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Trigger Warning: It Chapter Two Features a Graphic Gay Hate Crime
LGBTQ viewers are warning each other of the scene on Twitter.
It Chapter Two, the horrifying sequel to Stephen King's classic novel, premiered yesterday and is already on its way to a historic $100 million opening weekend.
But LGBTQ fans who have already seen the film are sharing trigger warnings amongst themselves for a graphic hate crime against a gay couple in the first few minutes of the film.
According to them, the scene was based on King's original novel but was cut from the 1990 miniseries. "Adrian and his boyfriend, Don Hagarty, are terrorized by a group of teenagers who violently beat Adrian and throw him over a bridge into the water below, where he’s murdered by Pennywise," writes critic Louis Peitzman. "Adrian’s death restarts the cycle of violence that It wreaks every 27 years, drawing the adult Losers’ Club back to their hometown of Derry. Inspired by the real-life murder of Charlie Howard, it’s a graphic and deeply upsetting depiction of a hate crime, and one of King’s most haunting scenes."
In the film, "Adrian’s murder hews closely to the book’s description of the attack; it’s a shocking moment of violence that feels too close to real-world hatred to shake off."
Queer viewers took to Twitter to warn each other of the scene.
\u201cWARNING GAYS AND LGBTQ PEOPLE GOING TO SEE IT 2:\n\nTHE OPENING SCENE INVOLVES THE BRUTALIZATION OF 2 GAY MEN AND THE MURDER OF ONE OF THEM.\n\nI FELT SICK AND IT THREW OFF MY ENTIRE MOVIE EXPERIENCE. I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE.\u201d— Salinger\u2077 (@Salinger\u2077) 1567750131
None— SleepyAmazon (@SleepyAmazon) 1567744622
Though the scene was jarring, fans did still enjoy the film. them also points out that the movie features another queer love story, though definitely don't expect any happy endings in this horror franchise.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
