Kristen Stewart gives perfect response to homophobes fuming about queer superheroes
Kristen Stewart attends the Costume Institute Benefit – In America: A Lexicon of Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 13 September 2021. (Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty)
Kristen Stewart condemned those bashing LGBT+ representation in media including Marvel’s Eternals, saying such critics “belong in the rearview mirror”.
Eternals has received widespread media attention for its inclusion of gay superhero Phastos (Bryan Tyree) and his husband, who is played by Haaz Sleiman.
The characters are the first same-sex married couple in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and Phastos is the first gay superhero in the franchise’s extensive collection of films.
Stewart admitted to Variety’s Clayton Davis that she doesn’t know much about the movie’s storyline but was “glad there are gay people in it”.
Davis then asked Stewart for her response to “anyone that says that this is not the way superheroes are supposed to be portrayed” and referenced Superman’s son, Jon Kent, recently coming out as bisexual.
Stewart said anybody with such views “belongs in the rearview mirror”.
“I would say that you’ve had your time,” Kristen Stewart said. “If you’re happier and more comfortable looking in the rearview mirror, that is where we will leave you, bruh.”
She added: “But sure, go watch every other movie that feels like it hasn’t really touched on what we are, and we will just continue growing without you.”
Kristen Stewart addresses people who aren’t supportive of LGBTQ+ representation in films like #Eternals: “If you’re happier & more comfortable looking in the rearview mirror, that is where we’ll leave you.” https://t.co/nz7sU1s8Of | Variety The Take presented by @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/xjI1GeGd7K
— Variety (@Variety) October 22, 2021
The LGBT+ pantheon in DC Comics has grown after Jon Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, came out as bisexual in Superman: Son of Kal-El #5. The comic features Jon taking over the mantle of Superman of Earth while his dad is away.
As he becomes burned out from constantly saving the day, he develops a close relationship with pink-haired reporter Jay Nakamura, who steps in to take care of the new Man of Steel.
While the comic has received widespread praise and attracted “global fan excitement”, conservatives have been predictably upset about the new bisexual hero.
Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo complained comic books are “sexualising” superheroes and demanded comics not explore the character’s sexual orientations.
“Call me when they have a gender-stable aisle with superheroes whose sexualities we know nothing about,” he said. “Why are they sexualising superheroes?”
Former Superman actor Dean Cain also accused writers of “bandwagoning” with the new hero. He told Fox & Friends that the hero coming out publicly could have been “bold or brave” if it happened “20 years ago”.
