Last week The Real O’Neals came under fire when the show made a joke that many, especially Sara Ramirez, believed to be biphobic.
During the Jan. 17 episode “The Real Acceptance,” Kenny, played by out actor Noah Galvin, crosses a big milestone by landing his first, official boyfriend, Brett (Sean Grandillo). When Brett says he wants to talk but “doesn’t know how to say it with freaking you out,” Kenny’s inner monologue runs through some worst-case scenarios: “Webbed toes, money problems, or worse—bisexual.”
After a joke on ABC’s The Real O’Neals compared bisexuality to having “webbed toes” and “money problems,” many, including former Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez, have accused the comedy series of biphobia and bisexual erasure. Today, the show’s openly gay star Noah Galvin spoke to Gay Star News about the controversy while attending the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association’s annual Winners Toast in Los Angeles.
“I think that it’s important to know that these writers… they’re writing an authentic teenager who is still learning and evolving and has never met a bisexual person in his life,” Galvin said of his character, Kenny, the one responsible for the contentious comparison. “I completely realize the crazy, crazy, large responsibility that we have as a show and all the good that we’re doing.”
He continued, saying he hopes this won’t “Discredit the good we’ve done for so many kids who write to me daily about how we’ve helped them come out. Or if coming out is not possible for them for us to at least be an escape for them. I think it’s an important, awesome thing that we’re doing – I hope people don’t discredit that.” (via OUT)
Sara Ramirez didn’t take too kindly to the “insensitive gag” last week and responded to the episode on twitter.
Dear @ABCNetwork @TheRealONeals :own it,address it,clarify it,empower our #Queer #Bisexual youth & community w/accurate positive reflections
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
And as someone who worked 4 them 4 10 years+,am truly disheartened & disappointed quite frankly.I will invest my brand where I'm respected. https://t.co/NQQAPDsFlU
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
PFLAG which sometimes supports the show also sent this out, after it started to become a scandal.
I asked @PFLAG (who partnered for the acceptance ep. in @TheRealONeal) for a statement on @Noahegalvin 's character bisexual joke. pic.twitter.com/lMdfoGCmwY
— Eliel Cruz-Lopez (@elielcruz) January 19, 2017
Overall the joke was messy, and the show should make it more apparent that Kenny O’Neal is at times ignorant, so that it doesn’t mislead the people who watch the show. It is the show’s responsibility that if jokes like this are in the script they should make it a teachable moment for the characters!
BUT Noah’s response is mature and you can tell that he is genuine about not trying to purposely offend certain parts of the LGBTQ Community. In fact, when I was Kenny’s age, even though I was out, I said some pretty ignorant things as well. Doesn’t make it right, but I think everyone has to go through a learning curve to unlearn the prejudices that society forces on us.
