Josh Gad Reveals the Truth Behind LeFou’s Controversial Queerness in Beauty and the Beast!

by

In a notable twist for the reimagined “Beauty and the Beast,” some memorable original scenes included the introduction of Belle’s mother’s backstory and the new tune “Evermore” for the Beast. However, this Disney live-action adaptation stirred up debate when LeFou, Gaston’s companion, was portrayed as part of Disney history’s groundbreaking LGBTQIA+ representation, featuring a “first gay moment.” Actor Josh Gad shares insights on how his character’s queerness was incorporated into the remake.

In one of Disney’s live-action films, LeFou, portrayed by Josh Gad, served as the faithful aide to the formidable villain Gaston. In a groundbreaking move, LeFou was established as Disney’s first openly gay character on screen, appearing in a brief dance with another man during the film’s closing moments. However, despite this milestone, the actor who voices Elsa in Frozen, Josh Gad, discussed the backlash towards his character in his memoir “In Gad We Trust” (as reported by Entertainment Weekly), acknowledging the reasons why some members of the LGBTQIA+ community felt Disney’s portrayal of representation fell short.

Personally, I didn’t see LeFou as the representation the LGBTQ+ community had been eagerly anticipating. It’s hard to visualize a Pride event celebrating a ‘significant milestone in cinema’ that involves a Disney sidekick who is somewhat villainous, dancing with a man for just a brief moment. If I were part of the LGBTQ+ community, I might feel frustrated by this portrayal.

Initially, upon its debut, the Christian-managed Henagar Drive-In theatre refused to screen “Beauty and the Beast” due to concerns about LeFou’s implied affection towards Gaston, a concern shared by several countries such as Russia, Malaysia, and Kuwait. However, the real uproar ensued when director Bill Condon revealed in a 2017 interview with Attitude that LeFou is a character who may be unsure if his feelings for Gaston are mere admiration or something deeper, thus creating a significant, exclusive gay scene in the remake. This new addition was praised by Disney as an LGBTQIA-inclusive moment, but Josh Gad noted that the celebration was premature since the ambiguity of these themes wasn’t fully explored.

During a pre-production meeting about “Beauty and the Beast”, the creative team pondered over the extent of LeFou’s affection towards Gaston. Their final conclusion was as follows:

In the end, LeFou’s admiration for Gaston stemmed not from any romantic feelings, but rather from a profound respect, affection, and trust built over years of serving together on the battlefield.

This version aims to convey the original message while using simpler language that is more accessible and easier to read.

Reflecting on my passion for cinema, I find myself pondering over the portrayal of LeFou’s relationship with Gaston in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Initially, it was suggested that LeFou’s affection for his master was more about admiration than anything sexual. However, Bill Condon later referred to this infatuation as an “exclusively gay moment,” which left me a bit perplexed. Perhaps at that time, Disney was attempting to be inclusive but lacked the full understanding of how to do so effectively.

Thankfully, Disney has been progressing in their representation of the LGBTQIA+ community over the years. From background characters to main roles, they’ve been steadily introducing diverse representations. A shining example is the 2022 release “Strange World,” which features an openly gay main character.

Regarding Josh Gad’s stance on the controversial topic, he shared that he “never played the character of LeFou as gay” during filming. However, if the creative team had chosen to depict LeFou as queer, Gad expressed that he would have been “thrilled” to embrace this representation. Although Gad was instrumental in developing LeFou’s notable ending where he dances with another man, he viewed it as a “brief and humorous moment” that might be easily overlooked by viewers. As the antagonist Gaston perishes at the end of the movie, the dance between LeFou and another man symbolizes his newfound freedom from his domineering master.

Previously, Josh Gad expressed his regret over being labeled as “exclusively gay” for his role, feeling it didn’t fully represent a real LGBTQ+ character. For viewers identifying as queer who wanted to see themselves reflected in the film Beauty and the Beast, more substantial representation could have been provided beyond just a brief scene of same-sex dancing.

LeFou’s portrayal of queerness could be seen as a step towards embracing diversity within the LGBTQIA+ community, yet it also sparked discontent among some viewers due to its vague presentation and lack of substantial meaning. This subtle, unexplored depiction in the remake of Beauty and the Beast served as a pioneering move towards more inclusive storytelling, paving the way for future Disney productions that would further champion diversity.

Delve into the enchanting world of “Beauty and the Beast” on your Disney+ subscription, where you’ll find Josh Gad breathingly bringing LeFou to life in this captivating musical romance fantasy. For a deeper understanding of his journey, I highly recommend picking up a copy of his memoir, “In Gad We Trust“, available for purchase at Amazon or your local bookstore.

Read More

2025-01-15 23:37