I made a now-deleted post about Billy Hargrove, stating how I didn’t understand why people defend him, and received mixed responses. My previous post was quite brief and lacked depth, which is why I’m making this follow-up. Screenshots will be added for context.
YES. I feel like billy was never supposed to be read as a ‘good’ character in the way he was portrayed. he was literally meant to be the picture of a racist abuser, which is why I’m always surprised to see how big of a fandom he has!!! all my irl friends who like him are generally privileged straight white girls who think he’s a victim because he was abused by his dad and that he sacrificed himself for his sister! oh well, sure excuses all the trauma he inflicted upon her, am I right?
and the refusal to admit that he’s racist is actually so sad to see, and when I point that to anyone they just go ‘but….but he’s so hot tho v.v’ THERE IS LITERALLY NO LINK, they are portraying exactly what this show criticises: people who judge known bullies by their looks and the overall image they are trying to cast, letting their stereotypes cloud their judgement and ignore the hurt they inflict because they are abused themselves.
I feel like it is a perfect reflection of the ‘society-conforming’ casual watchers of st who are just……not the intended audience and don’t really get the core message and the values it is trying to send.