Josh Gad Shar Regrets About Gay LeFou 'Bety and the Beast' - Variety

beauty and beast gay

Josh Gad as LeFou Disney's "Bety and the Beast" live actn remake didn't "go far enough" to -stigmatize gay characters onscreen.

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'BETY AND THE BEAST' FEATUR DISNEY'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER

“I don’t thk we did jtice to what a real gay character a Disney film should be,” Gad said a recent terview. * beauty and beast gay *

The highly anticipated live-actn remake of “Bety and the Beast” will feature a gay character for the first time Disney's history, acrdg to the film’s director.

Director Bill Condon said an terview wh Attu, a Brish gay magaze, that LeFou, the goofy sikick of the film’s ma villa, Gaston, will fd his own subplot by explorg his sexualy.

BETY AND THE BEAST “DIDN’T GO FAR ENOUGH” WH GAY LEFOU, SAYS JOSH GAD “I DON’T THK WE DID JTICE TO WHAT A REAL GAY CHARACTER A DISNEY FILM SHOULD BE,” GAD SAID A RECENT TERVIEW.BY SAVANNAH WALSHMARCH 1, 2022FROM SHUTTERSTOCK.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEIT’S BEEN NEARLY FIVE YEARS SCE DISNEY’S LIVE-ACTN BETY AND THE BEAST MA HEADL FOR AN “EXCLIVELY GAY MOMENT” VOLVG LEFOU (PLAYED BY JOSH GAD), THE DIM-WTED SIKICK TO THE VILLAO GASTON (LE EVANS). THAT SCENE, TEASED BY DIRECTOR BILL CONDON DURG THE FILM’S PRS TOUR, WOUND UP BEG MERELY A BRIEF SHOT OF LEFOU DANCG WH ANOTHER MAN JT BEFORE THE CREDS ROLLED. GAD IS NOW REMORSEFUL ABOUT HIS CHARACTER’S POSNG AS DISNEY’S FIRST TE LGBTQ+ REPRENTATN.“WE DIDN’T GO FAR ENOUGH TO WARRANT ACLAS,” HE RECENTLY TOLD THE INPENNT. “WE DIDN’T GO FAR ENOUGH TO SAY, ‘LOOK HOW BRAVE WE ARE.’ MY REGRET WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT BEME ‘DISNEY’S FIRST EXPLICLY GAY MOMENT’ AND WAS NEVER TEND TO BE THAT. IT WAS NEVER TEND TO BE A MOMENT THAT WE SHOULD LD OURSELV FOR, BEE ANKLY, I DON’T THK WE DID JTICE TO WHAT A REAL GAY CHARACTER A DISNEY FILM SHOULD BE.”AT THE TIME OF BETY AND THE BEAST’S RELEASE, THE IMPLITN THAT A BELOVED ANIMATED CHARACTER WOULD BE QUEER ED NTROVERSY. AN