The Controversy Over Everyone’s Favorite Hypersexualized Cartoon: Big Mouth

graphic courtesy of @bigmouthnetflix instagram

Imagine a show centered on obsessive masturbation, sexual curiosity, and the joys of puberty. A Netflix coming of age story on crack if you will. Essentially Sex and The City, just with more prepubescent middle schoolers and imaginary hormone monsters with dicks for noses. Nothing could go wrong, right? Not exactly.

Seasons one and two of Netflix’s original show, Big Mouth, have crossed every line possible – all from insinuating incest to slut-shaming thirteen-year-old tweens. But the third season, released on October 4th, has sparked mass controversy online, and for good reason.

While attempting to explain the differences between bisexuality and pansexuality, the show introduces a pansexual identifying female named Alli in the eighth episode. However instead of raising awareness, Alli casts a shadow of biphobia that is impossible to deny. Naturally, fans are pissed.

For those of us who are a little uneducated in the queer department, here’s the breakdown: bisexuality is the characteristic of romantic and/or sexual attraction to people of the male and female gender. Simply put, those who identify as bisexual are attracted to both men and women.

Pansexuality is the characteristic of romantic and/or sexual attraction to all people, regardless of biological sex, gender, or chosen gender identity. Simply put, they are attracted to all people and not limited to the two gender standards. Some may think the difference between the two is insignificant, but when you’ve spent your whole life yearning to understand your own sexual preferences, specificity matters. We need to learn how to respect that.

We know that understanding all of the LGBTQ+ terminology can be a bit confusing, but it’s your job as an ally or a member of the community to do the best you can to educate yourself. There are so many resources out there nowadays, so there is no excuse to be blatantly uneducated (I’m lookin’ at you Karen). We recommend this list to brush up on your knowledge:

https://www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2013/01/a-comprehensive-list-of-lgbtq-term-definitions/

Big Mouth’s attempt at explaining the vast differences between both sexualities can be seen in episode eight. Here, Alli uses one of the most bizarre metaphors for sexuality possible. It follows as such: “some of [us] borings like tacos and some of [us] like burritos,” meaning that heterosexual people like either tacos or burritos (we’ll get to that outdated insult later). Alli goes on to explain that, “if you’re bisexual you like tacos and burritos.” But if you’re pansexual, like she is, you like tacos, burritos, tacos that were born burritos, burritos that are transitioning into tacos, and “anything else on the fucking menu.” Now this definition is subpar at best, but the real controversy comes from this sassy tweenager’s take on the difference between bisexuality and pansexuality. When explaining her sexuality to the class, Alli is seemingly insulted when she is called bi. “No, bisexuality is so binary,” she says with an eye roll. So. Binary.

This tiny insult develops into a monumental diss at the bisexual community as the episode creates a culture in which pansexuality is seen as superior. Alli, the pansexual, is praised like a goddess. But when Jay ⁠—a bisexual identifying character on the show ⁠—finally comes out, he is met with a cold shoulder. Not ok!

Although Netflix’s intention was to open up conversation about a relevant issue, all they really succeeded in was scaring closeted bisexuals from ever wanting to come out. According to Nielsen, the dominant US rating aggregation company, Big Mouth was one of the top 10 most popular streaming shows in the year 2017. It has reached over 20.3 million viewers. This means your classmate, that guy who lives across the hall, and even your bus driver have ALL likely seen this awful representation of the LGBTQ+ community. So if you think this doesn’t affect you, you’re wrong.

This show is creating a social divide in a community that is supposed to be about coming together, and we should not stand for it. A key component of being an LGBTQ+ member or ally is promoting the equality of all people, not just one sexuality or another. Netflix may have butchered this one, but at least they opened the door for a ~healthy~ conversation about sexuality. Now it is our job to take this opportunity and right their wrongs. Remember, there is no hierarchy when it comes to love. So please, to everyone reading this, remember that you are beautiful. You are unique. And you are loved, regardless of whether you identify as bisexual, pansexual, or anything in between!

Love,

JERK