Where Is the “Love” for “Victor”?

While itamp8217s refreshing to hear that the showrunners are taking a more realistic approach to high school culture which isnamp8217t as naive innocent and squeakyclean as some TV shows suggest it feels rather disingenuous that Disney execs suddenly want to keep audiences thinking it is amp160After all it was Disneyowned ABC Family now Freeform that gave us The Secret Life of the American Teenager over ten years ago a hugely successful drama that took about as deep a dive into teen sexuality as any adsupported series everamp160 Iamp8217m confused as to how a show centered around a young manamp8217s coming out journey was expected not to center on sexual explorationI certainly hope that the move wasnamp8217t made to appease any of the more conservative Disney users who may be against the Love Victor story and Iamp8217m surprised that such content concerns werenamp8217t discussed before production on its first season had wrappedamp160 Of course Iamp8217m happy that Victor has a home at Hulu where it will have much greater creative freedom but it is nevertheless concerning to me that a show about a gay teenager isnamp8217t considered fit for family consumptionamp160 Itamp8217s not like weamp8217re talking about HBOamp8217s ultragraphic sexdrenched teen series Euphoria which has its place on television but in my opinion should be kept a safe distance from younger Disney audiencesMillions of families have gay teenagers in themamp160 Anything that can be done to make them feel more comfortable with themselves at that age should be encouragedamp160 And anything that can encourage parents who may be uncomfortable with the fact that their child may be gay to chill has great value tooamp160 These simple truths powered the messages of the sweet and sensitive 2018 movie Love Simon which was and remains enormously popular with queer and straight kids alikeamp160 Love Victor is said to take place in the same world as Love Simon amp8211 in fact Nick Robinson who played Simon in the movie is an executive producer of Victor and even narrates the seriesamp160 So whatamp8217s the problemThere was quite an outcry on Twitter when the news was announcedamp160 Disappointed fans including young gay people and their allies felt the reason given was a bit of a cop outamp160 Did the execs who forced the platform move even watch Love Simon they askedamp160 It was realistic and heartwarming and the characters got themselves into the same sloppy situations most kids find themselves in at one time or anotheramp160 In one memorable scene Simon who had been drinking stumbled into a room at a house party and caught his crush making out with a girl amp160Later when Simon and his best friend tried to sneak back into his house they were caught by his parents and they had to play it cool amp160His mom and dad lovingly played it cool too trying their best to be amp8220greatamp8221 parentsLooked at from yet another angle amp8211 one that is especially important to me and very relevant right now amp8211 Victor the gay teenager at the center of the show is Latinoamp160 Michael Cimino who plays Victor is pictured at topamp160 Having a family friendly family focused series on Disney about a gay Latino teen might have helped bring about changes in the machismodriven culture that stems from Latin America and so many other ethnic culturesamp160 Trust me Iamp8217ve lived through itamp160 Itamp8217s not goodIf Victor had to move then Hulu is likely the best place for it to be as it has several young adult series like PEN15 Marvelamp8217s Runaways and the recently released High Fidelity which was also originally set to premiere on Disney before it was moved amp160Iamp8217m relieved it was not a straight cancellation and just a relocation but Iamp8217m still not happy about the mixed signals this sent outamp160 Younger audiences want to be seen heard and represented in what they watch wherever they watch it amp160So thatamp8217s one thumb down for Disney for putting out the idea that a series about a gay teenager is not amp8220family friendlyamp8221 enough for Disney and one thumb up for keeping it in the erm family over on HuluRegardless I do look forward to watching Love Victor on its new home amp160I certainly wish I had a series like it when I was a growing upClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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Where Is the “Love” for “Victor”?

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Juan Ayala

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Where Is the “Love” for “Victor”?

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