow, r403! I know the Tumblrinas are crazy obsessed, but this is downright scary! According to what you quoted, he's not allowed to have a private life if he's anywhere out in public.

Boy's gonna need bodyguards if they keep this up.

That tumblrina linked at r403 is obsessed with both Raul and Seth MacFarlane! Wow.

Raul as Senator Marco Rubio grilling Alec Baldwin as Rex Tillerson In All The President's Men? last night at the Public Theater.

I don't engage with Tumblrinas, but I have to wonder if the person R403 is quoting can name a single celebrity that has given a public statement that they are dating a non-celebrity. Gossip mags don't care when a celeb is dating a nobody. Usually the only times publicists make public statements are when they get engaged or have a baby.

Raul said that his SVU fans are the greatest! Suck it, haters.

Someone gave him a 'Raul & Bill' drawing. I wonder what he really thought about that one...

Oh, you poor, deluded, naive Tumblrina, r408. You really think he's going to tell the truth, say "I hate it, they're scary" in public? He CAN'T.

He doesn't hate his SVU fans, R410. He's met many of them and has always been friendly and approachable. If he didn't like them, he wouldn't spend the time to chat and take selfies with them. He loved the drawing of him and Bill, as well as the other drawings/sketches that the artist and fan gave to him last night and the last time they met. You sound jealous of how Raul has embraced his "new" fans.

And, there is no evidence at all that Raul is leaving SVU, so whoever said that upthread was lying to get attention and pretending that he had inside information.

No evidence at all except the words coming out of his mouth, R412. So I have as much evidence that he's leaving as you have that he thinks SVU fans are the greatest.

I just can't imagine seeing Raul's performance on SVU and being so blown away by him that I would spend all day talking about him on the internet and drop everything to fly 3000 miles to a concert to hear him sing one song.

I started following his career about seeing him in Taboo and The Normal Heart. He was so magnetic onstage that I've seen most of his stage performances since. I can understand the Hannibal fans- at least he gave a good performance on that show- but SVU is mind-numbingly bland. Even Raul can't come across well with those insipid scripts.

Someone flew 3000 miles to see him sing one song? I guess the insanity of the tumblrinas knows no bounds.

I believe one of the Tumblrinas flew all the way from Germany just to go to the gala.

It must be expensive to be an obsessed fan.

I wish I had that kind of spare cash just laying around.

Sorry- he sang two songs. And there were fans from Florida and the West Coast as well.

I mean, by all means, if you have the money to piss away, go for it. Keep America's economy alive. I don't understand how the ADA on SVU inspired such devotion.

Are these the fans the tumblr fans, R419? Isn't that one from Florida the obsessed one that has drawings made of her and Raul getting married?

he has a big dick

Raul warmed up the crowd at the opening ceremony at the NYC Aids Walk on Sunday in Central Park. He's seen doing a "nerdy" dance to a Frenchie Davis song.

I guess we'll find out tomorrow whether or not Raul is staying with SVU.

Does anyone know if he was at Mariska's Joyful Heart Gala last night?

Why tomorrow? It's just the final episode of this season, not the beginning of next.

Right, R424, I just thought if he's leaving they'd give him an exit story in tonight's episode.

Raul was at the Splits Screens Hannibal Panel last night. He was also interviewed separately about Chilton's make-up, his suggestions/additions to the character, and much more.

Time flies....He now sports an almost full grey beard.

But still looks hot as fuck

any pix with beard?

Here you go:

thanks. not sure that's a full gray beard but he looks good with the specs. papi is now a daddy

Theres a tumblr fangirl that actually paid an artist to draw a picture of herself and Raul embracing and looking into each other's eyes. Very romantic lol.

Those glasses are awful.

He looks super hot lately.

R433 He really does.

No news/ sight of Raul since May. Has he been hiking in a western national park or visiting his parents in Florida? Thought he might tweet about his godson's dad to be in Hamilton or Ian's challenge to take part in ham4all....

He's looking pretty gross these days, starting to look like an old man. I know he's 46, but he looks way older. Lost his charm completely.

R435 maybe he'll show up on Young Sheldon! Plenty of Hispanic-character potential in a Texas setting!

Mayor of the racially-balanced town where lil Shelly lives; fry cook/owner of the local taqueria...

I find that Iain to be annoying.

