LGBTQ activists and allies seem to have 101 reasons to criticize Republican congressional candidate Omar Navarro after he publicly dissed Disney’s Cruella for making one of its characters openly gay. And Fuller House star John Stamos is no exception.
Navarro, who is running for the seat of California’s 43rd congressional district against Democrat Maxine Waters, recently called out Disney for featuring a gay character named Artie (John McCrea) in its latest adaption highlighting the backstory of the villainous Cruella de Vil, who first appeared in 1961’s 101 Dalmatians.
The film had a remake in 1996 starring Glenn Close in the titular role before this year’s adaption, which stars Emma Stone as the fur-loving, eccentric fashion designer during her earlier years.
“The new Disney Cruella with Emma Stone just ruined my childhood with an openly flamboyant gay in the movie,” Navarro tweeted this week. “Disney persist shoving the LGBT agenda down our throat.”
Stamos wasted no time in clapping back to Navarro’s statement.
“If that ruined your childhood, I hope you didn’t watch Full House,” the actor wrote. “Three single men, living under one roof, raising kids in San Francisco…”
Of course, Stamos was referring to his famous role as Uncle Jesse on the 1990s ABC sitcom Full House (1987 – 1995). In the show, Stamos plays Jesse Katspolis, the sexy brother-in-law of Danny Tanner (Bob Saget). Alongside Danny’s best friend Joey (Dave Coulier), the three largely-single men raise Danny’s three daughters together in the midst of 1990s San Fransisco.
In a recent interview with Attitude, McCrea explained the genesis of developing Artie, confirming that the character indeed identifies as queer.
“For me, yes, it’s official: he’s queer,” McCrea said to the British-based gay publication. “But we don’t see him falling in love. There’s no social aspect to the character. It’s not beating you on the head with a stick. But his lifestyle is fabulous, he loves his life and it was so fun to play him.”
He added, “In one of the original scripts he was a drag queen, so I think he was always intended to be queer-representing I suppose, or somehow a member of the LGBTQ community. I imagine that was always the case.”
McCrea continued, “If I had a character growing up like that to watch on the screen I would’ve fallen in love. Also, with the idea that he’s completely well-adjusted, very happy, and has a real lust for life. Those are things I’d find so exciting.”
Still, despite how progressive Disney has been recently in elevating LGBTQ characters both on film and in television, Navarro isn’t keeping his thoughts to himself.
Last year, Navarro, shared his concern over the Disney Channel’s The Owl House over its out bisexual protagonist.
”Disney confirms its first bisexual lead character,” Navarro, who spent six months in prison in 2019 after pleading guilty to stalking his ex-girlfriend, wrote on Facebook at the time. “I don’t agree with this crap being pushed down our throats. What people do at home is there business but publicly I shouldn’t have to be forced. Will Christians please stand up?”
Despite Navarro’s vitriol, Twitter certainly had a field day with Stamos’s clever clap back. Navarro, however, kept the shots coming (see below)
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