Michael Collins: Proud Family's Token Gay 🌈🌈🌈

[@phoney2627]

I don't mind when gay characters are effeminate and kinda stereotypical because some gay guys are like that in real life and that's absolutely fine, but it becomes a problem once they're a complete stereotype and have no agency outside of it.

[@TonyTurner]

Exactly ‼

[@nuclearseahorse]

Well said!

[@mrfish.-]

I’m a fem gay and I definitely agree! Sis needs a bit more of a personality!

[@leafyishereisdumbnameakath4259]

Even though there are people like that, they still have interests.

[@CoffeeaddictWriting]

Bowie from total drama island is a good example of a well-written effeminate gay character imo

[@negressprincess]

Even though he didn’t come out in the original he felt more realistic back in the day.

[@TonyTurner]

I agree. His personality in the original series didn't feel so forced

[@KimberRose16]

Completely agree

[@The_NonDescript]

It seemed more like they were focused on the fact that just because he was a guy, he could still like stuff not stereotypically liked by guys, and could still act "like a dude." He was his own man, breaking stereotypes all around. Unfortunately, in the 2020s, just because you don't follow the stereotypical "guy's guy" tropes, you absolutely have to a) be sexual- or gender-diverse and b) take stereotypes into the other extreme. Michael's a shallow shell of his former self in Louder and Prouder.

[@SirFailsalot91]

Maya's dads feel more sincere a depiction of a gay couple than current Michael, it feels as though as soon as someone includes a gay guy in a story, it ends up being the stereotypical gay man from the 90's (think the Will & Grace levels of in-your-face hyper flamboyant and overtly feminine kind of character.) Although I'd be curious to see if Michael still has his sports talent from the original series, just to prove to his dad he's not a wimpy little sissy and can still be a star player on the basketball court - that'd be really interesting.

[@Drm3221]

Yeah he didn’t come out in the original because he wasn’t gay 🤣 Generally effeminate but explicitly shown to be into girls

[@FunFilmFare]

Reboot version of Michael is just giving homophobes more excuses to hate him. He's OK but I agree he needs to be more than just a bunch of blatant gay stereotypes. Give him some serious scenes (like in the original) that would make him seem more like someone we'd meet in the real world, and not just a diversity token.

[@TonyTurner]

Definitely ‼

[@TimoteoDeBaum]

Yeah he needs more depth. Agreed

[@BrightWulph]

That's my problem with Micheal, I don't care that he's gay, I care that he's just a bunch of gay stereotypes strung together with little to no depth just there to fulfil a quota.

[@lehahiah81]

​@@BrightWulphThat personality to me is annoying no matter the sexuality

[@mediaguyking7045]

The homophobes would’ve hated him no matter what.

[@tamooz6649]

As a gay guy myself, albiet not black, who was in theater, I can't express how annoying it is to be viewed as just the girl group's little accessory. Im not even that effeminate as a gay man compared to stereotypes but the fact that I was gay was the reason for the person I got setup with for Secret Santa just bc she wanted a "gay best friend". I think with times changing and being allowed to be more explicit on character's indentities, writers forgot who to add nuance to characters? Bc a character like Michael has so much potential, often times gay/queer children already have a bad home environment so school sort of becomes an escape but for your only friend group to keep you around because they see you as a cute little gay pet that will scream YASS and go shopping with you, they dont see you as a person :/. Thats the type of story I want explored with a character like Michael or Dijonay. Right now I just see a stereotype alone, you have people that act like Michael, but their only trait isnt being gay. Love ur work ❤

[@TonyTurner]

Thanks for sharing this ‼

[@BlueberryFundip]

Jesus loves you, repent

[@juliemesser2053]

You are more than a stereotype.😊

[@Melancholic_Elysium]

@@BlueberryFundip Repent? Your god doesn't need to repent for his evil doings under his own rules? Think for yourself and get out of that cult.

[@aswespeakI65]

@@BlueberryFundipStop it. This is not the time or place and you’re being extremely disrespectful and rude. Focus on yourself instead of others

[@Dragonkid1801]

I don't mind the redesign, but I think it should've been a gradual change. I didn't realize that was Michael until I was told he was Michael and that's not good in a reboot. Maybe have a minor subplot of him branching out his own style despite his dad's wishes

[@dali-dog]

Oh that’s a good idea, I wish they went that route, it could have been really fun! And it would also give him more agency as his own character with his own thing going on, letting him do things apart from just being an accessory for the main friend group.

[@one-onessadhalf3393]

That is actually a really good idea

[@cancelledavac]

Once again, commentors having better ideas than actual script writers. Maybe they need a new writing team lmao

[@KiwiLuvsPieOfficial]

Exactly. “He found himself and stopped allowing his dad to control him” then show that IN the actual show itself? Lol 😭 All this behind the scene talk doesn’t make up for rushed character changes.

[@Acorn905]

Yeah :D He could of been afraid of expressing himself but grown into himself and have his friends let him know that it's ok to dress feminine or androgynous and that he can still like sports and all of the other things he likes. I've haven't seen either versions of the shows but from the clips I see, I agree that he seemed to have more to him in the old cartoon and now he seems just more simple

[@golden10ful]

"Who cares we won" we need more people with attitudes like that

[@OriginalJohnnyCage]

Or people who don't call people slurs and names because they different 🤨

[@golden10ful]

@@OriginalJohnnyCage I agree, I'm just saying in general if you can see how you are growing and winning regardless of the hate you'll do better than someone who doesn't see themselves winning ever. Besides that version of the character wasn't a openly LGBT type of character, so he has more of a regular type of bullying

[@kamilululu2515]

@@golden10ful I mean, I get it but I don't think this by itself is a good message for kids. Like, sure, we shouldn't care buuut... Kids who are bullies could see something with this message and be like "we can say whatever we want, it's them who shouldn't care". While I am all for it, kids can easily interpret it in a wrong way. Like, let's not forget, not only victims watch cartoons. What I see in this statement, after months in therapy, is what I felt - repressed pain and acceptance for the world that hates you for who you are. What we need to heal is the realization that yeah, our feelings do matter, even if the world wants to convince us they don't. We shouldn't attack everyone who says that to us, we shouldn't close ourselves in a bubble of hatred but shit, we shouldn't ignore that either. And while the statement is super positive, it's great that we remember that what bullies say doesn't ultimately matter, children need something more clear. I propose "Who cares, we won!" but more like "Yeah, it hurts a lot. But we won and I won't let them take that away from me." While adults can read all of that in this short statement, kids can have a lot of trouble with that, especially the bullies. I haven't watched that episode - I'm just expanding on your comment.

