Yesterday (15 May), a trailer for the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody was released.
However, criticism of the long-in-development film has emerged, with television writer and producer Bryan Fuller accusing the project of queer erasure. Eyebrows have been raised over the film’s lack of representation for Freddie Mercury’s sexuality and his battle with AIDS.
Fuller took to Twitter to say, “Anyone else mildly annoyed (enough to tweet about it) that the #BohemianRapsody (sic) trailer features gay/bi superstar Freddie Mercury flirting with and twirling with a woman but no indication of his love of men?”
Following speculation that, perhaps, the trailer may be holding back scenes related to the lead singer’s sexuality and illness, Fuller tweeted, “I disagree. It’s #HETWASHING (hetero-washing) for marketing sakes.”
Addressing 20th Century Fox, Fuller continued, “DEAR 20TH CENTURY FOX… Yes, it was a life-threatening illness, but more specifically it was AIDS. From having gay sex with men. Do better.”
He added, “I feel what the trailer is doing is queer-erasure. If they were out and proud with his bi-sexuality they would have indicated he was bi-sexual. Showing him romantic with a woman, but not a man (3 frames don’t count) is not a celebration of bi-sexual identity. It’s hiding it.”
Bohemian Rhapsody has been in the making since 2010, and has seen a change in directors after Bryan Singer left the project in December. He’s since been replaced by Dexter Fletcher. The Queen frontman is played by actor Rami Malek, after comedian Sacha Baron Cohen left the role last year, explaining that he had a dispute with a Queen member over the second half of the film.
In an interview with the Guardian, Cohen said the film celebrates how the band “carries on from strength to strength” after Mercury’s death. He explained, “I said: ‘Listen, not one person is going to see a movie where the lead character dies from AIDS and then you see how the band carries on.'”
The film is executive produced by Brian May and Roger Taylor. It’s slated for a UK release on 24 October.
Read Fuller’s tweets below.
ANYONE ELSE MILDLY ANNOYED (enough to tweet about it) THAT THE #BohemianRapsody TRAILER FEATURES GAY/BI SUPERSTAR FREDDIE MERCURY FLIRTING WITH AND TWIRLING WITH A WOMAN BUT NO INDICATION OF HIS LOVE OF MEN?
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
I disagree. It’s #HETWASHING for marketing sakes.
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
I feel what the trailer is doing is queer-erasure. If they were out and proud with his bi-sexuality they would have indicated he was bi-sexual. Showing him romantic with a woman, but not a man (3 frames don’t count) is not a celebration of bi-sexual identity. It’s hiding it.
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
I hear you. The bigger issue is using “bi” as an excuse to emphasize one aspect of his sexuality over another – i.e., the part that can be identified in marketing as “heterosexual” not bi.
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
I saw marketing code. The shot of him in close proximity with a man is mere frames, while the relationship with the woman is emphasized. This is not an accident.
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
There is a lot of queer erasure in general. And bi-sexuals are more often erased because many don’t understand sexuality, much less fluid sexuality. Make no mistake, the marketing campaign emphasized FM’s relationship with a woman to distract from his being a queer artist.
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
DEAR 20TH CENTURY FOX… Yes, it was a life-threatening illness, but more specifically it was AIDS. From having gay sex with men. Do better. #HETWASHING #BohemianRapsody pic.twitter.com/sz8QJU7cCA
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) May 15, 2018
