Avatar: The Last Airbender star claps back at criticism of Seven Havens gay characters
The second voice of Uncle Iroh has defended the LGBTQ+ and disability representation in Seven Havens (Nickelodeon | Paramount)
The latest instalment in the Avatar franchise is already causing ripples in some online circles after just three episodes.
Avatar: Seven Havens debuted this month on Paramount+ with its first three episodes. In them, it was revealed that there was a canonically gay, male couple – Jae and Datu.
While many fans have applauded the continued LGBTQ+ representation in the Avatar universe, some have taken issue with it.
Meanwhile, another lead character, Pavi, one of the new twin Avatars alongside sister Nisha, has a prosthetic leg.
The Avatar franchise has a number of confirmed LGBTQ+ characters, including Korra, the main character of the first spin-off series, The Legend of Korra (2012 to 2014). And characters with disabilities are nothing new either, as one of the focal characters of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 to 2008), Toph, was blind.
For some, though, it seems the above points are too much. One person tweeted: “Avatar’s Team. Pavi: disabled. Jae: LGBTQ. This is supposed to be a kids’ show by the way.”
Greg Baldwin, who voiced Uncle Iroh in the third season of Avatar: The Last Airbender and in The Legend of Korra, clapped back on X, telling the original poster: “Hi! Second voice of Uncle Iroh here. So sorry LGBTQ and disabled people exist. That must be traumatic for you.”
Fans were quick to react, with one saying: “You know you f***** up when Uncle Iroh checks the toxic vibe.” Another said: “I’m handing you the mic Unc, tell it to ’em!” Someone else said: “Uncle Iroh! Thank you for your wisdom.”
Baldwin, who has also voiced characters in SpongeBob SquarePants and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, also responded to another of the same user’s posts, which said Avatar: Seven Havens “feels so focused on representation”. They added: “I’m not against LGBTQ+ characters, but inclusivity shouldn’t overshadow the actual plot. You can represent people without making it feel like the main selling point.”
Baldwin said: “When someone says they’re not against something BUT… They’re against something.”
‘Wonderful exemplification of love is love’
Speaking last week at New York Comic Con, Major Curda, who voices Jae in Avatar: Seven Havens, said LGBTQ+ representation in the franchise is “exciting because of how it’s not a huge deal”.
Curda went on: “Here is Jae, this new character. Here is also this new character Datu, they’re boyfriend and boyfriend. It’s just such a wonderful exemplification of love is love.”
Avatar: Seven Havens is available to stream on Paramount+.
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