Billy Eichner eviscerates Clarence Thomas and ‘all the homophobes on the Supreme Court’ at MTV VMAs
Billy Eichner said it’s important that society not let “homophobes” drag the US “back into the last century”. (Theo Wargo/Getty for MTV/Paramount Global)
Comedian and actor Billy Eichner has lambasted “all the homophobes on the Supreme Court” in a searing speech at the MTV VMAs.
Eichner used his time on stage to plug his upcoming gay rom-com Bros while introducing a performance from Panic! at the Disco. The star advocated for more media to authentically represent LGBTQ+ love before calling out the “homophobes on the Supreme Court”, including long-serving justice Clarence Thomas.
“Bros is making history as the first gay rom-com ever made by a major studio, and the first where every role is played by an openly LGBTQ actor,” Billy Eichner said.
He continued: “And I need you all there in theatres on 30 September because we need to show all the homophobes like Clarence Thomas and all the homophobes on the Supreme Court that we want gay love stories.
“And we support LGBTQ people and we are not letting them drag us back into the last century.”
Please listen to @billyeichner’s speech on the #VMAs stage, and then listen to it again. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/ZRQLgvAYwc
— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 29, 2022
Thomas was among the five Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v Wade in June, rolling back abortion rights in the US.
Following the Supreme Court decision, Thomas suggested the court reconsider other rulings such as those that legalised contraceptives and same-sex marriage.
The conservative judge signalled new targets for the Supreme Court and spurred politicians to try to codify same-sex marriage through the Respect for Marriage Act.
The measure sailed through the House in July, earning the support of 47 Republican representatives. It will soon be brought to the Senate floor where it will need the support of 10 Republicans to meet the 60-vote threshold and become law.
GOP senators have been divided on the Respect for Marriage Act, and Florida’s Marco Rubio called the measure a “stupid waste of time”.
However, Tammy Baldwin – a sponsor of the bipartisan legislation and the first openly gay politician elected to the US Senate – said five Republicans have “publicly stated” they will support the measure.
She told PBS Wisconsin she’d spoken with a host of Republican senators, and she believed five additional members “indicated they are leaning in support”.
Billy Eichner called out “all the homophobes on the Supreme Court” during a speech at the MTV VMAs. (Arturo Holmes/FilmMagic)
Billy Eichner told Rolling Stone he “never thought” a major movie studio would do an “authentically gay film” and “treat it the same way” as other rom-coms like Bridesmaids, 40-Year-Old Virgin or Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Eichner said he wanted to hold Bros to a “higher standard than what’s passing for rom-comes these days”.
“But as much as I love all those movies – Broadcast News, Moonstruck, Annie Hall, Tootsie – LGBTQ people are literally completely ignored and erased in those worlds,” Eichner said. “We weren’t even the best friend!”
