After the instant backlash against the premiere of MTV’s new show ‘The Real Friends of WeHo’ cast member Todrick Hall posted a lengthy handwritten open letter on his Instagram account.
The message explained that regarding the show he had to mentally prepare himself for the “insane influx of hate that comes my way.”
In the 10 page post, Hall expressed frustration about the negative comments being directed the show and that the majority of it was coming from the LGBTQ+ community.
“When our LGBTQ+ show was announced, you’d think any pushback would’ve come from the church or conservatives upset with three hours of queer programming,” he wrote. “But a closer look would show you that the call was coming from inside the house.”
Since Todricks posted, viewers shared their own opinions as to why the show is receiving hate. Some say the show is bland and about “typical WeHo gays.” In essence, the new series representation is not something that truly represents the LGBTQ+ community.
“Todrick Hall trying to spin the disdain for Real Friends of WeHo as ‘hate within our community’ is the most tone-deaf thing,” said one Twitter user. “We don’t want this show because it’s about typical WeHo gays. Show us someone interesting… and not self-absorbed.”
Todrick Hall trying to spin the disdain for “Real Friends of WeHo” as “hate within our community” is the most tone-deaf thing.
— Greg Blackmon (@BourbonBlackmon) January 21, 2023
We don’t want this show because it’s about typical WeHo gays. Show us someone interesting… and NOT self-absorbed.
Others are citing Hall’s past history as a reason for bashing his depiction on the show.
“What Todrick Hall and other self-important + shallow gay “artists” don’t understand is that we do not want to be represented by another stereotypical, mean spirited, catty-attituded gay man on a major platform directed for ‘all audiences. tweeted another. "You are not a martyr—just uncreative.“
What Todrick Hall and other self-important + shallow gay “artists” don’t understand is that we do not want to be represented by another stereotypical, mean spirited, catty-attituded gay man on a major platform directed for “all audiences.” You are not a martyr—just uncreative https://t.co/zsv03tQnkf
— 👼🏻 (@cruelpractice) January 22, 2023
Hall also called out backlash about the series taking away screen time from the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race. In order to make room for Real Friends, Drag Race has had to cut out nearly a third of its running time.
Hall wrote, “They want 20 more minutes of a show, but instead of taking it up with the programming people who made these timing decisions, they’re attacking us as if WE had something to do with it. I want longer drag race episodes as well, so we’re on the same team.” Hall appeared as a guest judge and choreographer for Drag Race from 2016 to 2020.
“We have to know that queer people attacking our queer cast is not woke, not progressive and not going to change the situation so it’s a waste of time,” he concluded.
The MTV series focuses on the lives of six gay men — Todrick Hall, Curtis Hamilton, Brad Goreski, Jaymes Vaughan, Joey Zauzig, and Dorion Renaud — as they navigate the social scene of West Hollywood.
What do you think of the show so far? Sound off in the comments below!
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