Hanna Rosin, author and podcaster, started a wasp nest with her tweet. She apologized a day later. She is pictured in May 2013
An Israeli-American journalist and podcast host has been forced to apologize after complaining that a romantic comedy about Asian gay men vacationing on New York’s Fire Island didn’t feature enough women.
Hanna Rosin, 52, said the Hulu film, titled Fire Island, failed the Bechdel test – a 1980s rule that a film had to feature at least two women, who talk to each other about something other than a man. It is now seen as an assessment of a film’s sexist character.
The film is loosely based on Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Rosin tweeted on Monday: ‘So @Hulu, #FireIslandMovie gets an F- on the Bechdel test in a whole new way.
“Are we just ignoring dull lesbian stereotypes because gay Asian boys are cute?
“Is this revenge for all those gay best friend years?”
The response was immediate and overwhelming.
Fire Island tells the story of a group of friends going on vacation for a week in the hotspot of New York, known for its gay friendly community.
Rosin said she was disappointed the story didn’t feature more women
Gay singer Simon Curtis has accused Rosin – who is queer – of making an “extremely cruel” comment.
“How do you think an Asian gay ‘boy’ in the US feels having literally never seen himself in a movie?” Curtis tweeted.
“Are you really so self-absorbed, so unable to get out of yourself for a moment, that you can’t see that maybe this isn’t *supposed* to concern you?”
Others felt his comments were more ridiculous than offensive.
“I was having a conversation with myself and failed the bechdel test,” said one.
Comedian Vinny Thomas said: “The movie Fire Island didn’t pass the bechamel test. The homosexuals presented have never prepared bechamel once.
Another added: “I fail the bechdel test because I don’t talk to anyone.”
Bowen Yang, the SNL writer and comedian who starred in Fire Island, posted a photo of himself with 1970s porn star Robin Byrd.
“F- on the Bechdel test,” he said.
Even Alison Bechdel, the 61-year-old designer who created the test, joined in.
Rosin was forced to apologize for her comments
Alison Bechdel, who came up with the concept of the Bechdel test (pictured in 2015), even responded to the outcry
“Okay, I just added a corollary to the Bechdel test: two men talk to each other about the female protagonist of an Alice Munro story in a script structured on a Jane Austen novel = success,” he said. she declared.
Rosin later apologized for her comments.
“I deleted a tweet that many of you rightly called offensive,” she said on Tuesday.
“I have read your answers and I hear you. My tweet was careless and thoughtless. Really.
“The movie told a story of gay AAPI men, whose experiences don’t come across enough in the movies or anywhere else.
“What I had to say was irrelevant, let alone a buzzkill about a fun summer movie. It’s a cliché but the fact that I didn’t see it coming means I have a lot to learn.
“The last thing I want to do is pit members of my community against each other. I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt by my words.