ALABAMA THEATER REFED TO SCREEN THE FILM, MALAYSIA BALKED AT SCREENG AN UNCENSORED VERSN OF , AND RSIA APPROVED THE FILM FOR SCREENG BUT WH AN AGE RATG OF 16 AND ABOVE. AMIDST THE FALLOUT, CONDON REVISED HIS EARLIER MENTS, LLG VERAGE OF THE SCENE “OVERBLOWN.” MEANWHILE, GAD TOLD USA TODAY AT THE FILM’S PREMIERE THAT THE SCRIPT DID NOT EXPLICLY DISCLOSE LEFOU’S SEXUALY AS GAY. “THAT WAS NOT LEFOU,” GAD NTUED HIS REMARKS TO THE INPENNT. “IF WE’RE GOG TO PAT OURSELV ON THE BACK, THEN DAMN , WE SHOULD HAVE GONE FURTHER WH THAT. EVERYBODY SERV AN OPPORTUNY TO SEE THEMSELV ON SCREEN, AND I DON’T THK WE’VE DONE ENOUGH—AND I CERTALY HAVEN’T DONE ENOUGH TO DO THAT.”GAD WAS SET TO REPRISE HIS ROLE AS LEFOU A PREQUEL SERI FOR DISNEY+, WHICH WOULD HAVE RNED WH EVANS’S GASTON. HOWEVER, DISNEY POSTPONED THE PROJECT EARLIER THIS YEAR, DUE TO CREATIVE LAYS. “WE TRIED TO MAKE ALL WORK BUT UNR THE GUN WASN’T MEANT TO BE…FOR NOW,” GAD, WHO WAS ALSO A SHOWNNER ON THE SERI, TWEETED. “THE CHARACTERS AND THIS STORY WILL LIVE ON, BUT SOMETIM THE BT TENTNS & REALY LLI & NOTHG N BE DONE.”MORE GREAT STORI FROM VANY FAIR— JERRY LEWIS’S COSTARS SPEAK OUT: “HE GRABBED ME. HE BEGAN TO FONDLE ME. I WAS DUMBSTCK”— INSI CHARLIZE THERON AND TOM HARDY’S MAD MAX WAR— INVENTG ANNA IS A “DANGERO” DISTORTN, SAYS RACHEL WILLIAMS— HOW THE GUN ALEC BALDW’S HANDS TURNED THE RT SET DEADLY— LOVE IS BLD SEASON TWO IS PEAK RED FLAG TELEVISN— PACHKO FIRST LOOK: AN EPIC TALE, AND A HISTORY-MAKG SHOW— VANY FAIR’S HOLLYWOOD ISSUE 2022: SEE THE FULL PORTFOL FEATURG NILE KIDMAN, KRISTEN STEWART, AND MORE— THE UGLY TTH OF HOW MOVIE SR ARE MA— KIRSTEN DUNST ON HER FIRST OSR NOMATN FOR THE POWER OF THE DOG— FROM THE ARCHIVE: WH FRIENDS LIKE THE— SIGN UP FOR THE “HWD DAILY” NEWSLETTER FOR MT-READ DTRY AND AWARDS VERAGE—PL A SPECIAL WEEKLY EDN OF “AWARDS INSIR.”MOST POPULARTHE CAST OF OPPENHEIMER AND THE REAL PEOPLE THEY PLAYBY HILLARY BISSOUND OF FREEDOM: THE WILD TE STORY BEHD 2023’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILMBY EVE BATEYTHE HNTG REAL STORY THAT INSPIRED THE EXORCISTBY ROSEMARY COUNTERSAVANNAH WALSH

