Michael LambertABC family comedy The Real O’Neals is in hot water—again—after Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez called out the show for including a biphobic joke in an episode.
During the Jan. 17 episode “The Real Acceptance,” Kenny, played by out actor Noah Galvin, crosses a big milestone by landing his first, official boyfriend, Brett (Sean Grandillo). When Brett says he wants to talk but “doesn’t know how to say it with freaking you out,” Kenny’s inner monologue runs through some worst-case scenarios: “Webbed toes, money problems, or worse—bisexual.”
Ramirez, who came out as bisexual in October, took to Twitter this week to let the network know joking about bisexuality is nothing to laugh at.
Dear @ABCNetwork@TheRealONeals :own it,address it,clarify it,empower our #Queer#Bisexual youth & community w/accurate positive reflections
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
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. https://t.co/NQQAPDsFlU
— Sara Ramirez (@SaraRamirez) February 16, 2017
Season two of The Real O’Neals is under some scrutiny after star Galvin gave a fiery interview last year regarding other LGBT people in Hollywood and coming out. He has since apologized for his remarks.
PFLAG, which partnered with the show for the episode, gave a statement apologizing for the joke, saying that the focus was on “a teen looking for acceptance from his family.”
I asked @PFLAG (who partnered for the acceptance ep. in @TheRealONeal) for a statement on @Noahegalvin's character bisexual joke. pic.twitter.com/lMdfoGCmwY
— Eliel Cruz-Lopez (@elielcruz) January 19, 2017
The Real O’Neals airs Tuesdays on ABC.
Sara Ramirez Blasts Real O’Neals for Biphobic Joke
00Sara Ramirez Blasts Real O’Neals for Biphobic Joke