‘The Acolyte’ Creator Says the Show is Not Queer with Capital Q: “I don’t know what the term ‘gay’ means in that sense”

‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ is the latest addition to the franchise. The show sparked significant buzz even before its release when creator Leslye Headland described it as the “gayest” Star Wars installment to date.

Now facing a negative response, Headland claims that her show is being interpreted in unintended ways, but she remains proud to inspire the LGBT community.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Headland stated that her show is not “Queer with a capital Q,” and she is unsure what “gay” would even mean in that context.

“I was surprised by the question. Amandla and I just burst out laughing because that’s our knee-jerk reaction to being asked that, but to be honest, I don’t know what the term ‘gay’ means in that sense. I don’t believe that I’ve created queer, with a capital Q, content.”

When fans refer to ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ as “gay,” they likely draw from Headland’s past interviews and various instances of representation within the show. For instance, Mother Aniseya and Mother Korin, the supposed mothers of twins Osha and Mae, are clearly depicted as being in a romantic relationship.

Daphne Keen, who portrays Jecki Lon in the show, also confirmed that her character has a crush on Osha. Additionally, there was a moment of “pronoun-dropping” when Osha asks whether Bazil is “he or they.” One of the show’s writers later explained that this was intended as a joke, highlighting the absurdity of worrying about a humanoid rodent’s gender expression.

While I agree that the show isn’t “gay” in the sense that it’s not a central theme, I can understand why fans might feel offended by Headland’s previous statements and now perceive every small detail as “propaganda” being forced in.

What are your thoughts? Do you think ‘The Acolyte’ is gay? Share your opinions in the comments below!