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Comedian and actor Billy Eichner—best known as the star of the shows Billy on the Street and Difficult People—apologized following backlash for calling LGBTQ+ movies on streaming services "disposable."
Eichner made the remark while doing press for his movie Bros, an upcoming gay romantic comedy that is the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio featuring an almost entirely LGBTQ+ principal cast.
Reflecting on the success of the film—which he stars in, co-wrote, and executive produces, Eichner said the following during an interview with Variety:
“I told myself to look around and appreciate how rare and magical this moment is because you are making a movie that looks and feels like all the romantic comedies you grew up loving, but you’re doing it as a gay man.”
“And this is not an indie movie. This is not some streaming thing which feels disposable, or which is like one of a million Netflix shows."
"I needed to appreciate that ‘This is a historic moment, and somehow, you’re at the center of it. You helped create it.’”
Eichner's words were criticized after Variety shared a portion of them in a tweet that was later deleted.
Many took them as a slight against recent LGBTQ+ comedies that were a hit on streaming services, including Happiest Season, Fire Island, and Heartstopper.
\u201cBilly Eichner should celebrate the Bros movie\u2019s contribution to a landscape where there\u2019s still a dearth of LGBTQ+ representation\n\nbut i\u2019m disappointed by the continual lack of acknowledgment of the accomplishments of Asian and other BIPOC communities\n\nFire Island deserves better\u201d— Jerrica \u262d (@Jerrica \u262d) 1661800066
\u201cI'm all for more LGBTQ movies, but Bros looks awful\nMaybe I just don't like Billy Eichner?\nEither way, pass\u201d— J. 'Jay' Oliver II (@J. 'Jay' Oliver II) 1662248481
\u201cI get the comment, although I have to say it\u2019s those disposable streaming titles that got BROS. greenlit because they\u2019ve proven there can be a market for LGBT films. And let\u2019s not kid ourselves - the film will maybe do OK theatrically but thrive on streaming services.\u201d— Love, Wolfie \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Love, Wolfie \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1662116718
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty funny how egregiously this doofus overplayed his hand, alienating literally everyone on the planet in the process\u201d— nemanja (@nemanja) 1662069541
\u201cI would\u2019ve gone to see Fire Island in theatres before Bros tbh \nI\u2019d rather support a film with BIPOC than a white queer man full of himself\u201d— \u1660 (@\u1660) 1662077354
\u201cI can't wait to not watch that Billy Eichner Bros movie\u201d— Paul R (@Paul R) 1661997466
\u201cBilly Eichner is a hilarious comedian but "Bros" really just is not it\u201d— Skyler (@Skyler) 1662090957
Eichner later apologized, saying in a series of tweets that he was "reffering to the way that, historically, LGBTQ+ content has been considered niche and disregarded by Hollywood."
\u201cI want to clarify what I said about streaming content in Variety. I was not at ALL referring to the quality or monumental impact of streaming films, I was referring to the way that, historically, LGBTQ+ content has often been considered niche and disregarded by Hollywood.\u201d— billy eichner (@billy eichner) 1661989180
He added that he is proud that Bros "is one of many projects... where so many of us are finally getting to tell our own LGBTQ+ stories" and that he is "so sorry if I inadvertently offended or insulted anyone."
\u201cI have been openly gay since the beginning of my career over 20 years ago, at a time when that was very challenging. And I am very proud Bros is one of many projects - theatrical, streaming, online, etc - where so many of us are finally getting to tell our own LGBTQ+ stories.\u201d— billy eichner (@billy eichner) 1661989180
\u201cBeing an openly gay man and a loud and proud part of the LGBTQ+ community is one of the things I am most proud of in my whole damn life. And from the bottom of my heart I truly am so sorry if I inadvertently offended or insulted anyone. I really am. Thank you.\u201d— billy eichner (@billy eichner) 1661989180
Eichner has been working overtime promoting the film and made waves last month after he called out “all the homophobes on the Supreme Court” during a speech at the Video Music Awards (VMAs).
Eichner took particular aim at Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Thomas wrote a solo concurring opinion in which he advocated overturning rulings like Obergefell v. Hodges—which made marriage equality for LGBTQ+ people the law of the land—in the ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization which struck down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that once protected a person's right to choose reproductive healthcare without excessive government restriction.
Eichner suggested not even the threat of seeing established LGBTQ+ rights overturned would stop him and other filmmakers from creating "gay love stories" for the screen.