{"id":226835,"date":"2026-03-06T15:40:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/bridgerton-showrunner-slams-michaela-gender-swap-backlash\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T15:40:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:40:38","slug":"bridgerton-showrunner-slams-michaela-gender-swap-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/bridgerton-showrunner-slams-michaela-gender-swap-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridgerton Showrunner Slams Michaela Gender-Swap Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Bridgerton<\/em><\/a> showrunner Jess Brownell<\/strong> slammed ongoing backlash from fans directed at the show\u2019s decision to gender-swap a character.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no place for racism, homophobia or any kind of bigotry in the Bridgerton universe,\u201d Brownell told Vanity Fair<\/em><\/a> on Tuesday, March 3, when asked about the continued negativity directed at actors Masali Baduza<\/strong> and Hannah Dodd<\/strong>. \u201cThis world is all about inclusivity and love, and I want only for Masali and Hannah and every person in this cast to receive love and positivity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brownell specifically addressed criticism<\/a> from those who read Julia Quinn<\/strong>\u2018s books, which inspired the show, before watching the Netflix adaptation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people are frustrated with the adaptation, that\u2019s fair, but keep it off Masali\u2019s page, keep it off Hannah\u2019s page, and keep it focused on the creative,\u201d she continued. \u201cLet\u2019s not make it about the queerness of the show because it\u2019s so important for people to get to feel like their love story is included.\u201d<\/p>\n

She concluded: \u201cIt\u2019s been really fun seeing the way fans have already started rallying around Masali and Hannah, and I can\u2019t wait to see that love increase when we get to telling their story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bridgerton<\/em> has weathered strong reactions<\/a> from viewers since it premiered in 2020. While fans have been upset about the order of the books changing on the show, there was larger backlash when season 3 of the hit Netflix series expanded on Francesca\u2019s love story (Dodd) by having her meet her husband, John (Victor Alli<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

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\n Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton and Victor Alli as John Stirling.<\/span> Liam Daniel\/Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Francesca and John\u2019s bliss was short-lived when he ultimately died one season later. The detail that received negative responses, however, had to do with John\u2019s cousin Michaela (Baduza). The book about Francesca\u2019s romance \u2014 titled When He Was Wicked \u2014 actually followed her relationship with John\u2019s cousin Michael, which upset certain readers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reveal of Michaela vs. Michael \u2014 from the books \u2014 is something that I\u2019ve been pitching from season 1 of the show,\u201d Brownell revealed to Teen Vogue in June 2024. \u201cMy approach to telling a queer story on Bridgerton has been to look to the books for thematic cues. I didn\u2019t want to just insert a queer character for queer character\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brownell revealed that Quinn signed off on the change.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact of the matter is, the fan base is not a monolith, and you\u2019re never going to please every single side of the fan base,\u201d she continued at the time. \u201cIn, for example, deciding to tell a queer story with Francesca, I spoke with Julia Quinn, I got her blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brownell added: \u201cWe talked about the fact that with almost any single book, there would be a side of the fandom that would be disheartened to see their favorite characters changed. I don\u2019t think that there is any book that wouldn\u2019t happen with, so for me, again, it came back to story, and it came back to character.\u201d<\/p>\n

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