Jesse Tyler Ferguson portrayed Mitchell Pritchett on Modern Family and navigated responsibility as an out gay actor. The gay community provided significant criticism of some storylines, particularly around public displays of affection. A storyline in which Mitchell avoided kissing Cameron in public prompted outrage and a campaign for change, resulting in the episode "The Kiss," which explained Mitchell's discomfort with PDA. Mitchell's reluctance was rooted in past trauma, childhood teasing, and family history, elements intended to add nuance and longevity to the character rather than present a polished, simplified portrayal.
"the criticism that I think I heard the loudest was always from the gay community."
"Recognising he was "lucky to be part of a pop culture touchstone," that was linked to the fight for gay marriage in the United States, Ferguson said it was "tricky" to please gay audiences, expressing a desire "to do it with nuance and levels and layers and also poignancy.""
"It's because of his past, it's because of his history. It's because of the trauma he had as a kid growing up, being gay and being teased by his sister."
Collection
[
|
...
]