The "nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie" is a ditn to the animated film's late lyricist Howard Ashman. * beauty and beast gay *

” Condon promised the film will have a “nice, exclively gay moment” at the the LGBTQ have been advotg to see themselv reprented Disney films. Those g were advotg for givg the lead character Disney’s blockbter h “Frozen” a female love tert the news of LeFou beg Disney’s first gay character, however, was met wh mixed reactns.

It’s been nearly five years sce Disney’s live-actn Bety and the Beast ma headl for an “exclively gay moment” volvg LeFou (played by Josh Gad), the dim-wted sikick to the villao Gaston (Le Evans).

‘BETY AND THE BEAST’: JOSH GAD PLAYS DISNEY’S FIRST-EVER GAY CHARACTER

Before "Bety and the Beast" premiered, the director discsed an "exclively gay moment" the film. It end up almost unnoticeable the fal film. * beauty and beast gay *

’ My regret what happened is that beme ‘Disney’s first explicly gay moment’ and was never tend to be that. It was never tend to be a moment that we should ld ourselv for, bee ankly, I don’t thk we did jtice to what a real gay character a Disney film should be. ” Meanwhile, Gad told USA Today at the film’s premiere that the script did not explicly disclose LeFou’s sexualy as gay.

It’s certa as the sun — Josh Gad’s character Bety and the Beast is gay. But is a nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie. As for the unrwhelmg “exclively gay” subplot, though?

That is the extent of the so-lled gay subplot. They're not talkg about the overall film, which is gettg great reviews (three out of four stars om USA TODAY) and breakg box office rerds wh a $170 ln but, the hight ever for March and the seventh-hight of all unrwhelmed reactn has been to the so-lled "exclively gay moment" the film, which has ed ternatnal ntroversy sce director Bill Condon first mentned an terview wh Attu the terview, Condon said the character LeFou (Josh Gad) would be portrayed as gay.

THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDG THE GAY 'BETY AND THE BEAST' SUBPLOT REEKS OF HYPOCRISY

An evangelist preacher is llg for a boytt of the upg Walt Disney film "Bety and the Beast" bee featur a gay character, sayg that the pany is tryg to promote an LGBT agenda to children. * beauty and beast gay *

The "gay moment" that Condon was referrg to is a blk-and-you'll-miss- shot the film's fal sends. "If nobody had said that #LeFou had a 'gay moment'  #BetyAndTheBeast, I really don't thk would've even been a thg, " wrote one Twter er. "Watched the new #BetyAndTheBeast movie last night, hontly don't unrstand what the outrage (about) there beg a gay character was (about), " wrote another.

"Bt part of my day was when half the theater clapped and cheered when the gay uple me on screen #BetyAndTheBeast, " reported one dience who supported the film appld how much money was able rack spe reported "boytts. "Though the moment was well-received or unrwhelmg to many dience members, there were some the LGBT muny who thought the reprentatn of a gay character did not go far enough.

Also LeFou is not gay enough, " one Twter er sentiment was shared by some LGBT crics and wrers. "Disney n pat self on s back all wants for turng a villao buffoon that was d as gay the origal film to a morally ambiguo buffoon who is more obvly gay, nfis a teapot, and tri out dancg wh a man, " wrote Vulture.

'BETY AND THE BEAST'S 'GAY MOMENT' MAY HAVE BEEN MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHG

Even though LeFou might be the only 'out' character, 'Bety and the Beast' is rich wh queer characters and gay subtexts. * beauty and beast gay *

"Although I adored the movie overall, part of my tratn wh is that I had hoped for more out of Condon’s 'exclively gay moment, '" The Huffgton Post explaed. The ‘exclively gay moment’ ‘Bety and the Beast’ prov the danger of overhype. ]Before the film even premiered, Vulture published a breakdown of exactly what was volved the "exclively gay moment" that director Bill Condon hyped up  an Attu magaze terview.

THE ‘EXCLIVELY GAY MOMENT’ ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ PROV THE DANGER OF OVERHYPE

Bill Condon said that the manservant LeFou, played by Josh Gad, has a “nice, exclively gay moment” the Disney film. Commence ter meltdown. * beauty and beast gay *

In short, wrer Jackson McHenry noted, the "moment" wh LeFou — played by Josh Gad — wasn't much more than that:As the characters get together for a big celebratn at the end of the film, the real "exclively gay moment" arriv.

This is not the "exclively gay moment" "Bety and the Beast. That's the danger of wrg LGBTQ characters 2017: Stori about gay, lbian, bisexual, transgenr and queer people are held to credibly (if not unfairly) high standards. Or, and this is purely speculatn: Was this a purposeful news release, one that gave Disney a chance to make a statement agast prejudice by standg up to markets like Malaysia and refg to ed the "exclively gay moment" out?

Disney’s “Bety and the Beast, ” which has ffled feathers some nservative untri bee of a “gay moment” the film, opened Friday Cha uncut and on top of the box office. The brief “gay moment” (as director Bill Condon lls ) volvg the character Le Fou at the end of the movie left Cha’s sometim tty censors unfltered. “Controversial gay moment kept Disney’s #BetyAndTheBeast.

‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ OPENS STRONG CHA WH ‘GAY MOMENT’ INTACT

In the lead up to 2017's 'Bety and the Beast,' Josh Gad's LeFou character was billed as havg Disney's first 'exclively gay moment'" emprop="scriptn * beauty and beast gay *

Controversial gay moment kept Disney's #BetyAndTheBeast. (Rters) - An evangelist preacher is llg for a boytt of the upg Walt Disney film “Bety and the Beast” bee featur a gay character, sayg that the pany is tryg to promote an LGBT agenda to member Emma Watson pos at the premiere of "Bety and the Beast" Los Angel, California, U. “They’re tryg to ph the LGBT agenda to the hearts and mds of your children - watch out!, ” Graham said Disney was makg an attempt to “normalize this (gay) liftyle.

'BETY AND BEAST' GAY CHARACTER SPARKS CHRISTIAN BOYTT LLS

The LeFou actor says he regrets the way "Bety and the Beast" remake was marketed wh an "exclively gay moment" back 2017. * beauty and beast gay *

”Earlier this week, the film’s director, Bill Condon, told Brish gay liftyle magaze Attu that the movie will feature a gay character - LeFou, the goofy sikick to ma villa Gaston - for the first time Disney’s Disney Co, which has long been known for s animated movi and other films aimed at fai, did not immediately return requts for ment on movie, a live-actn remake of Disney’s animated classic film, will beg s worldwi rollout on March 16.

ALL THE CHARACTERS 'BETY AND THE BEAST' WHO WERE PROBABLY GAY ALL ALONG

* beauty and beast gay *

“I hope Christians everywhere will say no to Disney, ” Graham said his Facebook post, askg supporters to let Disney know their feelgs about the director Condon told Attu magaze that the character of LeFou will e to terms wh his sexualy, and said the endg of the movie brgs a payoff and “a nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie.

Movi|‘Bety and the Beast’ Director Talks of ‘Exclively Gay’ Moment ADVERTISEMENTCred...

‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ DIRECTOR TALKS OF ‘EXCLIVELY GAY’ MOMENT

Josh God said LeFou was not properly reprented as a gay man, spe the "Bety and the Beast" team claimg LeFou had a gay moment. * beauty and beast gay *

But what about a gay LeFou?

And so seems to have tiptoed toward open homosexualy s new live-actn versn of “Bety and the Beast. ”Bill Condon, who directed the film, and is openly gay, told the Brish magaze Attu that the manservant LeFou, played by Josh Gad, has “a nice, exclively gay moment” the movie, which has s premiere here on Thursday and arriv theaters the Uned Stat on March Condon ntued: “LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston.

JOSH GAD ADMS 'BETY AND THE BEAST' REMAKE 'DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH' WH GAY CHARACTER'S STORYLE

Josh Gad adms that 2017's 'Bety and the Beast' didn't 'go far enough' pictg a gay character. * beauty and beast gay *

” The Daily Dot, whout havg seen the movie, stomped s foot, sayg that a gay LeFou was “hardly a high pot for posive L. Condon’s word choice — “exclively” gay?

JOSH GAD SAYS HE DON'T THK 'BETY AND THE BEAST' DID 'JTICE TO WHAT A REAL GAY CHARACTER A DISNEY FILM SHOULD BE'

Gad is not gay.

LeFou sure seemed to have a csh on Gaston Disney’s 1991 animated versn of “Bety and the Beast, ” ntug a tradn of Disney sikicks that seem to be gay whout statg .

A versn of this article appears prt on, Sectn C, Page 3 of the New York edn wh the headle: ‘Bety and the Beast’ to Have ‘Gay Moment’. In the lead up to 2017's Bety and the Beast, Josh Gad's LeFou character was billed as havg Disney's first "exclively gay moment".

