The Lens

Wentworth Miller Refuses to Play It Straight

According to every gay porn ever made, prison is sexy. The men, the bars, the men, the showers, the men. But the big house is about to get a little smaller and a lot less inviting now that Wentworth Miller is opting out of a Prison Break reunion.

“I’m out. Of PB. Officially.” The declaration was spare yet unsparing. Miller’s Instagram account blew up in light of the announcement, which is noteworthy because the feed features zero pictures of his radiant mug. Instead, Miller curates socially conscious imagery and classic queer photography.

“I can’t be “bullied” in this space,” writes Miller. “But I take seriously the possibility of queer kids visiting here, recently out of the closet or exploring the idea… I don’t want them exposed to bullshit.”

The post went far beyond criticizing social media or television production and pierced the issue of LGBTQ+ representation at its very core. “I just don’t want to play straight characters. Their stories have been told (and told),” quips Miller. “So. No more Michael. If you were a fan of the show, hoping for additional seasons… I understand this is disappointing. I’m sorry.”

As anthemic as Miller’s sentiment is, we can’t help but feel a tad disappointed. His onscreen pairing with Dominic Purcell was the hottest TV brotherhood since Bo and Luke Duke.

But of all people, Purcell should understand. Back when Miller came out as gay back in 2013, Purcell cheered the announcement. “As a friend and someone I care for deeply, I am very proud of Wentworth,” Purcell told Us magazine. “I wish him much happiness and peace. I applaud his courage and his stance against a wrongful, archaic ideology.”

And Miller continues to rage against the machinery of a straight-dominated industry. His recent Instagram post concludes with the following message to fans:

“If you’re hot and bothered bec you fell in love with a fictional straight man played by a real gay one… That’s your work. – W.M.”

Color us impressed.

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Published by
Kevin Perry

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