He was very good in Big Little Lies.

That kid is very lucky that his father is connected and that mother has enough money to do nothing but focus on his career and force her kid on everyone (Broadway actors esp) like in all those Iain Loves Theater vids and Twitter shout outs etc...Good for the kid I guess, but I find him irritating and not genuine. He comes across as overly mannered and rehearsed.

Wow. Hot.

Maybe this will be Raul's last season on SVU. Philip Winchester, who played a lawyer on one of the Chicago franchises, is joining SVU later this season as an ADA. I can't see SVU having two ADAs. Hopefully this means Raul will make a return to the stage!

Keep the thread alive. Tumblr has a photo of Raul in his Hannibal burn suit makeup, sadly with a rubber duck concealing the most important part.

Must have been a big duckl cut.

Seems Raul has been out and about filming SVU, got to get those residuals and keep the bf in the style to which he's grown accustomed.

He's really aged a lot in the last few years, and not too well in my opinion.

He was letting himself get run down but lately he's been looking cute and rather dapper.

I wish the Raúl thread had more activity, like in the old days. Maybe if he goes back to Broadway it will pick up again...

Why is he wearing old man glasses?

Doesn't anyone have any gossip anymore? Has it all been said? No one even cares enough to invent stories about his fuck life? Used to be we all heard about who he was eating pizza with and what he was buying at the store. I want the fictions back too, maybe this is just longing for the good old days of him in the theater. Seems like a lot more exciting as a life style than shooting TV. Also I like the glasses.

In a world of Instagram twinks to invent stories about, aging Raul is getting to be a has-been on the Lounge.

Raul's old and boring now. Leave him to the tumblrinas with daddy issues, R450. He's even wearing glasses a dad would wear.

Old, ugly, fat...next. With that big nose and fat stomach of his he looks like a penguin.. He doesn't really have a face for TV with those bags under his eyes and that huge nose.

Raul just said that he'll be back on stage doing eight shows a week, "sooner than you think." Check out the below interview. Raul is on at about the 35 min mark.

I like the dad look, though the tint on the glasses has to go. He's definitely sexier onstage than off.

He seems like he's mellowed a lot. Bad for DL drama, good for him.

wow he talks about himself a lot, how many Prince shows he's done, him him him

Any guesses as to what he'll come back for? Surely not a new musical, he's learned his lesson.

If he returns to Broadway the tumblrinas will be able to stalk him every day!

Whatever project he chooses, it'll be something that gives him a chance at finally getting his Tony.

[quote] wow he talks about himself a lot, how many Prince shows he's done, him him him

What a shocker! Raul is notoriously arrogant. Despite what his new crop of fans want to believe the old DL stories about him aren't lies.

I don't watch SVU much anymore but Barba is a hot daddy.

R460 if he returns to Broadway, most of the tumblrinas will lose interest because they can't watch him on TV from their couches every week. They'd have to get off their asses, travel to NY and spend $100 for a theatre ticket to see him.

Hallelujah, then we can get back to the real gossip and theater bitching without being subject to swoop raids from women who want to have his children or shop themselves into photos with him.

Oh, poor naive, R464. Plenty of those tumblrinas live in or close to NYC. And the ones that don't have plenty of cash and brag about how they fly into town just to see him sing a song or two at a benefit.

Where on earth do they get their money? Aside from selling their weird drawings of celebrities online...

I miss the days when people could do just the right amount of stalking. Like Gawker Stalker. Enough that your curiosity is met, but you don't feel like a creep.

They don't feel creepy about it at all, R467. That's the problem. They have a whole online community that encourages and supports their behavior. As far as the where the money comes from, who knows?? I know that one of them works but lives like a pauper so she can fly off to NYC at the drop of a hat to go and see Raul in any event he's performing in. Some of them are on the dole and live with roommates. A few of them are completely nuts.

Does anyone think Raul has a case of gynecomastia- big man boobs ? They are really noticeable in several photos when he's wearing a Tshirt.

No, r469. It's just that he works out a lot (REALLY a LOT! but he gets testy if you call him a gym rat), and his trainer emphasizes diaphragm and chest to maximize vocal support. So he just has a really well developed chest.

Why do you have such a big gut then, Raul @ R470?

If he wants to work his chest to maximize his vocal support he should quit smoking.

it's developed but not defined

Nah, he just has moobs.