[@Thot_Patrol_USA]

@@kamilululu2515did you watch the episode yet bc there’s a part in it relating to that quote you have to see

[@kamilululu2515]

@@Thot_Patrol_USA I said I didn't, I just expanded on the comment

[@Gojiraon]

Micheal collins being gay was fine. I couldn’t care less but in the original he was honestly much better. He was arguably a better friend to penny in the OG and wasn’t a blatant walking gay “Yasss queen slayyy” stereotype- like before he had much more to him. Now he’s just The Gay Friend™️

[@TonyTurner]

Right‼The personality they gave him seems so forced

[@moist_onions]

They just wanted to make a rupaul insert

[@GangleGoneInsane]

I think Michaels personality is not that unrealistic I mean my childhood bestie basically acts just like him. So people in real life can act like that tooa

[@Kilvieo]

Honestly, I don't like Michael in the reboot. He uses Penny to get himself out of something even a little inconvenient and completely throws her under the bus when things go wrong. Michael isn't a good friend, he's just the least toxic friend out of the entire group.

[@eatatjoe]

Like pickin' the least hot pepper out of all of 'em.

[@forkalamari6093]

⁠@@eatatjoehe’s the habanero to their Carolina reaper

[@eatatjoe]

@@forkalamari6093 Yep.

[@YourAverageNormalHumanBeing]

Which episode was that in?

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

Funny thing was he wasn't even technically gay in the original, sure he was flamboyant but that doesn't automatically make you gay and that honestly was more refreshing, dude acts less traditionally masculine but is still straight which is rare these days. However, here they basically made him such a gay stereotype it borders on parody.

[@otaking3582]

These days it seems like media like to push the idea of "not being overly masculine means you're gay and/or trans". Just look at High Guardian Spice and Guilty Gear.

[@dr3dg352]

I especially appreciate original Michael given the era of the first Proud Family series. He was like a Prince in a world of 50 Cents.

[@Indie973]

@@dr3dg352maybe he’s just drag straight

[@dr3dg352]

@@Indie973 Could be! In any case I like how he defied the hypermasculine expectations set by the hip-hop community of the '00s.

[@dazzlingdexter5060]

I agree, these are not the same character. When I watched reboot I was trying figure out who this character is but like Micheal in the old show is just a goofy kid. They have more character in the old show vs the new one.

[@LostForessst]

He was a character, then they turned him into a caricature.

[@NeyamStar]

Yea modern day cartoons/shows butcher their predecessors (I wish they would make new stuff instead of milking old stuff and making it worse)

[@maybe8985]

I need an episode where Michael talks with his father, with a good or bad ending, we need something about it~

[@TonyTurner]

Definitely ‼

[@amazingspiderlad]

Nah, he's already stereotypical enough. This show could redeem itself at least a little if it gave the gay kid a storyline that wasn't the same as every other gay side character.

[@tsukitanuki101]

What is up with people loving truama from lgbtq characters. Not all gays need a storyline where they are shunned by homophobes. Sure, hes a stereotypical gay. But id rather have a stereotypical gay then a crying because i got kicked out by my dad but my mom/grandma took me in and they love me.

[@amazingspiderlad]

@@tsukitanuki101 THANK YOU!! I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS SHIT FOR YEARS

[@tsukitanuki101]

@@amazingspiderlad Ofc! It happens with every minority group. People love to see strugglers struggle. I’m tired of it

[@MannysMillennialMouth]

I definitely agree with the criticism that they need to add more depth to his character. Instead of dedicating an entire episode about Maya having 2 fathers, they could've used that as an opportunity to expand Michael's role.

[@NeyamStar]

True

[@kyaos_Meteor]

The biggest indicator for me (in the og especially) that he was gay was whenever he would go with penny up to her room, Oscar (you know the same Oscar who would give a death glare to any guy who ever tried something with his precious baby) didn't bat an eye like he knew something and it was only a matter of time i just wish we could've gotten more i like how he's out and proud full of confidence but that's it.....also wild to me how he went from sticking with penny to throwing her aside?? like am i reaching or did a reverse uno happened??

[@angietoonz6605]

wow i never thought about that! That's crazy, i gotta look out for it when i'm rewatching.

[@Artryom]

Eh, that could be an indicator but dads always have that one guy their daughter brings home or around they approve of eventually, it’s not confirmation that he was or that Oscar was paying attention to this kid. Oscar’s that kind of dad who would assume it because he doesn’t align with his idea of “guy act” which is… oof.

[@NeyamStar]

Eh

[@Drm3221]

That was more supposed to be a joke on Oscar not considering him to be a “guy” guy because of his personality. And mind you this was at a time when personality and sexuality could be two different things 🤣

[@GiftedSince92GiftedSince92]

Great video bro! I always liked Michael's character. He's not a "gay boy" but a human being. I feel that society label LGBTQA people within the community as one representation. His personality is energetic, intellectual, and cool. He's not about drama. Yeah.......the original series he always had a pleasant demeanor. But getting bullied and portrayed as a "sissy" is the harsh reality. I witnessed a classmate of mine getting bullied on a daily basis. That was in middle school. We sit on the bus and talked. This kid in our class would just......pick on him. He literally would brush it off. That is a dangerous mentality people have. I pretty much believe in the art of self defense. Michael outshined ignorant a**holes by being great at basketball. His flamboyant personality didn't keep him from stuntin' on the naysayers. Talent speaks for itself regardless. I like Michael's new look in the reboot series. He's edgier. But.....those repetitive LGBTQA slang language is too much. He has MORE versatility. The stereotypes are obvious. We need MORE healthy LGBTQA representation. I liked his tomboy style in the original series as well. I feel all these years went by with this new reboot and the creators just threw things together like a microwavable unseasoned meal. I enjoyed this video. Keep up the amazing work!!!

[@TonyTurner]

Well said ‼

[@GiftedSince92GiftedSince92]

@@TonyTurner 💯

[@jadacampbell9331]

The only reason why they dressed like the old one was because having an old school football coach for a father influenced a more muted style. Michael couldn't lean into full expression back then. Plus, this kid is an athlete. Maybe a trash at football, but is awesome at basketball 🏀. Michael's style is also versatile. Not saying the reboot is perfect, but...

