Billy Eichner Clarifies Remarks On 'Disposable' LGBTQ Streaming Films After Backlash

The rollout for the new romantic comedy Bros hit a rough patch this week after actor and co-writer Billy Eichner drew backlash over comments many felt were dismissive of other LGBTQ-focused projects.

Due out Sept. 30, Bros has been widely touted as a historic achievement in Hollywood. The movie is directed by Nicholas Stoller, whose credits include mainstream hits like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Neighbors, and looks poised to be a breakout for Hallmark Channel heartthrob Luke Macfarlane as Eichners love interest. The principal cast is made up entirely of LGBTQ actors , who play both queer and heterosexual characters.

Speaking to Variety , Eichner opened up about the rare and magical experience of making Bros, which has drawn comparisons to rom-com classics like When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle albeit with a same-sex couple as its focal point.

Hollywood took a century to make this film, he told the publication in an interview published Wednesday. Thats not my fault thats Hollywoods fault for taking this fucking long.

And this is not an indie movie, he continued. This is not some streaming thing which feels disposable, or which is like one of a million Netflix shows. I needed to appreciate that This is a historic moment, and somehow, youre at the center of it. You helped create it.

Eichners remarks received a blistering response on social media from a number of LGBTQ media personalities. Some perceived the comments as a dig at Hulus Fire Island , a queer romantic comedy starring Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang that was released in June.

(Yang, coincidentally, has a small role in Bros.)

Billy Eichner should celebrate the Bros movies contribution to a landscape where theres still a dearth of LGBTQ+ representation

but im disappointed by the continual lack of acknowledgment of the accomplishments of Asian and other BIPOC communities

Fire Island deserves better pic.twitter.com/L1GrcmJSfC

Jerrica (@JinkiesJerrica) August 29, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Jerrica ","author_url":"https://twitter.com/JinkiesJerrica","cache_age":86400,"description":"Billy Eichner should celebrate the Bros movies contribution to a landscape where theres still a dearth of LGBTQ+ representationbut im disappointed by the continual lack of acknowledgment of the accomplishments of Asian and other BIPOC communitiesFire Island deserves better pic.twitter.com/L1GrcmJSfC Jerrica (@JinkiesJerrica) August 29, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_hide_thread":{"label":"Hide previous Tweet in conversation thread","value":true},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1499,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FbWgt5ZaAAAbVwD.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1000,"title":"Jerrica on 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Billy Eichner should celebrate the Bros movies contribution to a landscape where theres still a dearth of LGBTQ+ representation

but im disappointed by the continual lack of acknowledgment of the accomplishments of Asian and other BIPOC communities

Fire Island deserves better pic.twitter.com/L1GrcmJSfC
Jerrica (@JinkiesJerrica) August 29, 2022

I would love to root for this movie, but they are not making it easy, Gawkers Olivia Craighead wrote . Is it good? Who cares! Its important that you see it, or else queer cinema will be left to wither and die on streaming services or, heaven forbid, be produced by smaller companies and go on to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

I dont wanna be that bitch because I absolutely am gonna see #Bros but lets not shit on indies (or streaming) because for so many of us, its the only representation weve had, and continue to have. Bros stars two white men with POCs relegated to the sidesso lets not. https://t.co/kbtRmxNf0C

Gerrick Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) August 31, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Gerrick Kennedy","author_url":"https://twitter.com/GerrickKennedy","cache_age":86400,"description":"I dont wanna be that bitch because I absolutely am gonna see #Bros but lets not shit on indies (or streaming) because for so many of us, its the only representation weve had, and continue to have. Bros stars two white men with POCs relegated to the sidesso lets not. https://t.co/kbtRmxNf0C Gerrick Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) August 31, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Gerrick Kennedy on 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I dont wanna be that bitch because I absolutely am gonna see #Bros but lets not shit on indies (or streaming) because for so many of us, its the only representation weve had, and continue to have. Bros stars two white men with POCs relegated to the sidesso lets not. https://t.co/kbtRmxNf0C
Gerrick Kennedy (@GerrickKennedy) August 31, 2022

I like Billy Eichner and I *love* romcomsespecially the gay ones!but wow, way to make yourself and your film sound really shitty https://t.co/NOcNA7Kk2O

Philip J. Ellis Preorder LOVE & OTHER SCAMS (@Philip_Ellis) August 31, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Philip J. Ellis Preorder LOVE & OTHER SCAMS","author_url":"https://twitter.com/Philip_Ellis","cache_age":86400,"description":"I like Billy Eichner and I *love* romcomsespecially the gay ones!but wow, way to make yourself and your film sound really shitty https://t.co/NOcNA7Kk2O Philip J. Ellis Preorder LOVE & OTHER SCAMS (@Philip_Ellis) August 31, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Philip J. 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I like Billy Eichner and I *love* romcomsespecially the gay ones!but wow, way to make yourself and your film sound really shitty https://t.co/NOcNA7Kk2O
Philip J. Ellis Preorder LOVE & OTHER SCAMS (@Philip_Ellis) August 31, 2022

Others pointed out that Eichner had appeared to also forget about 2020s Happiest Season , which starred Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis. That movie had been intended for a theatrical release before producers decided to unveil it on Hulu due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Wednesday night, Eichner had clarified his comments, noting on Twitter that he hadnt intended to downplay the quality or monumental impact of streaming content, but merely to emphasize the way that, historically, LGBTQ+ content has often been considered niche and disregarded by Hollywood.

I have been openly gay since the beginning of my career over 20 years ago, at a time when that was very challenging. And I am very proud Bros is one of many projects - theatrical, streaming, online, etc - where so many of us are finally getting to tell our own LGBTQ+ stories.

billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 31, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"billy eichner","author_url":"https://twitter.com/billyeichner","cache_age":86400,"description":"I have been openly gay since the beginning of my career over 20 years ago, at a time when that was very challenging. 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I have been openly gay since the beginning of my career over 20 years ago, at a time when that was very challenging. And I am very proud Bros is one of many projects - theatrical, streaming, online, etc - where so many of us are finally getting to tell our own LGBTQ+ stories.
billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 31, 2022

Being an openly gay man and a loud and proud part of the LGBTQ+ community is one of the things I am most proud of in my whole damn life. And from the bottom of my heart I truly am so sorry if I inadvertently offended or insulted anyone. I really am. Thank you.

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Being an openly gay man and a loud and proud part of the LGBTQ+ community is one of the things I am most proud of in my whole damn life. And from the bottom of my heart I truly am so sorry if I inadvertently offended or insulted anyone. I really am. Thank you.
billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 31, 2022

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Before it hits screens nationwide, Bros will make its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival later this month.