The gut is where the diaphragm is so that actually makes sense, but I wanna hear from someone who actually called him a gym rat.

He needs to update his head shots and publicity photos. He's good-looking but he can't pass for 10-15 years younger and the skin around is neck is noticeably looser now.

r471, you think everybody who doesn't have a concave stomach and a six pack is fat. I said quite clearly his trainer emphasizes working on the diaphragm. You might want to check an anatomy book. What you call the "gut" is the area below the diaphragm and in Raul's case it isn't fat, it's muscle. His body fat percentage is somewhere around 15%.

Oh come on! He's chunked out over the last several years and his weight has always fluctuated, hence the loose skin on his neck. He's still good looking, but he's got a case of mid-age "dad bod." That's chunk, not muscle. What are you basing this alleged 15% body fat on? And if he's such a gym rat and so concerned about his voice and working out, why is he such a heavy smoker?

I think r470+ is a tumblrina

He's lost weight recently. It does seem like it goes up and down. He looks cute now. He's never going to look like he's 30, but he's really grown into the whole older gentleman thing. And he used to look miserable and now when I see red-carpet photos he looks happy. I don't buy that he's obsessed with working out though. Although for some people it can actually make them put on weight. You do have to do a lot of physical training to get that kind of voice out, but high-profile singers I've known have not bulked up from it.

Remember the LOF fiasco, R479? He had quite the belly then. He's lost weight since but still his weight goes up and down quite a bit, you can see it on SVU. Some seasons he look trims, sometimes he's got a belly. He's nearing 50, so that's really no surprise. I agree he looks happier as of late. If rumors are true that he may be departing SVU and returning to the stage, then old Papi should definitely focus on his cardio so that he's capable of running from the tumblrinas who will stalk him endlessly at the stage door.

R480 I always thought he looked great during LOF, could never understand the criticism. I suppose that kind of catastrophe would make anyone want to dive into bed with a bottle of vodka and a shit ton of ice cream and not come out though. That would be my response. Happiness and health tend to go hand in hand. Wonder if he's happier because of the prospect of getting off TV. (Surely he could fit Bojack Horseman in with 8 shows a week though.) He needs a big burly boyfriend to act as his bouncer, though I'm positive the tumblrinas would just go nuts over how sweet that was. They think everything gay is cute.

Didn't I see he's doing an interview with a priest for Broadway Bares Soul this year? Is he Catholic? Seems like a wild choice for someone who doesn't like to talk about himself.

Yes he's Catholic. He appeared 2 years ago on a televised Christmas mass with the same priest and sung two carols. There is also an interview in which he discusses his faith. Can't his current bf Bill act as his bouncer?

I totally forgot about the LOF weight incident. Wasn't there a NYPost column about how producers were unhappy about Raul looking chubby in early promos?

It wasn't the producers, it was Michael Riedel making up stuff out of thin air because he hates Raul, always has (rumor has it it's because Raul wouldn't sleep with him).

R482 Isn't Bill fairly tiny though. Not that I wouldn't pay good money to see that stage door scene. I don't know why the idea of it entertains me so much but it really does. Imagine falling in love with someone and finding out your job includes defending them from having crazy-eyed fangirls pelt them with flip-flops and scrapbooks of their own face. Also I just find it interesting that he would talk about being Catholic while ignoring the lavender elephant in the room. It's a pity, I'm religious (though not Christian, thank god) and like hearing how other people have navigated the two worlds.

R484 didn't Raul call Michael Riedel a pig at one point. I believe the rumor, Riedel started out nice and turned really nasty and personal towards him.

I've seen a lot of things, but one of the craziest things I've seen is Melissa Errico befriending a few of Raul's tumblerina fangirls. It's sweet that she was kind to them, don't get me wrong, but chatting with them on social media and even meeting privately with them is a bit much. I don't think she has any idea....

Melissa Errico is sweet, but she's several cards short of a full deck.

r476 you know - or claim to know - his % body fat?!?!

R486 What/when was this? At the Transport Group thing? I suppose if she gives them attention, no one else has to. I still wish there was a SitPwG recording of her and Raul. He was great, and she might have been the best Dot I've heard. Too bad the production as a whole was so-so.

