Fake People Kissing: Queerbaiting and Fan Agency

Abstract

In the early 2010s, the term “queerbaiting” emerged in fan communities to describe the phenomenon of films and TV shows including intentionally homoerotic moments in order to ensnare a queer audience, but without the intention of ever following through and confirming the characters to be in any way “canonically” queer. In recent years, the term has spread from fandom to academia as a way of criticizing the state of queer representation in pop culture. While “queerbaiting” is almost always seen as an action on the part of producers that harms fans, I argue that these accusations of queerbaiting create more interesting, dynamic relationships between creators and audiences. In this paper, I will be exploring the fan reaction to queerbaiting, and how it allows fans to be more empowered in their readings of the text, creates a more active and engaged fanbase, and allows fans to hold the creators accountable for their promises.