[@cancelledavac]

Lgbt slang language or AAVE? People usually tend to mix those two up

[@yohann3825]

@@cancelledavac it’s AAVE I was gonna comment on that. I’m so tired of AAVE being referred to as Gen Z or even LGBTQIA+ slang 😭

[@RedTime101]

I'm a queer youth myself, I am not gay or black, but I have seen and even experienced to some of the "you're not a person, you're the queer friend." They're treating Micheal like RuPaul's drag persona… these personalities do exist, especially in drag, but it's not who the drag queen is from themsleves, it is their drag persona which is all performance based. They made him act that how stereotypical drag queen will act onstage for a massive performance that mocks the stereotype of gay men… but he's not mocking it and he's not putting on a show or performance. They just made him a stereotype. Now, I personally don't have a problem with how he looks, I went to school with boys who did dress like that. I have an issue with how he's written.

[@downbeatdialga1341]

I’m a queer man of color myself, and I was adopted by a white family from birth. I didn’t grow up with the Proud Family show, but even from these few clips you shared, I do wish and hope that we get to see more of Michael prior to the reboot. To go all out and turn Michael’s character into just gay stereotypes is like 2 steps forward, and then falling back down a whole flight imo. Yes, there are some queer people who’re flamboyant, and that’s one thing. However, it’s changing an entirely more fleshed out character into JUST that one thing, and simply for comedy that’s…idk, off-putting? It’s a choice that I can’t help but criticize. If you wanted that stereotype, make it someone Michael’s dating, not Michael himself y’know? Idk, is that mean? 😮

[@LunamFlore]

It's sad to see how Michael has been changed. In the original series he was a ray of sunshine, very sweet and cheerful and always striving to make his dad proud even if he was only allowed to call him Coach in public. I'd have loved to see a Michael in the reboot who had grown stronger about standing up for himself and more confident with others, while still retaining that kindness and spark he had in the original PF. Here it's like he couldn't embrace his identity without embracing the stereotypes that come with it and losing the little bit of uniqueness that was once a part of his character and personality. I haven't watched very many episodes yet, but have there even been any plots exploring his relationship with his dad?

[@CalebR-zd5ql]

Why do you have an issue with gay men being flamboyant or stereotypical? You might have toxic masculinity

[@ImDudeRandom90]

Ironically, Total Drama had a much better effeminate gay black man in Bowie earlier this year, because he wasn't just stereotypical. He was more than just a gay man, he was scheming, emotionally intelligent, competitive, and an all-around likeable character. He wasn't just the token gay or token black.

[@darkix8650]

@@ImDudeRandom90 mmhmm oh total drama could of had a gay character in season one but decided to rip away that privilege I'm talking about Noah, everyone probably knew I was talking about Noah, but ya

[@horseyfacetheglorious]

I love Michael, but I feel like he’s not given enough character

[@TonyTurner]

He's really not. They have him there for witty/sassy one liners and makeup, dance and fashion advice.

[@taylorsmith9418]

​@@TonyTurnerthanks Tony love ya if it was for tony❤

[@spidermanfangirl91]

In the original Michael felt like a character In the reboot he feels like a stereotype

[@TonyTurner]

Definitely ‼

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

Michael in the original series was lovable, sympathetic, very funny, and was a great balance in the friend group. He wasn't your stereotypical version of masculinity and had an interesting struggle of wanting to appear tough for his father but at the same time couldn't because he had other interests like dance and choreography. He actually felt like a real person. Michael in the revival is just a walking gay stereotype. He has no layers. Like Maya he's an absolute asshole and is rude to everyone. And above all, he barely gets to do anything other than just stand there. He feels like a decoration and that's NEVER how he was in the original series. And we're just introduced to him like he was like this the whole time. It's one thing to be flamboyant and another to be a jerk. I have gay friends who are very comfortable in their being flamboyant and those kinds of people do exist. But with Michael it's either he's flamboyant or he's a jerk to everyone around him like Maya. I don't really mind if you commit to Michael being gay but at the same time, what was interesting about Michael before was that he was more than just the stereotypical boy and that it was okay if boys liked things outside of sports, games and all of that. If you wanted to make him gay, fine. But you need to do what What We Do in the Shadows did and create a character first. Guillermo never at any point is only just his Latino or gay self. He exists. He's a person. Michael in this show is not allowed to be one outside his new sexuality. He's not even given an episode to come to terms with it. We just have to accept it. Just another character completely ruined in the revival.

[@aichan95]

I agree 100%!

[@one-onessadhalf3393]

I kind of agree with you, but at the same time, there are very few characters in the show who aren’t assholes to literally everyone. Like, Zoey and Penny are pretty much the only people in the main groups who aren’t total jerks, and even then they can have their moments. Most of the adults in the show are really mean as well.

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

@@one-onessadhalf3393 I get what you're saying. There are a lot of mean people in this show and they can be very annoying. But my point is not that Michael is an asshole. My point is that that's one of the few things he's allowed to be. In the original show, yeah he had his moments, but overall, he was a solid friend and he had more layers than just the stereotypical asshole gay best friend.

[@one-onessadhalf3393]

@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343 Yeah, that’s true. I feel like a lot of characters in the reboot have lost a lot of the character that they had in the first show, and that’s kinda sad

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

@@one-onessadhalf3393 Like some of them still have that same charm but I think that's mainly due to the voice actors' performance more than anything. Oscar's voice actor is always great. Penny's is always enjoyable and lovable. DiJonay's line delivery always makes me laugh.I just wish the writing could back it up. Sometimes you have moments where you enjoy the characters but I hate when I'm enjoying myself and then Michael or Maya come in and ruin it.

[@chronicles6065]

I think it was always implied that Michael was the queer gay black man who exhibited feminine qualities, but thinking back I actually prefered the original because they had the gay stereotypes, but I feel like his character had more depth in terms of showing his flamboyance, feminine nature, and showing him playing basketball, which was suppoed to hone in on gay men being multifaceted people they can feminine and masculine because a lot of times we see them stereotype gay men as just a version of woman insgead of understanding that gay men are men who reject the conventionality of what society think a man should be. I really want disney to hire more queer writers, more experts on colorism, etc because they be dropoing the ball on these episodes.

[@truthfuln00dle]

i believe disney shouldnt hire on the basis of the writer being flat out queer, but on the basis of a queer writer *who knows how to write.* because a decent amount of companies/underground animated films can have queer writers but that serves no purpose if they were hired just for diversity’s sake. not a queer writer but a writer, that *is queer* get what im saying? 😅

[@NeyamStar]

Yea

[@InternetMouse]

I absolutely agree with everything you said here, maybe less on the q words ( Still doesn't sit right with me here).

