Netflix defended its LGBTQ inclusion on social media in response to a controversial meme posted about “unnecessary gay characters.”
One Twitter user posted a meme showing Netflix shoving “an unnecessary gay character” into “any new series” with the caption, “Every damn new series.”
Needless to say, Netflix was not a fan, and their Twitter account sassily replied to the meme with the caption: “[S]orry you have yet to realize that every gay person is very necessary.”
sorry you have yet to realize that every gay person is very necessary https://t.co/xTOEcLWryc
— Netflix (@netflix) May 6, 2020
Ben Platt, who plays one of Netflix’s gay characters Payton in The Politician, had three things to say about the meme.
“i. hope the peeps who [retweeted] and liked this are enjoying the 99 percent of content that remains sinfully boring and straight—it’s for [you]!” he said. “ii. Love [you, Netflix] keep the queer content coming. iii. Moving forward, I’d like everyone to [please] refer to me exclusively as ‘unnecessary gay character.’”
i. hope the peeps who rt’d & liked this are enjoying the 99% of content that remains sinfully boring & straight- it’s for u!
ii. love u @netflix keep the queer content coming
iii. moving forward id like everyone to pls refer to me exclusively as ‘unnecessary gay character’ 😘 https://t.co/bB9K5POpKy
— Ben Platt (@BenSPLATT) May 6, 2020
Other users also reacted to the problematic meme in support of Netflix’s representation.
https://twitter.com/bitch_niggur/status/1257749511872696324
https://twitter.com/sagesturtle/status/1257721762848149504
Woooow. Wack opinions like this are the reason gay characters are overly necessary. Keep it up, @netflix. 🏳️🌈❤️ pic.twitter.com/gzhUyVXlrk
— Freeform (@FreeformTV) May 7, 2020
Some users defended the original post, claiming Netflix forced gay characters into shows only to appear more diverse and inclusive.
Having straight or gay people isn't the problem it's when they throw in a gay person just to make the show "diverse"
— TheZucc (@1Thezucc) May 7, 2020
Or, and work with me on this Netflix, maybe there's more to a gay person than just being gay.
— Mr. Charlie (@PrCat88) May 6, 2020
Bullshit, every characters (gay, bisex, trans I don't care) is necessary when they have a good and solid story behind. Not just to say "we have a gay characters".
— Francesco Di Maria (@ChiccoDiMaria) May 6, 2020
However, despite the criticism, Netflix’s LGBTQ inclusion has remained unmatched; in 2019, GLAAD reported that Netflix had the highest number of LGBTQ regular and recurring characters in their scripted original series than all other streaming services.