Bridgerton showrunner Jess Brownell spoke out after the choice to make Francesca and Michaela the season 5 leads received backlash from some viewers.
“I’m very comfortable for people to debate and debate the show and our approach to adapting the books. But I need to state really plainly, there is no such thing as a place for homophobia or racism or any type of bigotry within the Bridgerton world,” Brownell told Tudum on Tuesday, March 24. “Bridgerton is about love and inclusivity.”
Brownell specifically defended actors Masali Baduza and Hannah Dodd, whose characters might be the central focus of the upcoming season.
“Masali and Hannah and all of our solid and crew deserve nothing but positivity and love,” she continued. “It’s been beautiful to see the best way fans have already began rallying around them, and I can’t wait to observe that love grow.”
Netflix confirmed on Tuesday that season 5 — which is already in production — will put Francesca’s (Dodd) love story with Michaela (Baduza) within the highlight.
“I’ve said from the start that this show, in so some ways, is about allowing people to see themselves represented, allowing themselves to dream, and picture themselves in these fantastical roles,” Brownell shared. “It never felt right to not be inclusive of queer love as well inside that fantasy.”
Brownell reflected on the project’s “groundbreaking” storytelling, adding, “Obviously, there are loads of great shows which have depicted queer love. We’re not the primary by any means. But to make a complete Bridgerton season a few sapphic relationship feels huge.”
Bridgerton has been known to prompt strong reactions from viewers because it premiered in 2020. While fans have been upset in regards to the order of the seasons not following the books, there was a bigger backlash when season 3 of the hit Netflix series introduced Francesca to her husband, John (Victor Alli).
Francesca and John’s blissful marriage was short-lived when he ultimately died one season later. The detail that received negative responses, nonetheless, needed to do with John’s cousin Michaela — who’s written as Michael in Julia Quinn’s book about Francesca’s romance,When He Was Wicked.
“What’s most enjoyable about season 5 is that it’s going to be a season about queer joy. It will not be going to be a season about queer trauma,” Brownell noted to Tudum. “There are going to be difficulties for the characters and conflict in the identical way there may be for each Bridgerton character. But we’re still at all times grounding our love stories within the undeniable fact that this series is about joy. It’s about humor.”
She continued: “And, if there’s anything really specific about this season, it’s the craving. It’s big time craving. Those of us who know what it’s wish to be in a sapphic relationship or have a sapphic crush understand that’s so baked into the experience. We had loads of fun within the writers room for season 5 talking about what is absolutely specific to women-loving-women relationships. Just like the moment where you’re thinking that, like, ‘Oh gosh, are we just friends? Or is that this more?’ , the gay panic. We’re having a lot fun with it this season!”
Bridgerton is currently streaming on Netflix.