Well, Katie Holmes being with Tom Cruise for, what, four years hasn't stopped the "beard" comments and jokes, with their accompanying "paid off" asides. (Of course, Saint Nicole Kidman never was and certainly never is accused of being a beard for her marriage to Cruise, which lasted WAY longer than two years.) In any case, the "gay" label was stuck to Hayden unusually early because of his alleged "boy band" looks.

Myself, I never even got the SLIGHTEST gay vibe from Hayden. (I'm not going to say my gaydar is infallible, but it's usually pretty accurate.) He could still surprise us. But it would be a genuine surprise.