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Xena Network Feared Gay Subtext in Credits
13 Jul
Summary
- Network feared losing advertisers over gay subtext.
- Opening credits were altered to avoid showing them together.
- Creator states relationship development was organic.
The opening credits for the beloved 1990s fantasy series "Xena: Warrior Princess" were subject to network intervention, according to creator Robert Tapert. Universal Television reportedly expressed concerns that showing the titular warrior Xena and her companion Gabrielle in the same frame during the sequence could lead to a loss of advertisers.
Tapert explained that the network was particularly strict about avoiding any implication of a romantic relationship between the two lead characters. He clarified that the show was never originally conceived as a story about two gay women traveling together, suggesting that this interpretation largely developed organically among the audience over time.
"Xena: Warrior Princess" originated as a spin-off from "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." Lucy Lawless starred as Xena, with Renee O'Connor portraying Gabrielle. The series gained a significant following, partly due to the compelling dynamic and subtle relationship between its two protagonists.
