X-Men ’97 has been peppered with controversy over its characters, but creator Beau DeMayo proudly acknowledges the changes he brought into the show. Even though he was fired from the project days before its premiere, he continues to keep an eye on the series and even responds to fans’ comments.
As an openly gay man, DeMayo claimed that the series’ story was informed by his own experiences in life. There’s no wonder why there are some queer characters in the show, which of course, elicited divided reactions from the viewers.
Beau DeMayo Is Guilty Of Incorporating Queerness In X-Men ‘97
On top of all the issues concerning X-Men ‘97 characters, a fan posted on Twitter a risky Magneto photo and captioned it with “#XMen97 was definitely written by a gay man.” Surprisingly, Beau DeMayo replied to it with a simple “Guilty” answer.
Guilty
— Beau DeMayo (@BeauDemayo) May 2, 2024
In Marvel’s X-Men: 60 Uncanny Years Live Virtual Event, DeMayo shared his experience working on X-Men ‘97 and how he managed to share some influence on the series through his own journey as a “black gay man.”
“I think one of my favorite parts was like they were truly interested in like what my experience as a black gay man was and how it was going to inform the story we were telling. And that to them was like that is how we’re going to make this authentic.”
He also remarked on the significance of diversity in X-Men ‘97, that each individual is unique, and that is what the show is trying to convey to its viewers.
“Because really what you’re talking about with X-Men — I don’t care what your religion, your nationality, your s*x, your gender — you walk into a room full of people and you’ve gone, ‘Oh my gosh there is no one in here like me,’ and I think that is ultimately what X-Men is trying to get at.”
DeMayo acknowledged the team of “amazing directors, and artists, and storyboard artists, and writers” who made sure his vision for the show would be captured on the small screen. “We talk a lot about the dream is social acceptance and it’s social justice,” he added.
X-Men Comics Helped Beau DeMayo Discover His Authentic Self
In an interview with DeMayo via The Hollywood Reporter, he shared how X-Men helped him find his true character. Being an openly gay man in the industry might be challenging, but he is also here to challenge the norm.
“Anyone who feels different, we all have a Magneto inside of us, and we all have a Charles Xavier. We all have a part of us that wants to burn it all down, and there’s a part of us who wants to find the compromise and build it up. And those comics really helped me understand my identity.”
There are, indeed, many scenes in the show that hint at the queerness of the characters and show the major influences DeMayo had incorporated into the story.
X-Men ‘97 is available to stream via Disney+.
