A “Wizards Of Waverly Place” Showrunner Revealed That Selena Gomez,s Character Alex Was Bisexual, But They Weren,t Allowed To Explore It Because Of Disney Channel,s Rules
A “Wizards Of Waverly Place” showrunner has revealed that Selena Gomez's character Alex was meant to be bisexual, but they weren't allowed to explore it because of Disney Channel's rules.
According to showrunner Todd J. Greenwald, the character of Alex Russo, played by Selena Gomez, was intended to be bisexual but the show was not allowed to explore it due to Disney Channel's policies.
In an interview with Buzzfeed, Greenwald revealed that he had pitched a storyline in which Alex Russo would come out as bisexual, but the network “shut it down.”
The showrunner explained that Disney Channel at the time wouldn't allow for any LGBTQ+ characters or storylines, and that this left him “heartbroken” as he was hoping to explore the character's identity and provide a positive representation.
Greenwald went on to explain that the network's decision was a “huge disappointment” as he wanted to provide representation for the LGBTQ+ community.
He said, “I was hoping to be able to tell a story that could help young kids who were going through that, who were confused and scared — even if they didn’t have the language to articulate it yet — to know that they weren’t alone, that somebody else was going through the same thing.”
Greenwald's revelation serves as a reminder of how far the entertainment industry has come when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation on television. While there is still a long way to go when it comes to providing queer characters with fully developed storylines, it is encouraging to see networks taking steps in the right direction.
