Relampago. Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 2 hours ago, Mr. Mendes said: He was getting accused of queerbaiting because he plays a bisexual teen on Heartstopper and yet said he didn't feel comfortable discussing his sexuality so people assumed he was straight and pandering to queer people for attention. It was amplified when he was rumored to be dating a girl (which, all signs actually point to them not being together) and the backlash got to be so bad that he had to exit social media for time. He's young, still probably figuring out exactly who he is, and I'd imagine seeing the conversation persisting in his absence has made him feel as if if he didn't come out, then it was going to be over for him. Add to that the teen fanbase of the show saying that they felt betrayed by him because they felt represented and then seeing he may be straight made them feel unseen again and he's probably been carrying a lot of guilt for simply asking for his privacy. 2 hours ago, Cloy said: Homophobia exists for the rich as well. No one wants to feel excluded from a community. That's why people do not come out no matter their status in life. BUT playing gay when you're closeted and then complaining about being outed is ridiculous. He could have not taken the role or he could have established early on that he is straight but an ally to the community and wanted to portray the character for gay awareness or something. Oh so he wasn’t even bullied for being “gay” like Miss Mendes is Work. Well I feel bad for him cause he’s young and it’s probably hard to navigate but most people receive the opposite (told they’re gay before they’re ready to come out) which comes with actual societal scrutiny. Being seen as straight when you’re not is definitely a better scenario since no one outside of Twitter cares about queerbaiting. He should just delete the app until he’s ready to process all this and confide in his loved ones for now. And people should stop bullying in general for dumb reasons like this. But it definitely feels like champagne problems to me at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slayn Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 If he deleted twitter who was "harassing" him? I don't seems a little cry wolfy to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerardo Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 Some of y’all are too grown and are here attacking an 18 year old for his sexuality/labels when he says he’s unlabeled y’all get mad, and now that he stated his sexuality yall get mad…. again? truly miserable behavior OT: that show’s fan base has always been deranged, idk why girls/teenagers always get so obsessed with gay shows and act this weird He never had to do this in the first place and I understand him as another 18 year old bi dude, hopefully people get off his ass now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex21kw Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 9 minutes ago, coolblue said: that's what they say in the beginning ah yes, the "bi is a phase" trope makes a tired and unsurprising appearance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoOneDiesFromLove Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) 14 minutes ago, coolblue said: that's what they say in the beginning Bi people exist. Get over it Edited November 1, 2022 by NoOneDiesFromLove Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relampago. Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 2 hours ago, Duanielipa said: I feel bad for him obviously but at the same time who actually “forced” him to come out. Terminally online 14 year olds on Twitter calling him out for “queer baiting” should just be ignored. He should just do a Dua and stay off Twitter and ignore all their opinions. Literally this imo but it’s a generational issue more than something central to just this guy. I wouldn’t hop on his page to say this cause I’m sure his distress and feelings are genuine but people are actually forced out of the closet with severe consequences in many cases, so it’s hard not to see this as a “just log out” situation. Bless his soul though, I can’t imagine having to come out at his age under this type of controversy, but to say he was forced is a bit of a reach. He made a decision to smooth it over and that’s kind of the end of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Cream Skies Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) Can someone explain how he was "forced" to come out as... bi? edit: Read the full 6 pages. Ok? The show is really good, though. Edited November 1, 2022 by Ice Cream Skies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizon Flame Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 People are way too caught up and obsessed with tv shows and movies. It’s creepy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizon Flame Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 3 hours ago, GraceRandolph said: Sorry, but we need labels. Someone wanting to be “unlabeled” can literally mean anything from bicurious to 99% gay. We need concrete ways to define ourselves as a community. It’s none of your business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horizon Flame Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 2 hours ago, Bloo said: The fans felt lied when a boy who played a bi character starts to maybe date a girl in the real world? Maybe they can refamiliarize themselves with what bisexuality is? The fans were dumb and unjustified. They should also go out and touch grass. The fact that they can’t tell fiction from reality is insane. It’s just a tv show. Watch and enjoy the show and go live your own lives. They’re basically stalking actors, living through them and wanting to dictate their lives. That’s beyond creepy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applestar Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 tbf, he wasn't "forced" to come out there will always be fans with bizarre criticism, a celebrity needs to know when to avoid it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fais_2311 Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 There’s a campaign for the production to remove him from the cast because he’s dating a woman. And most of this didn’t came from 14 years old fans. Obsessed woke gays who felt they deserved to know everyone’s sexuality and could not believe that bisexuals do exists also came for him and harassed him for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrorblade Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 is it the fujos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALΞX Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 3 hours ago, Cloy said: BTW this whole rise of the fake bis is hilarious. Just like the dude who dated Olivia Rodriguez lying. My thing is, what is it doing for your career? The gays like straight guys anyway. So even when they get through dragging you for playing gay, they secretly love it. Just keep your mouth shut like Harry Styles does while necking your girlfriend (s) in candid shots. Or just mind your business? It’s not hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keter Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 I’m still stuck on someone saying he’s the most beautiful acting guy to debut in recent years…. WHO? WHERE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim19911126 Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 4 hours