I think it was the Transport Group thing, R489. There was a bit on twitter about it, and then she met up with some of the Raul fans on other occasions. She communicates with a few of them on twitter, I believe.

Listening to Annaleigh Ashford on the cast recording of Gyllenhaal's Sunday makes me wish even more for a recording of Melissa Errico. Oof.

But will she be at Joe's Pub next week to meet up with her fan friends? Maybe she's a bouncer, but very gentle.

Keeping this thread alive: Raul and Patti from this week.

He looks horrible in that photo. His face looks likes it's melting.

No, he looks amazing as always. No wonder he is SeXy AF...we share the same birthday!! YAS! 💋Raul.

Cruel. TBH I think he looks cuter now then he did ten years ago... the post-Company era was not kind, even if it was his creative apex.

R494 here....Another actor mentioned earlier in the thread and fellow L&O SVU'er is BD Wong, also born on Oct 24th. Ya, we are SeXy & KinKy AF Scorpios!😏

I'm sorry, I can't let this happen without comment. Are you a twelve year old girl, R496? Who the fuck capitalizes random letters in the middle of words?

R497 I DO Bitch! I'm a Scorpio. I do WTF I want. I also happen to be a college graduate, so BiTe Me!

This is what they're teaching today in college?? We're doomed.

As a college professor I can confirm it is not what they are teaching in college (although I do see a lot of students who mysteriously have no idea which words are supposed to be capitalized and which aren't). It's a style of writing I associate with people who write stories on fanfiction.net. Which I guess is not incompatible with the type of Raul fans on tumblr.

Those glasses are awful.

Don't understand why people hate the glasses. Maybe it's because I have similar ones. I find them quite distinguished. Oh well.

I'm sure the glasses suit you better, R502.

Feets

No Raul thread would be complete with our beloved "flip-flopped feets" enthusiast!

Welcome back!

'

How on earth does any figure he has 15% body fat? Look at that gut. It's hanging over his shorts.

Where have the feets gone? Where the flip-flops? Where are the admirers of the tbcjscpctscroc? Alas for the bitchy gossip! Alas for the dubious sex tales! Alas for the backstage rumors and Broadway stalkers in the street! How that time has gone away now, passed into the darkness of Tumblr, as though it had never been.

Now it's just twelve-year-olds and Michael Riedel wannabes.

R507, the Raul fandom has long been taken over by Tumblrinas; i.e. - fangirls who fantasize about Raul rather than admitting to their serious daddy issues. He's just a proxy for their fathers. Odd, since they hate cis males so much.

R508 have they driven out everyone else? Does no one still care enough about this gently aged icon to gossip about him on the internet?

Honestly, beyond his acting in play I've never understood his appeal. Why on earth teen girls are so taken by him? They refer to a man old enough to be their father as a "cinnamon roll." I really don't get it. He's got a hook nose, baggy eyes, and his bleating, braying goat vibrato is hard on the ears. He hasn't aged that well either. He's a fine stage actor, but that's it. He's horrible on SVU and his face is better suited to the stage.

R509 I do. Why else was I watching the season premiere of SVU on Weds, other than to see Raúl? Who had a bigger part than usual, and who I thought looked great!

R510 I considered myself an educated fan of both Broadway and opera, and I love his singing. I prefer slightly imperfect voices that are more expressive over technically perfect but bland voices. I don't understand the appeal of a lot of young modern Broadway stars who have an uninteresting, overproduced pop sound. Their only appeal is that they look good in an interchangeable Teen Wolf way. There are roles that Raul isn't technically suited for because his voice is very specific, but in others he's peerless. He has a rare capacity to communicate emotion onstage, and I think a certain amount of intelligence that makes him a great interpreter of Sondheim.

As for looks, I'm not a teenage fangirl. So I can't comment. I'm more interested in what a person can do than in what he looks like. But he's charming enough that... I would. As for SVU, I've always gotten the impression it was less an acting job than a subsidy that kept actors living in New York. No one is good or bad on it; they just show up and get paid.

(Sometimes I miss the ancient Internet days when there were mailing lists and message boards where people could go to talk about performers they liked without it all disintegrating into "Well *I* wouldn't fuck him!" or "omg Raul is mY dAdDy!")

I like Raul and his work. He can sing but I'm not overly fond of his voice.

dAdDy?? Oh good lord.

