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Marvel Fans Are Harassing This Doctor Strange Star Over LGBTQ+ Role
Why is a child being held responsible for a country's homophobic ban?
Too often, actors in long-running sci-fi or superhero franchises seem to bear the brunt of fan frustration with decisions that are ultimately out of their control, especially when those actors aren’t cis, straight, white, and male. And now the trolls seem to have set their sights on 15-year-old Xochitl Gomez.
Gomez is taking up the mantle of America Chavez in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making her debut in the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In the comics, America is an out and proud lesbian. The MCU is expected to keep her queer, although it’s unclear how that will translate to scenes in this film or future appearances.
What we do know is that a 12-second clip of America talking about her two moms is “explicit” LGBTQ+ content that is preventing Doctor Strange 2 from being shown in Saudi Arabia. Disney has reportedly declined to edit the moment from the movie.
Seemingly because of that decision, some cruel “fans” have taken to harassing Gomez — who, again, is a teenager herself and has no control over any of this as an actor.
“We all hate you,” wrote someone going by the name @pizlr on Instagram.
“Ur the reason I can’t watch the movie on cinema,” @omaralmajmad claimed.
Another, @abddulazizzz, suggested, “May God deprive you of happiness in your life.”
\u201cThe comments under Xochitl Gomez's Instagram post it's really heartbreaking\u201d— EMPEROR BOSS (@EMPEROR BOSS) 1650979216
Humorless jerks having nothing better to do than harassing actors on the internet is nothing new, but that still doesn’t make it okay, and directing their ire at a literal child is infuriating rational Marvel fans on a new level.
\u201cxochitl gomez literally deleted all her tiktoks. i hope it wasn\u2019t because of the hate. she\u2019s literally a kid. like she\u2019s younger than some of us on this app and these people are hating on her. the hate she\u2019s getting is way too much for her to handle as teenager.\u201d— Reya \u15e2 ~ she-hulk era (@Reya \u15e2 ~ she-hulk era) 1650904765
\u201cIman Vellani & Xochitl Gomez are both being attacked online for their portrayals of #MsMarvel & #AmericaChavez \n\nThese actress are not only brand new to Marvel but they are TEENS.\nIt\u2019s unfortunate they can\u2019t celebrate their films/shows because they have to stay off social media.\u201d— Austin Luv (@Austin Luv) 1650999294
\u201c@Makkarispeed Same thing with Brie Larson and so many other female actors in the MCU. Pratt is voted least likeable MCU Chris, and everyone units to comfort him meanwhile Brie is routinely attacked for being a woman and almost everyone is silent.\u201d— Para(cosmic) Thom (@Para(cosmic) Thom) 1651117446
\u201c@GodEmperorBoss I hope she pays more attention to these comments\u201d— EMPEROR BOSS (@EMPEROR BOSS) 1650979216
Gomez is aware of the unwarranted backlash she’s been receiving, and thanked fans for “all the supportive dms.”
“You all have been so kind and lovely,” she wrote. “It warms my heart.”
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
