Pussyfooted

At that point, I couldn't help wondering how many ignorant, homophobic and outing-phobic viewers recoiled in horror. But relief was on the way in the form of the pussyfooted Alexis Smith. While referring to [Cole] Porter's 1946 film (alleged) biography, Night and Day, she mentions there were "certain aspects of the story which at that time they could not do." Was "certain aspects" a euphemism for gay? Smith's misplaced politeness here is truly retrograde.