ago, Cloy said: BTW this whole rise of the fake bis is hilarious. Just like the dude who dated Olivia Rodriguez lying. My thing is, what is it doing for your career? The gays like straight guys anyway. So even when they get through dragging you for playing gay, they secretly love it. Just keep your mouth shut like Harry Styles does while necking your girlfriend (s) in candid shots. Off topic, how is your avi even allowed lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylucifer Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 why now when i've seen actually less people assuming his sexuality. it was bad during the release of Heartstopper S1 but he could've ignored it now especially since he's "off social media". i feel like he's been advised by his team to "come out as bi" because Heartstopper S2 is coming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator Bloo Posted November 1, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted November 1, 2022 1 hour ago, Relampago. said: Oh so he wasn’t even bullied for being “gay” like Miss Mendes is Work. Well I feel bad for him cause he’s young and it’s probably hard to navigate but most people receive the opposite (told they’re gay before they’re ready to come out) which comes with actual societal scrutiny. Being seen as straight when you’re not is definitely a better scenario since no one outside of Twitter cares about queerbaiting. He should just delete the app until he’s ready to process all this and confide in his loved ones for now. And people should stop bullying in general for dumb reasons like this. But it definitely feels like champagne problems to me at the end of the day. No one was calling for Shawn to be removed from Spotify for queerbaiting. Large portions of Heartstopper’s “fans” were calling for him to be recast since they didn’t think his casting was authentic because they assumed him to be straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator Bloo Posted November 1, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted November 1, 2022 4 hours ago, Cloy said: He's lying, POPTART. Straight men are good at lying to get what they want from gays, which is usually money and fame. They also know that things like this will draw backlash and they will say they're fluid to avoid the heat yet you never see them with a boyfriend but you've seen them with plenty of girlfriends. I'm not talking about this kid, I'm talking in general. Lets not act like this type of song and dance has not become widespread. Onlyfans is based on it. Heck, the *****graphy industry. If you know there is going to be backlash for taking a role, especially one that is not significant, why take it? Cause he wanted a job and a check. That's all. Moreover, how can you be outed for playing a gay character if you're already closeted? LOL! Don't closeted people avoid gay anything like the plague? Someone isn't being honest here Yeah, bi-erasure is jaded, exhausting, and unwelcome. Enjoy the ZTP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rence Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 Get her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade Runner Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 Poor baby. He's literally a kid. People (including entitled gay b+tches) can be so disgusting. Same goes for everyone asking Harry Styles to suck a d+ck on camera or go f+ck himself. Ugly af. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrasour Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 Not surprising given how unhinged twitter stans are in general. Imagine obsessing over an 18 year old's sexuality just like that, like get a grip already 2 hours ago, coolblue said: that's what they say in the beginning And then people start wondering why he hadn't come out as bi. Or any bi dude, for that matter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade Runner Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Ice Cream Skies said: Can someone explain how he was "forced" to come out as... bi? People saw pictures of him and his rumored girlfriend Maia Reficco holding hands and sh+t at Disney World and other places, and they started to say he was being dishonest because he said a couple of months ago that he didn't want to label himself. Yes, sometimes the "I don't want to put myself inside a box" argument can be interpreted as queerbaiting, but we're talking about an 18 years old. There's no need to harass him (or his girlfriend) just because he's the star of a queer show. It's rude and pathetic. Edited November 1, 2022 by Blade Runner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATRL Moderator Bloo Posted November 1, 2022 ATRL Moderator Share Posted November 1, 2022 8 minutes ago, Blade Runner said: People saw pictures of him and his rumored girlfriend Maia Reficco holding hands and sh+t at Disney World and other places, and they started to say he was being dishonest because he said a couple of months ago that he didn't want to label himself. Yes, sometimes the "I don't want to put myself inside a box" argument can be interpreted as queerbaiting, but we're talking about an 18 years old. There's no need to harass him (or his girlfriend) just because he's the star of a queer show. It's rude and pathetic. The way the queerbaiting term has been changed in recent years is insane. The term was originally created to call out fictional stories that would have queer-adjacent characters that weren’t explicitly depicted as queer but presented as such via subtext to pick up queer audiences. A good example is Xena and Gabrielle from Xena: Warrior Princess. So many people followed their relationship where the show heavilty teased them having a romantic/sexual relationship but it was never explicitly confirmed—while the characters would have explicit relationships with men. Nonetheless, because lesbian representation was so nonexistent, lesbian women really identified with the characters and the relationship became a widely-regard lesbian portrayal in the 90s despite it never being explicitly confirmed. That is a ironclad case of queerbaiting. The Wikipedia definition below: Quote Queerbaiting is a marketing technique for fiction and entertainment in which creators hint at, but then do not depict, same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation. This obsession with individual actors’ real-life identities is absurd. I get it with trans people because cisgender men playing transgender women by putting on a dress is extremely harmful by portraying transwomen as the punchline of a cheap joke and reinforces the idea that transwomen are just men playing dress-up. The dynamics at play are very different for sexual orientation and this obsession with purity in this regard does not benefit anyone. Kit isn’t the only member of the cast to face harsh treatment from toxic online fans. It’s really unfortuante how much members in the community (and self-proclaimed allies) have squandered a show with really solid LGBTQ+ representation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machete Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 Sorry but both his tweet trying home in on being "18 years old" and his defenders calling him "just a kid" are sending He is a full adult. That point is even more embarrassing when you remember the people who were "harassing" him are 14 year olds on Twitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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