R496 & R498 here. I am NOT a 12yo girl, I am an adult female Scorpio. I know what I like, I know what I want, and I know how to GeT It....lots of IT

Once again....Bite Me!

The DL is over Raul, hopefully this will be the last thread devoted to him.

This is sad. (I mean both of the last two posts.) I feel like everyone should come out and take a bow now. Which posts were actually Raul? Which were Nick? Which were Bill? Who WAS that feets troll, anyway? Who did the various UWS whores moved on to? Seems like Broadway's gotten very boring in the last few years, judging by the DL.

If I knew how to do it I'd post the glorious photo of Raul in tuxedo from the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame Gala the other night!

Do you mean this one?

Wow, is this thread really not dead? Let's talk about how whenever I watch SVU and Raul Esparza shows up all I can think about is him cashing his cheques at the bank and laughing like a supervillain. Not that I blame him... like... we all have to put food on our families, etc, etc. But homeboy's just barely bothering to show up for his scenes anymore. It's like they're the distraction from his real job, being Mariska Hargitay's bestest gay friend.

Turns 47 tomorrow.

That picture is cute, but I'm a little creeped out by someone on this board feeling the need to know and comment on an actor's birthday unless you actually know him. This feels like some internet fan thing. I don't even know most of my friends' birthdays without Facebook reminders. What do people get out of knowing actors' birthdays? That's not a rhetorical question. I literally don't understand.

I can't help but wonder if one of the chorus boys that Raul chased around in his Broadway heyday will come out with a metoo story. We all know that papi liked them young plus he used to treat some of them like shit, all while he was cheating on his wife. Wonder if any spurned ex's will make a claim.

Probably not because Raul isn't a celebrity.

From another thread on DL recently:

[italic]I've had the chance to be around former B'way darling Raul Esparza. He was OK, a little standoffish at first but still polite (it was a social gathering, not a public event). Anyway, a handful of drinks in and he bitched a bit about his fans invading his privacy and how he didn't realize that fans of Hannibal and L&O would be so "persistent," and that's the word he used. It was actually pretty funny to be honest. It didn't sound to me like he's a huge fan of his television fans, not that he hates them, but is tired of them.[/italic]

Looked at R521's photo.

It just made me cum.

[quote] I am NOT a 12yo girl, I am an adult female Scorpio.

And the difference would be......?

Bacardi rum has a new advertising campaign.

Raul is so hot in this ad [528] and more so in the Spanish version!

I can see how Raul would be taken aback by the sheer ardor of his Hannibal and SVU fans, and it's probably nothing like what he experienced when he was on Broadway. If he thinks they are "persistent" (and a group of them definitely are, because they find him at every one of his public events and have new gifts for him each time), I hope he has never ever looked at his tag or the "Rafael Barba" tag on Tumblr, because he would never leave the house if he read all of the porn written about him or his character.

Raul heading up a limited-run production (5 days) of CHESS at the Kennedy Center in February. The Tumblrinas must be ecstatic.

Do crazed Raul frau stalkers do double-duty as crazed Cheyenne frau stalkers?

Raul entertained a sold-out audience at the Sheen Centre last night with songs and stories about his youth and career.

Apparently he looked good:

and sounded even better.

Did he mention how he hid in the closet for years, doesn't want to be labeled, and treated others like shit, R533? No?

There was zero talk about his personal life, which I didn't expect, since he has an aversion to talking about his personal life in public these days. Plus the fact that this was lead by a Catholic priest, and I can't imagine he wanted to address Raul's sexuality. One of the questions asked to Raul by Father Beck was phrased in such a way that you wouldn't know he was referring to Raul's ex wife, and that must have been deliberate on his part.

Raul is really hot in the 2nd & 3rd episodes of The Path’s season 3. He plays a professor of religion. I really dig his professor/dad cardigan sweater!

Raul is going to appear in another Miscast (MCC Theater benefit) gala on March 26.

The Tumblrinas have dissolved in paroxysms of grief - Raul has finally left SVU for good. Told you so.

Finally!

Hopefully a play is on the horizon

The plan is to bring Chess to Broadway near the end of the year, unless it tanks miserably in DC.

Oh!! The tears in the SVU fandom! Wow, they are a deluded and quite insane bunch, taking it personally that their "cinnamon roll" left the show and that his beloved character murdered a baby!