[@bunnybird9342]

@@InternetMouse it's fine if you are personally uncomfortable with being called queer but telling other LGBT people they can't reclaim it is not okay From, someone who identifies as queer

[@bunnybird9342]

@@truthfuln00dle yeah especially because of Disney's history of performative activism

[@makairieves9039]

Not only is he gay man, he’s a black gay man, and from experience, it can be a totally different battle. It would be interesting if they focused on that more, but instead Disney use him to say they’re inclusive🙄

[@tsukitanuki101]

Your right! Homophobia in the black community is so much more respected and i cant think of the word but its normalized. Its seen as okay. They could do sumn w that

[@NeyamStar]

​@@tsukitanuki101 tolerated?

[@tsukitanuki101]

@@NeyamStar I was thinking more like, approved of. It’s a big joke to be mean to gay black men in the black community.

[@Bluecupcake_funko7]

If your above 21 then you might wanna listen to bubba the monster hunter audiobooks on Audible, they have a black gay man who deals with issues of that in a speaking past way in some books.

[@ryleeburton]

Wait he’s in the friend group but we still haven’t seen his life at home, or himself not with penny group. It take to wait for 3 season. Love this video and the dissection of the reboot and the reason why people can feel uneasy about tween/teenager are to today and how media portray them

[@TonyTurner]

True ‼

[@GreayWorks]

Nice to see more people talking about this, cause you don't see as much talk about queer men in media, especially in this field.

[@Vassileva85]

I don’t mind the redesign, it’s the personality that really bothers me. They took a character that was so sweet and friendly despite the bullying/remarks and kind of turned him into a catty asshole

[@LordoftheSerpents]

The reboot seems to come off like the writers get their ideas from Twitter and Reddit. No wonder it’s a failure especially when you compare it to the classic original.

[@KiwiLuvsPieOfficial]

As a gay teenager that literally watched the reboot when I was 14, the age of the characters, I do not like Michael. No, not because he’s feminine there’s no problem with that. My problem is how he is LITERALLY JUST A BUNCH OF STEREOTYPES 😭 He isn’t Michael at all! I LOVE old Michael, he has a flamboyant personality and soft cute-casual style. New Michael is just a big slap in the face. They saw a gay coded character with personality and flushed him into a stereotypical gay character. The writers got a lot wrong in the reboot, I wish that they did better, idk. It feels like they’re tryna pander to us or be like “Hey look we support the lgbtq we’re sooo inclusive” like no this just isn’t it.

[@Apple_Bapple]

proud family the only show i can think of that is outwardly and vocally against stereotyping and then proceeds to stereotype ppl...

[@Apple_Bapple]

then again, i'm white *and* need glasses to see so i guess that'd make me sound pretty dumb from the perspective of this show. anyhow, as someone in the lgbtq+ community, i don't really agree with the way they chose to portray him.

[@eromicafrancisco5477]

He is rude and his flamboyantness just seems like it's use as a pass to be rude

[@TonyTurner]

That's something I see in real life too

[@eromicafrancisco5477]

@TonyTurner it isn't okay. You don't get a pass for being rude just because you're gay. I wish they touch on that subject. Like, cool, your flamboyant, that's fine, your gay that's fine too. We accept that, but your attitude we don't because it's disgusting, not your preference.

[@tvgamerstan6180]

He comes off as a mean gay. I used to get picked on for my physical appearance by them when I used to use Instagram back in 2015-2018. I think what a lot of people don't talk about his how toxic the gay community is. They're ruthless if they don't find you attractive lol. Not even just that, but they love judging you for every little thing.

[@DivineFleming]

Honestly I hate when parents do that because every kid ain’t straight. I wish parent would stop acting like teens don’t date and have sexual preferences. If Michael was straight they wouldn’t care about no kids watching it they act like there’s no such thing as gay kids. They deserve representation. Why is it we can be str8 our whole lives but can’t be gay our whole lives. If I like girls at 10 nobody says it’s a phase and I’m confused even though I’m still growing and don’t know myself but let me gay I CANT POSSIBLY BE SURE until I’m at least past 21 and that’s ridiculous and ignorant

[@dr3dg352]

Absolutely. This is why I absolutely hate the "thEy'Re coNFuSing ChiLdReN" narrative. One of my best friends was already crushing on the bad guy from Blade Runner by the time he was 8 or 9. 😆 No media boogiemen made him this way.

[@one-onessadhalf3393]

No, if he was straight they would still hate him because he’s a flamboyant and gender non-conforming boy.

[@synsvids]

As a bisexual teen from a family that thinks gay people are very flamboyant, always obvious, I think a character like Michael not being obvious is good since it shows people like my family that yeah, that guy over there is gay, I know he doesn't look it, but he is.

[@obyaguudemba3179]

Being flamboyant doesn't mean Ur gay they just changed him and made him gay plus he is a stereotype

[@isitleeyourelookingfor6352]

The change in his appearance does bother me. Idk, it's a good design, and it's not the fact he's more feminine that bothers me, but I feel like there's a huge pressure for LGBT+ people to be as conventionally attractive, fashionable, and put together (and skinny) as possible. It feels like only attractive gay people are accepted, because at least they have their looks to offer, so changing a character in that way sort of adds onto that pressure for me. It wouldn't bug me if he was a new character, and that was his design from the start, though...

[@Homodemon]

This!! Is so shitty that like, queer people can't exist in media without the push of them HAVING to be as conventionally attractive as possible and that the attractiveness and aesthetics is being used to humanize them way more than, you know, their personalities their merits, their stories, their voices! It feels so patronizing like "See? This queer here is pretty cute, now, how could you hate them? We shouldn't hate beautiful people!" Michael right now is literally paper thin. Besides an appealing design he's nothing, he brings nothing to the table that compells anyone to like him beyond the superficiality of being the sassy gay friend that is unwarrantly rude to women.

