The New York Times is facing heat online over the latest edition of its “Trump Bites” animated op-ed series, which features an extended joke suggesting a gay romance between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“This is homophobic,” said Teen Vogue Chief Content Officer Phillip Picardi, echoing the sentiments of many.
“It is implying that being gay is an insult for both of these men. It implies that being gay would emasculate them. It implies that calling them gay together would anger them and incite reaction. This is beneath us,” he added.
This is homophobic. It is implying that being gay is an insult for both of these men. It implies that being gay would emasculate them. It implies that calling them gay together would anger them and incite reaction. This is beneath us. https://t.co/Zk95DgQOpN
— pfpicardi (@pfpicardi) July 16, 2018
The video — which you can watch above — shows a comically obese Trump, often in his underwear, in a series of romantic dalliances with Putin.
There are also a number of prominent gags about the size of the president’s hands and an extended French kiss between the two leaders, all set to audio of Trump’s actual words of praise for Putin over the years — with the context removed. Putin appears to be the more masculine of the two. The overall joke is that they are gay.
Reps for the New York Times did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Among Twitter’s influential blue checks, some called the video offensive, while others said it was just dumb.
Oh so now homophobia is cool if it’s used to rip Trump https://t.co/HkR3rm7wZ8
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) July 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/SymoneDSanders/status/1018884304787640320
If ever there were ever a time to #WalkAway… https://t.co/oR3J75DQAo
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) July 16, 2018
This is ridiculous bullshit! Millions of LGBTQ people around this world risk their lives for love and these two schmucks use their power to take our rights, elevate those that hate us, and allow crimes against us but @nytimes thinks we should be the butt of this joke?! Gross.
— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) July 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/natemcdermott/status/1018895238071537664
https://twitter.com/kevincorke/status/1018831371236716544
So-called progressives are so quick to lean on homophobia when it comes to ‘satirizing’ #Trump, yet they claim to be the only ones who can save gays from the big, bad Republican homophobes. ? https://t.co/zd3iVDRVVj
— Rob Smith ?? (@robsmithonline) July 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/HashtagGriswold/status/1018851380734373889
So it's ok to use homosexuality as an insult as long as it's directed at Trump?
Got it. https://t.co/mEAtSPNzcP
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) July 16, 2018