Wait, what?? I don't watch Law and Order, but I love Raul. His character killed a baby?? Sounds like a good episode.

Yes, R544, he pulled the plug on a dying baby. The tumblrinas are beside themselves with grief and despair.

Hah. The Tumblrinas have moved on to the anger stage of grief. If they had their way SVU would never air again and all the writers would be burned at the stake. Fandom behavior at it's very best.

Yes, R546. And they are literally OUTRAGED ™ that a straight, white cis male character and actor are taking his place. The writers and producers should just die for ruining Barba and turning him into a murderer! If that's not enough, some of them have taken to harassing the new guy on social media.

I think part of their outrage is because they feel they've been betrayed, been lied to, been duped. But the fact they only saw the show through their headcanons and their 'ships, and conveniently ignored anything that didn't fit with "their" version of the show. So, they lied to themselves, and their overreaction is the result. Thus fandom.

SVU gave Papi a Sunday in the Park exit line.

Kennedy Center site shows that all perfs of CHESS are either sold out or nearly so.

Raul sitting on his ex Michele’s lap at Chess rehearsal ! Does Bill approve/accept this?

Here's the pic, R551. Are Raul and Bill still together? I thought they broke up recently.

Did they?

Michelle has always been a part of his life. She's probably met all the previous bfs.

Que circo.

Raul is not one to mince words.

looooooooooove him bummed he leavin that tv show

he is awesome !!!!!!!!!! on bway....

You thought wrong, r552, Raul and Bill are still very much together.

He sure has packed on the pounds again.

He now has a dad bod thing going on. Still hot.

He got great reviews for Chess, even though he was sick. Wonder if they are moving this to Bway.

R553 Michelle and Bill get along.

I admit to being very fascinated with the Raul/ Michelle connection. They are clearly very close, and Michelle seemingly has no hard feelings about his presumably extensive dalliances with men when they were married. Their close friendship is actually nice to see.

I wonder how she felt at the time, R561? I mean, I'm glad they're still friends, but it couldn't have been easy for her knowing he was cheating on her for all those years. Unless, there's more to it, and they had an open relationship or something, and the marriage was basically a sham. Anyway, good for them both that they've worked whatever out and remained friends. And, yes tumblrinas, if any of you are reading, it was well known at the time that Raul had boyfriends while he was still married to Michele, so don't even start with the whole, "my cinnamon roll would never!"

The only window we ( or at least those of us who don't know Raul) have into his relationship with Michelle is the infamous NYT profile in 2006. There definitely seemed to be some emotional struggles between the two of them, which is understandable, because he was still married to her and he was in a relationship with another man at the same time. I mean, the article made it sound like Raul married Michelle, because his family was giving him some hell when they found out about his relationship with one of his professors. So she very likely didn't know about his attraction to men at the time, but I imagine she figured it out soon enough. I'm still amazed at how long their marriage actually lasted, and wondered if that was just because they are both Catholics, Raul's parents seemed to have some issues with his attraction to men, or if their emotional bond was strong enough to not let each other go. Like I said, their entire relationship from past to present fascinates the hell out of me.

I wonder the same thing, R563. I think them both being Catholic may have had something to do with the marriage lasting as long as it did. Sometimes I wonder more about her than him though. What I mean is, why did she tolerate his indiscretions and why has she remained friends with him after everything. Most women would not put up with their partner cheating, never mind remaining friends with him for years afterwards. Like I said before, I'm glad they're still friends and are supportive of one another, but I feel most of that credit has to go to her.

He got what wanted and what was convenient for him essentially; a woman to marry, partially to appease his parents and to cover his sexuality, and at the same time he was able to have relationships with men and be both open and very discrete at the same time. People would see Raul out and about with various men at the time, yet he'd trot her out to Broadway and other NYC events. She must have either known and been OK with it all, making her the most forgiving woman in the world, or she was truly the most blind. Whatever the situation is/was, it's working for them, so that's good.

I wonder about her too (not in a mean way, but just a curious way). Because I agree, she deserves a large part of the credit for their strong bond, because she stuck by him all those years (hell, he even specifically said as much in 2007 when he was giving his acceptance speech at the Drama Desk Awards). It makes me curious about HER romantic relationship status, but hey, they seem like happy friends who are an important part of each other's lives. Not everyone can say they have such a good, supportive friend. It also makes me curious what it is about Raul that made her want to stick around and be such a supportive friend/beard.

