Based on a 90-second teaser trailer and a few assumptions, the calls have gone out that we should boycott Bohemian Rhapsody for queer erasure.
“The trailer doesn’t show any gay content, only het stuff!” There’s a split-second shot of Freddie hugging his girlfriend at one point. There’s also multiple shots of him obviously flirting with guys. The contention that the trailer is queer erasure is mostly coming from cis gay (white) men mad that the movie seems to be depicting Freddie Mercury as bisexual and capable of loving women at all, but given how significant his relationship with Mary Austin was to his life, it would be a disservice to everyone to exclude it.
Also, the cast list includes several male characters listed as “Freddie’s Lover,” as well as Jim Hutton, his partner in his final years.
“They’ve said the movie is going to ignore the AIDS crisis!” No. What’s been said is that the movie ends in 1985. Once this information was released, people immediately jumped to assume that because the movie wasn’t going to chronicle Freddie’s illness and death in detail, it was avoiding the subject entirely. But the AIDS crisis was in full swing in ‘85, and Freddie of all people was extremely aware of it. The description of the trailer (the first teaser trailer!) even alludes to it.
It’s a fair point that they haven’t mentioned AIDS by name yet, but also, the only materials they’ve released so far are some promo images and one teaser trailer.
In this context, for people wondering why the creative team or the remaining band members don’t come out to “put the matter to rest” by assuring us the film deals with AIDS, it might help to remember that the media has in the past been extremely tawdry and exploitative in its treatment of Freddie Mercury’s illness and death (have you not seen all the “HIS TRAGIC AIDS STORY!!!” videos floating around Youtube? Not read the biographies that linger in lurid, dubiously sympathetic detail?). It makes sense to me that if Brian May and Roger Taylor have a heavy hand in the making of the film (which they seem to), they’d ask for a more subtle approach.
Also, again: we have six months till the movie comes out and only one teaser trailer at this point. Be concerned if you feel the need, but it’s a little early to call for a boycott.
Do not tell people to shun queer content because you have decided, six months in advance with very little information, that it won’t be up to your standards when it comes out.
People are protesting that we must boycott the film Bohemian Rhapsody because, and I quote, “the trailer erases Mercury’s homosexuality by having him flirt with a woman and whitewashes him!” Which is funny, because these people are basically erasing Freddie Mercury’s bisexuality and his relationship with Mary Austin and whitewashing Rami Malek at the same time in order to back their shitty excuse of an argument.
Now, repeat with me:
Freddie Mercury wasn’t gay, he was bisexual. Rami Malek is Egyptian.
one of my biggest pet peeves is when people are like, “i don’t care, my significant other can go through my phone. i have nothing to hide.”
okay. first of all.
wanting a partner to respect your privacy doesn’t necessarily go hand in hand with “having something to hide.” maybe you’d just prefer that they trust you without putting you under surveillance like a fucking prisoner?
second.
it’s not only your privacy. if you’re cool with that shit, i really hope you’re informing all your friends and family members who discuss their personal lives with you that they should be prepared for your shitty SO to read through all their messages to you, but i’m betting you’re not doing that.
maybe your bestie from high school doesn’t want your boyfriend seeing her emotional messages about her recent breakup? maybe your sister doesn’t want him reading her messages about struggles with her kids or her marriage? maybe your friend with mental health issues isn’t counting on you sharing their struggles with anyone else?
maybe you should grow up and realize that if your partner loves and respects you, they’ll believe you have nothing to hide without checking for themself.
some of you in the comments are dense as hell. your trust issues brought on by past cheaters do not give you free reign to emotionally abuse your partner. sorry, work on yourself and then get into a relationship because if you feel the need to do this shit, you’re not ready.
is there ever that one celebrity that no matter what mood youre in, if you feel like crap you just see a picture of them and you just smile and think “thank you for existing” because they have made your day brighter even if you don’t really know them
the correct answer is:
This is the correct answer. Did you know that when she finds out a studio has asked an actress to lose weight she contacts them and yells at them?
I did not know that, but I do remember an interview where she said she keeps her Oscar in her downstairs loo, because that’s the one her guests use, so they can just go use the loo and don’t have to ask if they can hold her Oscar. Plus then they’ve got the mirror so they can practice their acceptance speeches.
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