Sara Ramirez has called out this network for biphobia following an episode of “The Real O’Neals”
Former Grey’s Anatomy actor (aka Callie Torres), Sara Ramirez has called out ABC for biphobia following a recent episode of the alphabet network’s sitcom The Real O’Neals.
Sara Ramirez appeared on ABC’s long-running medical drama Grey’s Anatomy for 10 seasons, but left the show at the end of the 12th season last year. Last year also saw the actor, who is also known for her roles on stage, come out as bisexual, too, and got a jazzy new buzzcut haircut that we’re still 100 per cent obsessed with.
Despite working with ABC for 10 years, however, Ramirez decided to speak up about the alleged biphobia that she witnessed on the network.
In a flurry of tweets, Ramirez called out the network and The Real O’Neals.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/832358077819035648
Ramirez’s first tweet was sharing a change.org petition to ABC that requested the “end [of] biphobia and Bi-erasure on The Real O’Neals.”
The petition is in response to an episode of the sitcom that aired on January 17th, in which the lead character, Kenny (played by Noah Galvin), equated being bisexual to having “webbed toes” and “money problems.” They also claim that the show partakes in bi-erasure and that it enforced negative stereotypes of bisexual individuals.
“‘Jokes’ like this increase the ridiculous amount of biphobia we experience in our lives,” the petition reads.
After seeing the petition and sharing it to her followers, Sara Ramirez also responded directly.
"As someone who worked 4 them 4 10 years+,am truly disheartened & disappointed quite frankly.I will invest my brand where I'm respected," she wrote on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/832359569867169793
The actor also shared a statement released by PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), who had partnered with The Real O’Neals on the episode in question, who admitted that they “blew it” by missing the joke.
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 (@elielcruz) January 19, 2017
PFLAG’s statement comes after the show’s star Noah Galvin, who has also been wrapped up in controversy following a revealing interview with Vulture last year, shared a now deleted tweet where he apologized for offending anyone with the episode.
“I am sorry if we offended anyone,” he said. “I hope you know our show fights for visibility and inclusivity and we will do better in the future. BUT, we also have to remember, it’s a comedy.”
For Ramirez, however, this response wasn’t enough.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/832361808384004096
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/832367569235349504
Finally, the actor shared a link to an Advocate article detailing that young bisexual individuals are one of the most at risk groups.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/832414285343043584
We’re super proud of Sara Ramirez for standing up for the LGBTQ community, and speaking out against perceived biphobia and the ongoing battle against bi-erasure. As it stands, ABC have yet to respond to the criticisms.