Velma actor on Scooby Doo icon being a lesbian: ‘It’s been hinted at loads’
Linda Cardellini played Velma in the Scooby Doo films. (Getty/Warner Bros)
Velma actor Linda Cardellini has joined celebrations for the Scooby Doo character, after the spectacled detective was officially confirmed as a lesbian in a new animated movie.
Many rejoiced when the longstanding theory was made canon in Trick or Treat Scooby Doo in which Velma falls for criminal mastermind Coco Diablo.
Cardellini told Entertainment Weekly: “Velma has been around since 1969; I just went trick or treating with my daughter and there were a lot of Velmas out there, so I love that she still has this place in culture that is sort of always active for decades,
“And I love — you know, I think it’s been hinted at so many times, and I think it’s great that it’s finally out there.”
Just here to remind you that Velma was written to be a lesbian in the live action Scooby Doo movies! Plus there was a scene shot where Velma & Daphne kissed that didn’t make the final cut of Scooby Doo (2002). pic.twitter.com/6d8HtmRf4M
— Michaela 📸✨ (@equidemm) March 17, 2021
She joins fellow Velma actor alumni Hayley Kiyoko who also shared her joy, saying: “I remember booking Velma in 2008. It was my first big role in a movie.
“I also remember thinking ‘I wonder if they know they hired a lesbian as Velma’ here we are, 14 years later…… love you all so much.
“I’m happy for her coming out! I’m surprised and also not surprised whatsoever.”
Cardellini played Velma in the 2002 and 2004 James Gunn live-action films, which we were forced to cut queer scenes.
In a deleted twitter exchange between James Gunn and a fan in 2020, he wrote: “I tried! In 2001 Velma was explicitly gay in my initial script.
“But the studio just kept watering it down & watering it down, becoming ambiguous (the version shot), then nothing (the released version) & finally having a boyfriend (the sequel).”
Devastatingly, a Daphne and Velma’s kiss got cut from the film as well, although other Cardellini and Sarah Michelle Gellar (Daphne) did confirm in interviews at the time that they were clearly in love.
daily reminder that sarah michelle gellar confirmed velma is in love with daphne in 2002 <3 pic.twitter.com/f446Y7cwZk— ً (@kisssgirls) August 3, 2020
the fact there a version of scooby doo (2002) out there where daphne and velma kiss i will be doing everything in my power to get my hands on it— boob ross (@rootlore) May 15, 2022
honestly not even sure i can blame the creators of scooby doo (2002) for removing the daphne/velma kiss. they knew that a sarah michelle gellar/linda cardellini kiss would simply make the lesbians too powerful.
— virginia is for lesbians (@vaberg) June 14, 2020
And all this didn’t stop fans from shipping the pair anyway.
In one iconic deleted scene where Velma sings “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to both Fred and Daphne.
A deleted scene from Scooby-Doo (2002) where Velma sings Cant Take My Eyes Off You directed towards Fred AND Daphne pic.twitter.com/mUqV3Us5Y6— How Did This NOT Get Made Podcast (@hdtngm) September 8, 2022
thinking about that one deleted scene from scooby doo (2002) where velma serenades daphne with a drunken rendition of ‘can’t take my eyes off of you’,,,,, lesbians pic.twitter.com/HbMuiGSaG2— alice fortt🕯 (@aliceee_f) June 29, 2020
Meanwhile in the Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated animated series, creator Tony Cervone echoed Gunn’s sentiments in an Instagram post during pride month.
“I obviously don’t represent every version of Velma Dinkley, but I am one of the key people that represents this one.
“We made our intentions as clear as we could ten years ago. Most of our fans got it. To those that didn’t, I suggest you look closer. There’s no new news here.”
Velma’s character will be returning to screens in her own spin-off show, VELMA, led by Mindy Kaling coming to HBO Max.