Several who attended Chess said that Bill, Michelle, and Raul’s parents were all there. Did they all stay together at the Watergate??

Yes.

Michelle has probably known longer than we gave her credit for. No woman would stay friends with an ex if he were cheating on her for years. I'm also curious about her. I don't think- as many on DL seem to- she's pining away for him after all this time. They're clearly best friends. Anyone who's seen them together can see that.

but has she been dating all the time he has?

five year old picture but this is the actor who has replaced papi on svu

Toast has more charisma than Philip Winchester.

Papi was cast in a pilot.

He looked awful during Chess.

The Tumblrinas must be going ape shit, r470.

R570 is a Tumblrina, R572. She's one of the stalkers, and because of her and her nutcase friends, Raul didn't stage door during Chess.

Ah, thanks for the clarity, r573. To hear him talk, that's pretty much going to be the standard from here on out.

R570 is not a Tumblrina. I used to live in NY 10 years ago and knew of him through Broadway. I'd prefer him in a Mamet play again than a bad NBC pilot that will never make it to series.

Sure, Lexi. You do realize he has enough Pokémons and stuffed penguins now, right?

How does posting an article that was trending on Deadline make me a Tumblr stalker fan?

If you want to invent imaginary fandom drama, have at it. I'll go back to the theatre gossip threads.

Raul was so hot in his last episode as professor Jackson Neill on The Path. He appeared on a TV interview show with Meyerist Cal. Maybe he’ll be back next season?

Is Chess dead?

No. If it does go to Broadway, it won't be until December at the earliest, but more likely February or March.

The new show he was working on didn't get picked up by the network. He's not really a good television actor anyway and his face certainly isn't suited for HD. Eating the scenery may work on stage but television, not so much.

I disagree 581. I believe he’s a great TV actor: Hannibal and SVU. His face is suited to all facets of his acting both stage and TV.

I prefer Raul's stage work to his television. Not so much a fan of musicals or Raul's singing voice, but he's excellent in plays; one of the best in fact. I never thought his style of acting was suited for television though and couldn't stand his Barba character which always seemed so overwrought and theatrical to the point of absurdity. He was better in Hannibal and managed to tone down his tendency to overact.

That said, it's not like SVU is known for good acting. Ice T, Mariska, and Belzer won't exactly be holding any master classes any time soon. Sorry to any SVU fans here, but if you want to see an entire cast with actual talent for acting, watch Christine Baranski and company on The Good Fight. As good an actor as Raul is, he lacks the subtly required in a television show with a cast of trained actors, but his abilities do come across much better on stage.

As far as his face goes, he's got those very exaggerated facial features which translate better on stage than on television. He's attractive enough, but doesn't fit the mold of a television leading man. He's also getting close to 50, meaning he hasn't found his television niche yet and time is pressing on.

I recently looked at some of his Company. What overblown artificial bullshit. Glad he lost.

RIP RE

????

Somebody needs to change their medication.

What is he doing now? The L&O gig finished like 6 months ago.

Any plans to return to the stage? More TV?

Someone must know

He is the driving force behind a production of "The Waves" based on the book by Virginia Woolf. it's getting a try-out run at Vassar's Powerhouse Theatre next week for about ten days (he's also starring in the show). The hope is to see if it flies well enough to take to New York. It's a small, eclectic show, so I can't imagine it'd work on Broadway, but maybe off-Broadway? There's also Chess for which there are still plans for Broadway next year. Plus a few other things that are just barely in the talking stages right now. No TV.

still married?

"The Waves" as in his former professor/lover musical piece from the early 90s?

No, they divorced ten years ago. He's been with the current boyfriend for nearly seven years now.

Yep, that's the one, r591. David Bucknam, who committed suicide at 33.

Never seen a pic of David Bucknam before....He was beautiful.

There was a short video on instagram and they had a photo of him.

lots of bf's over the years but r592 I don't think the divorce officially happened

Still arrogant and difficult to work with I hear.

Trollina is back, it seems... still trying to make people think that he's still married and some sort of nightmare to work with.

Moving

right

along.

Proceeding to the new Raul Esparza thread.