JOSH GAD SHAR ‘REGRET’ OVER GAY ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’ REVEAL: ‘WE DIDN’T GO FAR ENOUGH’

In the 2017 live-actn Bety and the Beast remake, Gad played LeFou, Gaston's sikick whom director Bill Condon dubbed as Disney's first-ever openly gay character, tellg Attu magaze at the time that the character would have a "nice, exclively gay moment.

' My regret what happened is that beme 'Disney's first explicly gay moment' and was never tend to be that, " said Gad, 41. "It was never tend to be a moment that we should ld ourselv for, bee ankly I don't thk we did jtice to what a real gay character a Disney film should be.

"But is a nice, exclively gay moment a Disney movie.

JOSH GAD SHAR REGRET OVER GAY LEFOU ‘BETY AND THE BEAST’: ‘WE DIDN’T GO FAR ENOUGH’

RELATED VIDEO: Josh Gad on Controversial 'Gay Moment' In Bety and the Beast: 'This Film Is One of Inclivens'. In 2017, Disney's "Bety and the Beast" director said the movie had an "exclively gay moment. Actor Josh Gad, who played Gaston's sikick LeFou the "Bety and the Beast" remake, recently shared that he agre wh some Disney fans who were left disappoted after was said that his character was a gay a new terview wh The Inpennt, Gad said he agre wh people who believed the moment was overhyped.

RSIAN MP LLS FOR BAN ON BETY AND THE BEAST OVER 'GAY PROPAGANDA'

LeFou's anticipated "gay moment"  the 2017 film turned out to be two sends of him dancg wh a man. ' My regret what happened is that beme 'Disney's first explicly gay moment' and was never tend to be that. "The hype around LeFou's "gay moment" began jt a uple of weeks before the "Bety and the Beast" remake was set to premiere.

The ver for an April 2017 edn of Attu, a gay liftyle magaze, touted a world exclive about "the same-sex surprise" fans would see the movie.

The phrase "exclively gay moment" beme a foc of the movie's chang to the 1991 origal animated when people flocked to the theater, the only "gay moment" LeFou's character was given me durg the movie's endg montage. "It was never tend to be a moment that we should ld ourselv for, bee ankly, I don't thk we did jtice to what a real gay character a Disney film should be, " Gad told the Inpennt this week. Five years after Gad took on the role of LeFou Disney’s live-actn remake, the “Wolf Like Me” actor is slammg the hype around the “exclively gay moment” onscreen, as director Bill Condon tegorized 2017.

JOSH GAD SAYS LIVE-ACTN BETY AND THE BEAST DIDN'T 'GO FAR ENOUGH' PICTG GAY CHARACTER

“My regret what happened is that beme ‘Disney’s first explicly gay moment’ and was never tend to be that, ” Gad told The Inpennt. “It was never tend to be a moment that should ld ourselv for, bee ankly, I don’t thk we did jtice to what a real gay character a Disney film should be.

Gad also noted that “there was nothg the script that said ‘LeFou is gay.

AN EXCLIVELY GAY BREAKDOWN OF BETY AND THE BEAST’S WOULD-BE QUEER MOMENT

'” Now, the actor is revealg his te thoughts about beg LeFou beg d as gay. An Alabama theater boytted the film, starg Emma Watson and Dan Stevens the tular lead rol, and Disney pulled the movie om Malaysia after chairman of the Malaysian film censorship board, Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, censored a specific “gay moment.

As IndieWire’s Ju Dry wrote the review, “As for that gay moment, ’s tough to know which one he meant. Josh Gad recently told The Inpennt that he has some regrets over how Disney’s 2017 live actn “Bety and the Beast” remake handled makg his character a gay man. The movie’s director, Bill Condon, announced USA Today ahead of the film’s release that his “Bety and the Beast” would troduce Disney’s first openly gay character.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* BEAUTY AND BEAST GAY

Bety and the Beast': Josh Gad Has Regrets on 'Gay Moment' .

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