ABOVE: “The Half of It,” “A Secret Love” and “Hollywood, screenshots via Netflix.
Netflix defended LGBTQ content on its platform via Twitter May 6, prompting widespread support for the company’s response.
The streaming giant responded to a viral meme implying Netflix utilizes “unnecessary” gay characters in its programming. “Sorry you have yet to realize that every gay person is very necessary,” the company tweeted:
sorry you have yet to realize that every gay person is very necessary https://t.co/xTOEcLWryc
— Netflix (@netflix) May 6, 2020
The response has been retweeted more than 75,000 times and received nearly 500,000 likes in less than 24 hours. Other verified platforms and channels subsequently praised Netflix’s position, including Amazon Prime Video.
The competitor utilized a gif of the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, seen in the initial meme:
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) May 6, 2020
The official account for AMC’s horror series “The Walking Dead” also responded, utilizing actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s character of Negan:
— The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) May 6, 2020
The series was subsequently criticized by one Twitter user for killing LGBTQ characters, to which it noted “We’ve killed far more straight characters.”
https://twitter.com/magnastan/status/1258168170822631425
https://twitter.com/TheWalkingDead/status/1258296771509235712
LogoTV also celebrated Netflix’s response with a gif of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finalist Brooke Lynn Hytes – and later followed up with a gif of Raven Simone’s guest spot on the popular series.
Social media for @netflix walking away from hitting “tweet” like… 👏 pic.twitter.com/IZR5x8SuwE
— Logo 🏳️🌈 (@LogoTV) May 6, 2020
👏👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/IIVl0RbxWA
— Logo 🏳️🌈 (@LogoTV) May 6, 2020
Freeform, owned by Walt Disney Television, called the original meme “wack.” The channel’s social media account used a gif from “The Simpsons” to praise Netflix.
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
Twitter TV celebrated with a gif from FX’s “Pose.”
— TV (@TV) May 6, 2020
Some of Netflix’s international accounts also concurred:
Oui.
— Netflix France (@NetflixFR) May 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/NetflixIT/status/1258300454620016640
Netflix has long featured content highlighting and celebrating the LGBTQ community. Within the last few weeks, the service released a number of high profile television series and films.
“A Secret Love,” its documentary detailing the 65-year love story which inspired 1992’s “A League of Their Own,” premiered April 29. On May 1, Netflix released “The Half of It” and Ryan Murphy’s “Hollywood.”
You can view their trailers below via Netflix:
