Netflix has responded to a critical tweet that claimed the studio puts 'unnecessary' gay characters in their films.
The original tweet used a SpongeBob SquarePants meme format to criticize Netflix for what the user perceived to be 'unnecessary' gay characters forced into Netflix's movies and TV shows. The tweet circulated around Twitter for a whole day before the Netflix Twitter account responded, stating, "Sorry you have yet to realize that every gay person is necessary."
Since Netflix's response was posted, it has garnered significant attention, not only from regular Twitter users, but from other brand accounts, such as Amazon Prime Video. Its reply used a different SpongeBob meme to express support for both Netflix and the LGBTQIA+ community.
The original tweet comes just as Netflix launches a number of films and TV shows starring an assortment of individuals occupying various spaces in the LGBTQIA+ community. These include the romantic-drama film The Half of It, from director Alice Wu, as well as the new Ryan Murphy show Hollywood.
These productions continue a long trend of Netflix releasing programs that either star or heavily feature LGBTQIA+ characters. Among past examples of this phenomenon include last year's TV special, Rocko's Modern Life: Static Cling, and the recent documentary sensation Tiger King.
(via Gaynrd)