Wentworth Miller doesn't support the suggestion his 'Prison Break' character should come out as gay.
Wentworth Miller
The 48-year-old actor - who came out himself in 2013 - recently confirmed he has "officially" stepped down from playing Michael Schofield in the Fox drama because he doesn't want to play straight characters anymore, and now he's addressed fans' campaign to have his alter ego embark on a same-sex relationship and admitted he was concerned about the lack of homosexual representation on screen.
He wrote in a lengthy Instagram post: "Forgive me - I need to put my finger on something. In and around the 'reveal' I'm gay IRL, don't wish to play straight parts etc., I saw dozens of comments suggesting Michael leave Sara for T-bag. Or that T-bag will be 'looking' for Michael/me.
"Is it possible, to some folks, T-Bag = 'gay' rep on PB? Maybe the ONLY rep on TV in their part of the world? Forget the homophobes + zealots (bec f*** them) - for the queer kids, the queer adults who will never come out bec coming out = death in their part of the world... is T-bag the best they can expect?
"I've said one of the lies Hollywood tells is the screen is sacred and actors are gods. It isn't and they aren't. Storytelling is sacred. Older than civilization, it's how we try and make sense of where we've been. Are. Where we're going. Hollywood is just the shiny straw thru which the sacred is (currently) channeled. Stories matter. Balanced, responsible storytelling matters. You never know who's watching. Or where.
"'Dude. Lighten up. It's a show.' Etc. I hear you. AND Hollywood is never not sending messages. IMO. Even when we don't think what we're watching has A Message, messages are being sent. About gender, sex, race, dating, power, politics...," Miller continued. "A lot of folks in Hollywood don't want to accept this. IMO. How fast - how far - their stories fly.(sic)"
Wentworth admitted he's accepted roles purely for the money in the past, but he wants to think more carefully about the messages he's sending out in the future.
He continued: "A lot of folks (yes, I've been one) check out and cash checks, turn blind eyes to messages sent. I see the impact on this page. Many experience it IRL. 'We're makin' fast food here,' a producer said to my co-star on another 'genre' show (not PB), revealing contempt for the material AND audience.
"I don't mind a little fast food in my diet. It's an issue if my diet is exclusively fast food. It's an issue if a large percentage of your audience only consumes fast food shows. We can't assume @disclosuredoc et al. are also on the menu (or even available).
"Are fast food shows Hollywood's best chance to send messages that evolve/expand, add nutrition to less-than-ideal diets?
"If so, I'd argue those shows become MORE important, not less. Deserve more respect. Nuance. Intention. Better representation. Because their audiences do too.(sic)"
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