[@Awesomeguy6381]

As a homosexual, I think the very stereotypical gay is annoying, I would rather see more of the original Michael

[@franz8072]

The old Michael and the new Michael both feels like they're trying to represent different type of people unlike the new Penny, Dijonay, Lacienega, Zoey, etc that while different still seem to be trying to represent the same people their old counterparts were. (Btw, i started watching The Proud Family less than a month ago)

[@Card-Trader]

0:35 THAT! THATS WHO THAT IS! Dog I inhaled everything Disney and Cartoon Network as a kid. I might not remember all the names of the characters in every show but I could at least tell you a thing or two about most characters. Dude I thought the redesign version was a self insert. That’s how unrecognizable he was to me

[@rocketterrier]

2:32 Sometimes I look back on my experiences in school and as early as kindergarten I was looking at girls differently. I'm bisexual and grey-aromantic now, but once I brought up that I think I might've had a crush on my best friend thru school and my brother looked at me like I was stupid and went "It was super obvious to everyone else..." I thought I was going to die on the spot.

[@bizzyb912]

I think it would’ve been more interesting to see Michael more as the old version but out as gay instead of alluding to it. It would show that not all gay males are over the top flamboyant, as black gay males are often portrayed.

[@thefanwithoutaface8105]

Frankly it would've been better if everyone assumed Micheal was gay, only for him to come out and say "Hey, just cause I act a certain way, doesn't mean I'm gay. You guys shouldn't be so quick to assume something about someone." I mean seriously how much better would it have been if Micheal reveals he's actually straight and was getting sick of everyone just assuming he was gay cause he acted differently from other guys. That could've made for a nice teachable lesson, namely don't assume you know something about someone without asking them.

[@ravenfrancis1476]

@@thefanwithoutaface8105 But that would be removing possible LGBT+ representation. Like, it is not some progressive diversity win to have a character gay people see themselves in explicitly denying their gayness and affirming their heterosexuality.

[@dazzlingdexter5060]

​@ravenfrancis1476 I mean they could have added another gay character that is like the new Micheal or just keep Micheal personality the same at least.

[@ravenfrancis1476]

@@dazzlingdexter5060 Literally nothing about Michael's character has changed. In the original series his only personality trait was being super gendernonconforming and feminine tot he annoyance of the other more traditionally minded characters. Usually he was the butt of homophobic and/or misogynistic jokes where the punchline is his existence.

[@dazzlingdexter5060]

@@ravenfrancis1476 His personality is he was that goofy kid that would show up to help with stuff and played Basketball. I literally had no idea who Micheal was in this new series because he was so different fron the old character I would not have guessed if not for this video explaining who it was. I also had not watched this show in a very long time but these are two very different characters, though honestly he was more a side character in the original. Being a goofy kid who likes who dance and has a the basketball coach as your dad is different than Flamboyant stylish Sass though. Niether version is a bad character, its just two completely different versions of the character.

[@TheShockVox]

Kinda feels more like a step back making him so blatantly gay. Having him be gay is fine, but I always hated the idea that our interests and demeanor determines who we are sexually. Shoutouts to Persona 4’s Kanji and his storyline for touching on that. Plus, real talk, Phil Lamarr is one of the voice acting GOATs, so losing him in the role didn’t help either.

[@lederpu]

KANJI MENTION YEAHHH they handled that well, especially given the time it was released

[@madmouse1016]

I never watched the Proud Family, but when the reboot came out I watched videos talking about it. Never once did anyone show what Michael looked in the original so I never knew until now and honestly- I prefer his original look and attitude. I liked his voice better too, like it was so subtle, but also sounded a bit bubbly to me and I love that for a character. They don't have to look outright gay, they can be just a normal person because that's how gays should be treated- like normal people

[@toxiccrybaby]

I like Micheal’s new design, I think it’s visually appealing. I don’t hate his personality either, I’m fond of flamboyant gays, as long as their not just a stereotype. Hell, I’m a trans and gay stereotype myself! But I do think Micheal here in the reboot is, a bit too flat? As in, he needs more character depth. I wanna see his home life, I wanna see more about his thoughts and feelings outside of just, being the fashion and “okay boo” character, if that makes sense. Especially since we don’t get nearly as many queer boys in kids shows as queer girls. I think the creators are in a decent spot here, they can choose to flesh out some of these stereotype characters, in a way that elevates them from stereotypes into something else entirely, their own fleshed out characters. We all gotta start somewhere, hell I started out with stereotype characters too. But it’s about elevating them past that, listening to criticism and working on the characters until they’re their own people. This feels a bit rambly so I’ll end this here.

[@TonyTurner]

Perfectly said ‼

[@one-onessadhalf3393]

Exactly. It feels like there are very few characters in the reboot who actually get solid development, and that’s a huge problem

[@Scarlettt343]

I love the color palette in his design, very nice to look at

[@atomic747]

I like original michael goofy playful attitude more. Yeah, he's fine in the reboot. But It's the usual attitude you see in other shows when people don't know how to write or don't know what to do with their gay characters.

[@InternetMouse]

Is it just me or does this style scream stereotypical, even the mannerisms, No good gay person acts in those over exaggerating mannerisms, even flamboyant gays are not that stereotypical, idk. That's just my two cents as a bi guy here. Someone correct me if im wrong. ALSO awesome video mate ❤ 🐀

[@TonyTurner]

Thank You ‼

[@Obi-Wan_Kenobi]

This is tangential to Michael, but I found it beyond ridiculous how everyone in the school and Penny's dad made a big fuss over Zoey having gay parents when they were all perfectly fine with Micheal. It made the whole conflict feel unrealistic and contrived.

[@victoriabell9546]

It wasn't Zoey that had gay parents. It was Maya who had gay parents.

[@ekinstonwalker9736]

Writers like these need to stop using hammers. These traits do exist but they need to come off more natural. Someone needs to teach them to use more subtle tools.

[@TonyTurner]

Right so it doesn't come across forced and over the top

[@SrMechaGojira93]

As a kid, I already kind of picked up that’s he’s pretty flamboyant. Even wearing lavender and purple most of the time. In this series, now that times had changed, he’s able to embrace his true self. I really like his design. What IS my problem with the character is that - this is all they can write him as, the “Token Gay.” For season 3, they should write an episode about his current relationship with his father, the Coach, and whether or not he accepts this new version of his son.

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

Having her dressed as pochahontas is weird cause I’m pretty sure the audience that this show caters to don’t like the pochahantas movie cause pochahantas was someone who was abducted from her home by white settlers. And the fact that Disney tried to make it a white savior romance.

[@greatgatsby0174]

I really like the new design but also feel they could do a beautiful mix of new and old. Whilst he enjoys fashion and dance we should see more of his passion for basketball and other “masculine” interests, I feel it could not only make it clearer he’s the Michael from back in the day but it also would round him out as a character, give him more depth.

