The thing making me happy today is imagining the moment George Takei first heard that Sulu is openly gay in the new movie.
— Caroline Siede (@CarolineSiede) July 7, 2016
Well, Caroline, hate to disappoint you, but we’re guessing you didn’t think it’d go over like this.
In case you hadn’t heard, John Cho, who portrays Hikaru Sulu in the rebooted “Star Trek” movies, told media that his character in “Star Trek Beyond” will be revealed as gay. A lot of people assumed that George Takei, Sulu’s portrayer in the original series, would be thrilled at the news.
They were wrong:
.@GeorgeTakei is disappointed #StarTrekBeyond's Sulu is gay https://t.co/NQYvNIBJhz pic.twitter.com/G5DCkHYGbm
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 7, 2016
More from the Hollywood Reporter:
Except Takei wasn’t overjoyed. He had never asked for Sulu to be gay. In fact, he’d much prefer that he stay straight. “I’m delighted that there’s a gay character,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “Unfortunately, it’s a twisting of Gene’s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it’s really unfortunate.”
…
Takei first learned of Sulu’s recent same-sex leanings last year, when Cho called him to reveal the big news. Takei tried to convince him to make a new character gay instead. “I told him, ‘Be imaginative and create a character who has a history of being gay, rather than Sulu, who had been straight all this time, suddenly being revealed as being closeted.'” (Takei had enough negative experiences inside the Hollywood closet, he says, and strongly feels a character who came of age in the 23rd Century would never find his way inside one.)
Well, Takei’s very reasonable take didn’t sit well with people who know what’s best for his most famous character:
I'm so mad @GeorgeTakei. How dare you wish to take away what little positive movement we have in LGBTQ representation! You, of all people. ?
— Lisa J (@ralkana47) July 7, 2016
Yeah! Him, of all people!
the one piece of good news today is not approved by the only man whose opinion on the matter counts. sigh.https://t.co/78kJtREjGi
— the importance of being burnish (@dackquiri) July 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/ghostromanoff/status/751201127719469060
https://twitter.com/LexiMorello/status/751196739420422145
https://twitter.com/RaySonne/status/751194749160267777
Never thought there'd be a scenario in which I'd want to tell George Takei to shut up, but alas…
— Jason McKiernan (@CinemaSquared) July 8, 2016
disappointed & confused by George Takei's comments. am ecstatic at the reveal Sulu is gay!thank you @simonpegg, we need more of this please
— guy with a pint in his hand (@charliejl97) July 7, 2016
Wow, this is so disappointing to hear from George Takei. https://t.co/JWStfvYwBB
— Laura ??️? (@akachaneen) July 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/gonegirlscat/status/751210425732169728
I understand where he's coming from, but George Takei's reaction to Sulu being gay is disappointing nonetheless.
— Jacob Hall (@JacobSHall) July 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/TheRyanMacLean/status/751200909493809154
@GeorgeTakei horribly disappointed in your reaction to Sulu being gay in new Star Trek movie
— Lee Pigliavento (@LeePigliavento) July 8, 2016
Takei isn’t down with the new Sulu being gay, apparently, which is disappointing, but not altogether surprising. https://t.co/E6e8sUAjrH
— ?Charles Pulliam-Moore? (@CharlesPulliam) July 7, 2016
How is it that George Takei is unhappy? WHY!?
— Abbie of Themyscira ? (@toysbeforeboys) July 7, 2016
I hoped I would never have to be disappointed in George Takei.
— Andrew Wheeler (@Wheeler) July 7, 2016
yeah, I am so disappointed. It takes a little of the shine off this wonderful step.
— rubywisp (@rubywisp) July 7, 2016
Ummm… George? Wtf? | George Takei Reacts to Gay Sulu News: "I Think It's Really Unfortunate" https://t.co/afblOEbC76 via @thr
— Adrian Powers (@adrianjpowers) July 7, 2016
Very hypocritical of you, @GeorgeTakei https://t.co/522Kk8bSUn
— The Phunky DM (@PhunkyDM) July 8, 2016
*unfollows George takei* https://t.co/q2mM4M1hAT
— lyn [they/them] (@gayspacepilot) July 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/ghostromanoff/status/751211354959253504
@GeorgeTakei how sad to see that you are gonna be quoted and used as a defense argument for Homophobia on Star Trek’s new movie, keep it
— Blaineswolf (@blaineswolf) July 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/EdosianOrchid/status/751212689343610880
Fuck George Takei because Sulu being gay is fucking awesome ??? #StarTrekBeyond
— Cláudio Monteiro (@claudiojaneco) July 7, 2016
i'm gonna pretend george takei didn't shit on my happiness
— , (@jamekirkes) July 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/JerseyJeff_/status/751203419910791168
That’s cute. Really.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of other folks who haven’t lost their minds:
George Takei's issues with Sulu being gay in #StarTrekBeyond make perfect sense.
— Chris E. Hayner (@ChrisHayner) July 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/Piplodocus_/status/751194337388687360
George Takei is right. Making an old established character like Sulu suddenly gay for progressive points is lazy.
— Hot Surtr baby! (@Avoided_Anomaly) July 8, 2016
@THR @GeorgeTakei I'm with George, he respects the character he played and doesn't like what he created to be a gimic. #vape
— Bobby Dimes (@dimesbobby1) July 7, 2016
Bravo to @GeorgeTakei — he's more interested in honoring the creator's intentions than a new agenda. https://t.co/DSpLjKEHz9
— Cory Edwards (@RealCoryEdwards) July 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/andrew67676/status/751211800209883138
@GeorgeTakei articulated my feelings exactly! Don't rewrite character history to fit new narrative. ❤️ @GeorgeTakei https://t.co/atwomF5ZaC
— Jen Davis (@JenD1) July 8, 2016
Leave George Takei alone. I thought you loved it when he speaks his mind. Chill.
— Master Splinter ♌ (@TheRiddler109) July 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/RockRolled/status/751200109732438020
https://twitter.com/wordsbymatt/status/751200846327664640
Yeah. It is.
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