Christopher Biggins’ comments regarding the new Superman’s sexuality have left Good Morning Britain viewers scratching their heads.
During a discussion about the fictional character’s sexuality, Biggins dismissed the move as pandering “to the woke system”.
The comments were made in reference to the new Superman Jon Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, who was revealed to be bisexual to mark National Coming Out Day on Monday.
The new Superman has come out as bisexual in the new DC comic book.@onebiggins tells @susannareid100 and @richardm56 that characters that already exist shouldn't be 'made into something they're not.'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 13, 2021
He adds that we should 'not pander to the woke system'. pic.twitter.com/OoHDveoGmG
Biggins – who appeared to slightly misunderstand that the character is Clark Kent’s son and not Clark Kent himself – said: “If you want to do something like this, do something original, don’t take characters that already exist and make them into something that they’re not.”
Host Richard Madeley said he would understand Biggins’ point if they had indeed made Clark Kent bisexual as he has been around for so long and has such a rich back-story.
But he added:“This is the next generation and actually in terms of fiction it’s perfectly reasonable to think that the son of Clark Kent and Louis Lane might well grow up to be bisexual. You say ‘why’, but why not?”
Biggins – still perhaps not grasping which character was being talked about – replied: “I just find it extraordinary. I do find it absolutely bizarre that this is what people want nowadays.
“Why can’t we stick to what we’ve had and [been] given? Why don’t they do some new characters, why don’t they create something new, something different, than go to a character we all know, we all love and we all know as this? Not that.”
People took to Twitter to share their thoughts on Biggins’ comments, with blogger Alex Burgess saying he was talking “absolute b***cks”.
Christopher Biggins made me want to smash my television this morning on #GMB, talking absolute bollocks.
— Alex Burgess (@alexie_bee) October 13, 2021
Either Christopher Biggins didn't actually read the brief on @GMB this morning, or he's willfully ignorant.
— Michael Nelson 💙 (@TallMike91) October 13, 2021
As much as I hope it's the former, I have a suspicion it's the latter - he's got form with airing biphobic comments.
What's hilarious about this new Superman thing is that most of the people outraged about it wouldn't have any idea it was happening if it wasn't on twitter. Christopher Biggins doesn't read comics bruh.
— Paul from Heavy Spoilers (@heavyspoilers) October 13, 2021
Unless the debate is about whether or not “he’s behind you” I’m not sure Christopher Biggins is the first authority I’d turn to for literally anything.
— Santiago Jones 🦩 (@SantiagoJones) October 13, 2021
Imagine if rather than laughing and then repeating his factually incorrect thesis, Biggins had just said,” Oh fuck. I should have read up about this. They’ve done exactly what I say I want and I have no problem with this whatsoever.” Imagine if anyone ever did that.
— Richard K Herring (@Herring1967) October 13, 2021
Christopher Biggins comments on GMB this morning - just baffle me.
— onthisdayinpop (@myfizzypop) October 13, 2021
Ugh… Christopher Biggins going off about The Son of Superman being bi on #GoodMorningBritain #GMB… he keeps going on about Superman. It’s the SON! He’s actually defending the outrage. FFS.
— LeeWilliamDesigns (@designs_william) October 13, 2021
I think Christopher Biggins on Good Morning Britain just now debating whether or not Superman should be bisexual could well be me reaching my personal limit on culture war chat.
— Rik Salmon (@dove_from_above) October 13, 2021
If your main concern this morning is that a fictional superhero’s fictional son likes to kiss men as well as women then I guarantee that you are the problem... pic.twitter.com/BOOmkIotj6
— Caroline Goldsmith (@GoldCaro) October 13, 2021
Some questioned why Biggins was invited on to the show at all. During his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, Biggins was accused of expressing biphobic views, dismissing bisexuality as “people not wanting to admit they’re gay.”
Having somebody who has made horrendously biphobic remarks in the past on to discuss a bisexual comic book character is a choice. #GMB
— Emma Kelly (@TooManyEmmas) October 13, 2021
I can't believe Good Morning Britain had Christopher Biggins on to talk about Superman's son being bisexual after he made these comments on Big Brother. Wtf were they thinking #GMB pic.twitter.com/GGDpSqnNPp
— I Don't Know Her (@l_dont_know_her) October 13, 2021
Podcaster Aamir Hassan also appeared on the show and challenged Biggins’ views, saying it’s incredible to see superheroes “become actual superheroes”.
Hassan said: “For a lot of young people, they don’t have the privilege of coming out and they’re in positions where they are not able to come out and they’re not able to be themselves and I’ve been there myself before.”
'I think it's absolutely fantastic.'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 13, 2021
Podcaster Aamir Hassan says 'it's incredible to see superheroes become actual superheroes.'
He says he doesn't see the issue if Superman's son's bisexuality helps people because 'representation and visibility save lives.' pic.twitter.com/0iEG46UtG3
He said young people look to media, entertainment, and comic books to seek solace.
“If even just one young person out there can see Superman’s son be bisexual and it helps them, I don’t see what the issue is because representation and visibility doesn’t just change lives, it genuinely saves lives.”
He hit back at Biggins’ comments that everything is changing by saying that things actually do need to change because society is not in a good place, especially for LGBTQ+ people.
Hassan also said that people who bat down Superman’s sexuality as being “too woke” are preventing young people from being “helped” by seeing their sexuality represented.
Since the announcement that Superman’s son is bisexual, Republican politicians also felt the need to share their thoughts.
Former Superman actor Dean Cain has also slammed the news as “bandwagoning”.
The comic book hero’s news comes just weeks after Bi Visibility Day, a day which aims to raise awareness for the identity and highlight the specific barriers facing bi people.
We think Hassan summed it up best when he asked: “How can this cause such a stir? It makes no difference to your life at all.”
