Universal Studios has decided to discontinue “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights after the media backlash for homophobic aspects of the stage show.
“After thoughtful consideration, Universal Studios Hollywood has made the decision to discontinue production of the Halloween Horror Nights’ ‘Bill & Ted’ show for the remainder of its limited run,” the company said in a statement.
A first-hand account of the show from Vice reporter Jamie Taete described the show as “super homophobic” since the radical protagonists Bill and Ted — originally played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves in the 1989 comedy “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” — are bummed when Superman is turned into a homosexual by evil witches.
See video: Keanu Reeves Says ‘Darkness Out There’ Is Preventing ‘Bill & Ted’ Sequel
“After becoming gay, Superman’s voice and posture changes. His lips purse, his toes point inward, and his wrists become limp,” Taete wrote. “His new voice sounds like a homophobic uncle doing a drunken impression of Richard Simmons, complete with lisps and frequent use of the word ‘faaaaaaabulous!’”
GLAAD announced earlier this week that it was having “a productive dialogue” with NBCUniversal on the show’s problematic depiction of homosexuality, which the organization hoped would “inform future programming as well.”
See photos: Jamie Dornan Is Christian Grey: Meet the Sexy Star of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (Photos)
The organization praised Universal upon learning of the decision to pull the plug on the production.
“NBCUniversal has taken quick and strong action regarding this matter and also started a productive dialogue around future ‘Bill & Ted’ programming to ensure that all park visitors can have an enjoyable experience,” spokesperson Wilson Cruz said in a statement. “This decision falls in line with NBCUniversal’s history of including groundbreaking and positive depictions of LGBT people across its brands.”
Universal Studios has not yet responded to TheWrap‘s request for additional comment.