[@wallflowerwithoutperks]

As a lesbian who tends to be in friend groups of straight girls, it feels like we're just seen as little accessories in media as sort of a "we're not homophobic, see, they're gay". When really, the extent of my queerness in straight circles is me wearing a lesbian flag pin, and mentioning having a gf. The Owl House did this so well tbh. I just kinda wish other writers took that lead instead of having us constantly acting like stereotypes, we're *gasp* more than just who we love. I'm actually thinking of writing a short story where the queer people are all fleshed out and there's a token straight who acts like every het stereotype ever

[@comradedyatlov4143]

Right! Owl House really portrayed an adorable and realistic queer leading couple

[@wallflowerwithoutperks]

@@comradedyatlov4143 The Owl House was amazing with their representation, and I think it was partially bc Dana Terrace is queer

[@jonelrobinson582]

Agreed!

[@yinyangyt8749]

Apparently in the original he wasn’t gay. He was just more flamboyant. But I feel like he has a lot of stereotypes with him. Especially in the reboot. He was completely changed in the reboot. I almost didn’t recognize him

[@slashbash1347]

"How stereotypically gay do you want Michael?" "Yes."

[@TheSAMCRAW]

Its very strange when people think seeing a gay character will teach their children to be gay, i mean i grew up watching Trudy and Oscar married and in love and i still ended up with a guy lol. I personally like his new look and i love the confidence they gave him to unapologetically be. My problem is Michael is Sassy, the end. He doesnt read as caring, compassionate, angry, Depressed or hopeful just... sassy.

[@Mavuika_Gyaru]

You must be a printer because all you spit are FACTS

[@Artryom]

There’s a word called influence. Kids are impressionable.

[@totallytorivideos]

@@Artryom watching gay tv characters doesn’t make you gay.

[@Artryom]

@@totallytorivideos When did I say that it does? A decent bit of reading comprehension to compliment the ability goes a long way. There's validity in the fear of such from a thing called being inpressionable, which children very are so if a program is constantly throwing out the message that it's cool and perfectly normal then it's likely they will believe so. Essentially, it could turn them. That said, those parents who don't take extra precautions to shape their child shouldn't complain since your child can be swayed by most of anything. If a TV program doesn't get them, another kid at school or a message they find in something else likely will... Meaning those parents wasted their time and decades of protesting since TV isn't the only thing. It's pointless to try to stop it, best thing is to teach them but not everything a parent does is a guarantee.

[@punchy207]

@@Artryom i think i... KIND OF understand what youre trying to say, but you are wording it very poorly to the point that you do come across as a bit of a homophobe

[@jadacampbell9331]

It's a shame we didn't get to see their dad the coach because it was implied that there was still some tension. It would have been great to explore that old school patriarchal father and queer kid dynamic

[@TonyTurner]

Maybe in Season 3 if they focus more on him

[@dyinginside821]

the difference in the voices between the original and the reboot is KILLING me

[@annabunovsky5628]

I think Michael's reboot design is really cool aesthetically, though I kind of wish his outfits looked more like the sort of clothes a queer teen would actually have access to. He's dressed like a high-end fashion designer, but as a queer woman who was both a theatre kid and in a GSA club in high school, I can tell you we were just as much fashion disasters as any other teen trying to express themselves. On top of that, most of our shopping for wilder & more experimental clothes was done at thrift stores (I cannot begin to tell you how many hours were spent at Savers, nor can I begin to describe the fashion choices that were made). It's kind of a tricky question because Proud Family always sort of straddled the line between more realistic depictions of teen life and exploring teen fantasies. As for his personality, I can appreciate that they wanted to show Michael as having come out and become more confident since we last saw him, but they're definitely leaning on the stereotype of the fierce, out and proud, sassy gay guy. I don't want to rag too much on that characterization, as it can reflect a lot of queer men's lived experiences and be representative of them living their truth, but it feels more like the type of persona you'd see in an adult who's been living their own life and making their own choices for years, and Michael's supposed to be a kid who's still living with an emotionally distant father.

[@robinthrush9672]

Wow, they really made him like those Queer Eye for the Straight Guy stereotypes. He's nothing like any of the gay guys I know and two of them run a boutique together.

[@sarahthomas8670]

I agree

[@SetheMan]

I agree with the video. I think the term you are looking for is "flanderization" (coined after Simpsons character Ned Flander who some would say had depth but now is known as "Christian Man"). It is fine to introduce these characters as gay or queer but that extra substance is what sets them apart from being just a stereotype.

[@Pichu1232]

I don't mind the making Michael gay but what I do mine is giving him the stereotypical all fashion flamboyant gay attitude. Hopefully the writers now you can be gay AND masculine

[@KirbyEatsCake123]

Finally someone says it!!!

[@CalebR-zd5ql]

@@KirbyEatsCake123plenty of gay men are flamboyant and feminine. Can you admit that you don’t like it when gay men are flamboyant and feminine?

[@phlarbus7821]

I’m not a gay man but I am queer and I’m really tired of media portraying gay men as super feminine twinks. Back in the day, he felt more realistic and more human. I met plenty of gay guys who were exactly like Micheal before the reboot.

[@Homodemon]

Not to mention misogynistic, the part of that "flamboyant gay sass" is just calling women uggos and looking down at them constantly and insulting them. Is such a shitty thing to portray all gay cis men as subtle woman haters, or the implications that they're competing with women over the men thus, they're extra mean.

[@phlarbus7821]

@@Homodemon I totally understand what you mean. Misogynistic gay men are sooo overlooked simply because they aren’t seen as a “threat” towards women but their little jabs and insults just screams sexism. I also think it’s crazy that they have the audacity to be misogynistic towards women all awhile wearing long nails, fake lashes, makeup, and women’s clothes. The call is coming from inside the house

[@jellyfsh5621]

They could have kept sports as a part of the character with the flamboyance, like Cam from modern family

[@SilverScribe85]

I have no issues with Michael's character, old or new version. I always found his personality to be so likeable and outspoken

[@coffeecup1482]

Michael Collins 😭😭😭 that’s the name of an Irish Politician that fought for Irelands independence so I was sooo confused

[@ECKohns]

Instead of bringing back Phil LaMare, a beloved veteran voice actor. They replace him with EJ Johnson, a Nepo Baby famous for reality television.

