Grey’s Anatomy star slams gay TV show over bisexual joke
Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez has slammed her former TV network for airing a pejorative joke about bisexual people.
Ramirez, who came out as bi last year, appeared for more than a decade on ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy as fan favourite doctor Callie Torres.
The actress hit out at her employer this week over a joke in comedy series The Real O’Neals.
The show, which is loosely based on the life of outspoken gay columnist Dan Savage, stars Noah Galvin as a newly-out gay teen, Kenny.
In a recent episode, Kenny speculated about his boyfriend’s problems, narrating: “Oh, God. Here we go. Webbed toes? Money problems? Or worse… bisexual?”
Ramirez joined with other bi campaigners in slamming the joke, which they say is just the latest example of biphobia in the gay community.
Sharing a petition calling for ABC to apologise, she tweeted: “WORDS MATTER… and as someone who worked 4 them 4 10 years+,am truly disheartened & disappointed quite frankly.I will invest my brand where I’m respected.
“Dear @ABCNetwork @TheRealONeals :own it,address it,clarify it,empower our #Queer #Bisexual youth & community w/accurate positive reflections”.
Show lead Noah Galvin had attempted to quell the anger, explaining that the joke represented “a panicky teen expressing his ‘deepest fear’ which was his boyfriend leaving him for a girl.”
He added: “I am sorry if we offended anyone. I hope you know our show fights for visibility and inclusivity and we will do better in the future.”
A petition claims: “This joke has crossed the line saying bisexual teens like me are worse than genetic abnormalities and financial problems.
“Jokes like this increase the ridiculous amount of biphobia we experience in our lives and I am calling on the American Broadcasting Company to step in and change this!”
Galvin previously apologised last year for an interview in which he lashed out at a number of other gay celebrities.
