Joe Locke, the rising star from Netflix‘s ‘Heartstopper,’ is about to make a major leap into the MCU with his role in ‘Agatha All Along‘. Despite his success, Locke is getting some backlash from the Marvel fandom.
At just 19, Locke’s career trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. But this journey hasn’t been without its challenges, particularly when it comes to the often-unforgiving opinions of Marvel fans. Here’s what complaints fans have from Locke.
Joe Locke Opens Up About Toxic Marvel Fans
Joe Locke’s new role in ‘Agatha All Along‘ has already sparked controversy, even before the show’s official release. As a young, openly gay actor playing a queer character in the MCU, he has faced criticism from fans who have labeled his character as a “campy gay stereotype.”
Locke recently opened up about the backlash in the recent interview with Variety. “It really annoyed me because I was like, ‘You can’t ask for authentic casting and then be upset if you have a camp character,'” he said.
Locke’s role in ‘Agatha All Along‘ is shrouded in typical Marvel secrecy, but one confirmed detail is that his character is gay. This led to widespread speculation that Locke is portraying Wiccan, the son of Wanda Maximoff.
While the character’s identity remains under wraps, he has made it clear that “the show never shies away from his queerness, but it’s not a defining feature of his character. It’s just one layer of him as a person.”
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Joe Locke On Navigating The Pressures Of Fame In The MCU
Joe Locke’s excitement about joining the MCU is palpable, despite the pressures that come with it. “Marvel fans are very open with their opinions. But they’re not in a Marvel show, so–” Locke quipped. “I’m doing the one thing that they really wish they could be doing. Sorry!“
But the pressure of being a young, openly gay actor in the MCU isn’t lost on him. “Sometimes I feel very accepting of it, and some days I want to push it away because I’m afraid of – I don’t know – the responsibility of it, almost,” Locke confessed.
“I’m fully aware that the Marvel fandom is far less nice than the ‘Heartstopper’ fandom. There’s going to be a lot of people that just hate everything about the character and everything about what I’ve done with it, and I just have to be OK with that.” he noted.
‘Agatha All Along‘ will release September 18, 2024 on Disney+.
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