[@MatsuyoRific]

It'd be great if they had an episode that breaks down some of the dangers of Michael's stereotype. One thing you see a lot is girl groups will have that one gay guy that is delegated to being the hair/makeup/clothes guy, and some girls will even actively look for a gay guy to be their best friend just to fit into that role. It'd be great to have an episode that acknowledges this, with the girls over relying on Michael for these tropes, just for him to get frustrated that they only see him as "the gay friend"

[@Mystic-p9f]

I remember one of my classmates from middleschool being the exact same as Micheal, except the dreadlocks (he was clean shaven). I did not think much of it, even when I often witnessed his behavior. I tried befriending him once or twice but he was not interested in being friends. It was a huge shame though, because that boy had style and class. (Just wanted to share this story due to it being relevant to the video). Loved your video, very insightful.

[@lynettebrown91]

Kiwi and Tony are back with another reaction lol 😂

[@sonicmiku3009]

I really liked Michael in the old show because he represented how straight boys can be flamboyant or also can like girly stuff. Kind of like how women can be masculine or have a tomboy's personality. It's so annoying when people assume just because a guy is flamboyant it makes them gay. Or if a woman is masculine she is considered a lesbian. People tend to forget that the male wife and the boss girl straight couples exist.

[@WackyChu]

i love your videos and your cat is adorable honestly i always take the proud family’s characters with a grain of salt because the characters are just so….stereotypical. Like dijonay, lacienega, and michael. I do know these can be harmful and negative stereotypes. but on the other hand i do like how he’s stylish, confident, and finally someone’s a good friend to penny. im very excited that the show is somehow getting a third season after season two.

[@davidperkins7782]

1. If you're shocked that Michael is gay, you have either not been paying attention or have never seen the show. 2. Personally, the only thing I have against his character is the I think, if the creators would have the freedom, we'll be seeing an episode where Michael is into a dude who's straight, and his gal pals are gonna are gonna the poor guy homo/transphobic. I mean, he threw himself at Noah just like they did. Other than that, IDC.

[@davidperkins7782]

They at least didn't make him as mean and smug as make up boy. So there's that.

[@Saltedroastedcaramel]

I'm pretty sure Michael was straight in the original show and was just feminine guy. He was just an easier target to be retconned or revised as gay.

[@projectz358]

Maybe he was a femboy, but we all know nowadays act a little different = gay or trans.

[@bobtheball5384]

​@@projectz358 that's not how it works but aight

[@projectz358]

@@bobtheball5384 in an extreme setting there's a good chance what I said is possible

[@cybermelody8277]

TBH the way you mentioned brushing off bullying , it reminded me of how I was about teasing about my intelligence as a kid in spec ed. I became used to it (tho it badly effected my studies bc i gave up lol rip) . Looking back at that whole ep.. I really just relate to that whole "brush it off brush it off brush it off until you snap" ,, Like you tell yourself it's okay til it's not... That ep really speaks to me now. . I wanna feel like they're trying in the reboot but some things do really kinda lean into the stereotypical. ( I was happy that the newest season had one of the twins being autistic tho.. That was really nice to see ) Also considering the makeover the Chang triplets got I feel like if they get enough awareness where they might be slipping up maybe they'll be able to course correct??? I hope so.

[@nimloc1670]

I agree with everything you said. I just hope if they want him to be less of a side, they treat him more like an actual character. There's definitely people like him IRL, but I wish the gay people, specifically gay men who weren't as out there and flamboyant like Michael also got attention. That's exactly what makes it feel token-ish. How comes every time they add a male gay character, they have to act the same way as those that are more "popular" in mainstream media? I do hope they give Mike his own episode and that make him more than a stereotype, even if it's too late.

[@nicolehegarty4749]

Omfg. They changed his character A LOT from the original to the reboot. Wow.

[@DrawnByKimProductions1863]

I didn't even recognize it was Michael when I first watched the new show lol

[@nicolecorley7315]

I remember this episode your right but u know a lot of the shows these days always have a gay character or couple I was shocked they did this. I like Michael

[@marioruiz1530]

We need more gay characters that aint the same stereotypical tidy whitey flamboyant, effeminate sass-ball that’s obsessed with fashion and other stereotypically girly things.

[@currentlyplayingmorrowind3167]

I just started watching the reboot after periodically watching the proud family since I was a child, I loved Michael as a character he was legitimately adorable and a great friend to everybody. When I watched the reboot I admit I literally had to google who the new girl was in the show, turns out that "girl" was Michael. I don't mind that he looks effeminate at all, but the fact that there is absolutely no gradual introduction to this and seconds in he becomes a walking stereotype is an issue, they should have done a gradual increase and showed how Michael changed, even if they gave everyone their own little sequence like Penny had in the beginning (Before anyone assumes that I'm homophobic for thinking Michael was one of the girls, I'm not. I'm trans myself. I was confused because of the lack of a convincing intro.) Michael can be flamboyant, he can be effeminate, he can enjoy fashion, but it's when the characters whole personality becomes that and they essentially get ret-conned, he's no longer a really good friend and likes to stir the pot, create drama and then run away, it makes him unlikeable that he no longer stands up for his friends and is so wishy-washy. It's like all the characters forgot who they actually were. It's not just a Michael problem though, the reboot has made so many of the characters unlikable... most notably Penny. She has become just as toxic and annoying as her friends.

[@warmstrong5612]

I liked the old Micheal since to me he wasn't simply the "token gay friend" but more like he bucked the traditional male stereotype and just lived his best life without worrying about others opinions.

[@Rancid-Veil]

The new Michael seems like such a “costume” if that makes sense. I am a flamboyant gay guy but I do not talk like a stereotype and just seeing it makes me feel ‘wonky’ and sad. I don’t care if he’s gay or not but making him a stereotype hurts.

[@liv-w2o]

big fat agree with the point u made at 5:15 ish u never rly see gay characters who are just characters. their queerness is always such a huge part of their story when most of the time thats not the case and it takes away relatability. a character i find such a breath of fresh air is haley from talk to me, like she was just there and happened to be gay. her sexuality wasnt even mentioned i dont think, but like u still knew if that makes sense LOL

[@ArmyNavyAcademy]

Aside from the Chang triplets i think the original run was better, now it seems like they are rightfully talking about the right issues but it's through the lense of an older generation looking up phrases on social media then trying to retroactively shove them in the new show and existing characters. Might be better if it was staring Penny's kids.

