June 3, 2021
John Stamos Shuts Down Anti-LGBTQ Politician Who Slammed Gay 'Cruella' Character
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
"Full House" star John Stamos stood against hate when an anti-LGTBQ political candidate in California went after the movie "Cruella" for its inclusion of an openly gay character.
According to Yahoo! News, Republican congressional candidate Omar Navarro took to Twitter with complaints about Disney's new "101 Dalmations" prequel "Cruella" featuring an openly gay character, Artie (John McCrea), who runs a vintage clothing store in the film.
The Internet lost no time in dragging Navarro for his tweet, but it wasn't until Stamos chimed in that the story went viral. The actor made a humorous rejoinder on Twitter that referenced his popular "Full Houe" persona Uncle Jesse, E! News noted.
As Us Magazine noted, Artie is "the first original character in a live-action Disney film to be openly gay" following years of speculation and teases about LGTBQ characters in its universe.
Navarro has made anti-LGBTQ rhetoric part of his brand, having attacked a Pride-themed edition of LOL Surprise dolls as well as the recent Pride-themed "Blue's Clues" singalong video featuring drag performer Nina West.
But his attack on Artie prompted a massive pushback, not just from Stamos but from many famous Twitter users – Chasten Buttigieg and Patton Oswalt among them – who shared their sharp rejoinders.
Other Twitter users pointed out Navarro's past brushes with the law, which have involved allegations of stalking and threats against ex-girlfriend DeAnna Lorraine Tesoriero, herself a one-time GOP candidate, who ran unsuccessfully against Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
Tesoriero had obtained a five-year restraining order against Navarro before he was arrested in December 2019 on felony charges of "stalking, criminal threats, and attempted extortion, plus a misdemeanor for allegedly violating that restraining order," Los Angeles Magazine reported at the time.
Prior to that arrest, Navarro ended up on probation in 2016 after attaching a tracking device to his wife's car, a misdemeanor offense.
Navarro is looking to wrest the seat for California's 43rd congressional district from incumbent Maxine Waters, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991. The 2022 midterm elections will mark the fourth time Navarro has ran against Waters; she beat him handily in 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