[@benign_canine3423]

Mostly echoing other folks but as a gay myself, while I am glad that Michael's queerness can be more at the forefront of his character, I wish there was more to him than that. Like you said, he could do well with an episode of his own to really dive deep into his own background, and really flesh him out more. As far as gay male rep goes, a good chunk of the time it feels limited to either the gay best friend or the two parents of a secondary character, who usually act relatively the same if they receive any characterization, so I really hope that as time goes on that more shows are able to really cross that boundary it feels like we've settled into. Hell, this reboot in particular I think handled Maya's dads really well so far, even touching on the subject of homophobia and how it can affect the children of gay parents which I think is very well done. All in all, I think this show has had a good opportunity to really do something with Michael, and all that's left is to do it

[@tommyfamolare8740]

They could of kept him the same and had it be confirmed he was gay, have an episode focusing on the issue he faces without making him annoyingly stereotypical

[@TonyTurner]

Agreed‼

[@commandershepard9920]

I know this is an older video (the other video I saw was your one about the red head being a punching bag); I don't even watch Proud Family, I just wanted to say that the M&M cups in the background are really cool and are a really neat decorative touch.

[@TonyTurner]

Thank You ‼

[@dayschange2]

I would love to see an episode focus on Michael. I personally don't mind him being so feminine and flamboyant, but I'll admit that a big part of the draw for me was because he had seemed so nervous around his father in the original series, and I read an implied sort of rebellion in the way that he now carries himself in the reboot. Though to be fair, I was a casual watcher of the show, so maybe I don't have all the information. But to me, it seems like somewhere in the inbetween years, Michael must have turned things around on his dad and rejected him, and I would be very interested to see where the dynamic between father and son is in the present day.

[@Lucky_9705]

Writers need to understand that originality is key when writing good characters. I believe that LGBTQ+ characters should be entirely new characters that are added to the universes of these shows as a means of boosting creativity and narrative potential in a way beyond just filling out a check box for representation.

[@MindOfACouch]

Wow I had no idea that that was the same guy. I feel like maybe he shouldve been introduced as a new character while still keeping og Michael around, but then again some people do a full 180 on their personality once theyre out the closet so im kinda in the middle of what they did with his character

[@Mito383]

Flanderization is the name of the game in the reboot.

[@EugenioScamardella]

Am I the only one here who remembers a GOOD gay representation in Braceface thanks to Dion? A likeable and charsismatic side character with an actual personality who wasn't reduced to the token gay friend of the girl protagonist. He was openly gay, all the other characters were aware of it although the word "gay" was never used due to it being a show by the early '2000s. He was mocked by a bossy girl at school but not because he was gay, and most of all he was able to stand up for himself gracefully. His character design had some typically "gay" traits such has bleached spiky hair, earrings, and feminine eyes, but it looked nice on him and wasn't too over-the-top to the point of looking kitschy and a shallow stereotype of a gay perso. I don't mind at all fem gay characters being represented in media since there are actual people like them in real life who deserve respect and consideration just as anyone else, but I saw in Dion some good and legit effort in making him FEEL real as a person. He just looked androgynous and the crrators didn't make his looks define him, and that's great considering how, sometimes, fashion-interested characters tend to have a characterization way too based on their tastes fashion-wise and on their looks. He was interested in that but his love for fashion was based on actual artistic views on dressing and design. He was single and fine with it, he wasn't openly looking for a partner or a date in his life or, at least, he didn't want someone else to interfere in his private life. He was a good friend for Sharon, a perfect mentor in high-school and some sort of second older brother to her. He gave her advices, opinions, was willing go call her out when she messed up something but in a mature and responsable way, always being able to help Sharon in learning her lesson. He never felt as a bland and awkward token to me, but as an actual person you could have met somewhere and found charming and interesting. He was a great character, especially for a show of that time.

[@kendalledwards6898]

I wish they have merchandise of Michael and the rest or the proud family characters; KG, Kareem, Suga Mama, Bobby, Felix, Sunset, Papi, The Gross Sister, The Chang Triples,

[@TonyTurner]

They should definitely have a wider range of merchandise. I think Disney underestimated how much ppl really engage with the show

[@burntalphabetsoup6772]

as a gay guy im not sure what to think of michael in the reboot. on the one hand its nice that he isnt being made fun of anymore, but on the other hand it feels like the show really doesnt have any plans for him outside of making him the cool gnc gay friend. he deserved better in both versions :']

[@mendez5525]

The biggest issue with these obvious stereotypes is that it gives an unrealistic expectation that all gay people have no nuance and that their sexuality is the sum of their character. There is nothing wrong with a feminine man, but that doesn't mean that they are all automatically gay or that gay men can't be traditionally masculine. The message is not inclusive when they make a character and caricature, as opposed to a person who happens to be gay.

[@LeviThaBoi]

Do you know there are plenty of gay men who are flamboyant and very feminine? Seems like u have a problem with gay men who act like that.

[@antoniqueclark9548]

To tell the truth I didn't know this was Michael. I thought he was a whole new character

[@JasTheSass]

It’s totally fine to make Michael gay. The issue was making him a stereotype. You can totally have an effeminate or androgynous gay character, but if you want to do that, they can’t be all “Yass Queen Slayyy” all the time. As a queer person myself, I’ve felt bad for gay men, as the only thing we get of them in the media is characters like Michael in the reboot. How queer characters are represented has always been a big issue in media, and this is probably the most common stereotype, even more so than “creepy trans people”, and “evil aromantics”.

[@helen8022]

Matthew from Big Mouth has more going on for him than Michael in the reboot 💀 that’s saying something bruh

[@hex-i4q]

tbh stereotypes don't matter as long as the character is likable to me that's just me tho

[@Dreamlillie_95]

I just wish they gave Michael more depth than just the stereotypical "gbf." Like give him more friends in theatre, in fashion. Give him male friends, straight, gay, bisexual. He didn't have to be with the girls ALL THE TIME. If other shows can do it, they could do it too. Because I like Michael in this... just not how they approached it. They're black gay characters that're more relaxed than this character was

[@Sandyfoxx93]

The way they did my boy Michael is the reason I didn’t stick around for the reboot 😂

[@nekowerewolf]

I can't really sat much in terms of representation, but I love the physical design. Honestly, I can imagine someone who's personality was shoved down a s a kid growing up and just going ham on that repressed aspect. Who's to say he didn't want the the colorful hair or feminine dress but wasn't allowed by his father

[@MonteHallow]

I liked Michael when he was straight but a little less masculine cause that was me I was seen sorta feminine because the way I acted and sounded

[@markhargreaves1069]

Michael had more character in the original series than in the reboot. They did better storylines with him now he's been tokenized. They could have made it more transitional show his struggle with accepting himself or his family accepting him.