On Friday, Netflix released Ryan Murphy's adaptation of the Broadway showThe Prom, featuring a brand-new, A-list cast and two new stars in the lead roles. The latter disappointed some people, who
were fans of the original Emma, Caitlyn Kinnunen and the original Alyssa Greene, Isabelle McCalla.
If you watched The Prom on Netflix, PLEASE give the original Broadway cast album a listen. The cast is full of gems and Caitlin Kinnunen deserved to reprise her role in the film (not saying Jo Ellen Perlman doesn’t deserve it, just the whole situation has been handled terribly)
— Emily ? (@thewolfofparis) December 11, 2020
“The original cast of ‘The Prom’ is integral to the creation of its characters — some of whom fine-tuned them through 8 years of readings, labs and out-of-town stagings before the show opened on Broadway, and then in 8 live performances a week.” https://t.co/qBX1yOdYBV
— Howard Sherman (@HESherman) December 12, 2020
But what's really had Twitter going this weekend is the fact that James Corden plays the role of Barry Glickman, an out, gay Broadway actor. Barry is part of a group of Broadway celebrities who travel to Edgewater, Indiana, to help a lesbian teen battle homophobia in her town and attend her prom. He stars alongside Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Andrew Rannells, as a man who grew up in Ohio and whose parents did not accept him when he came out.
Many fans of the show—and first-time watchers—are not pleased that Corden, who is not publicly queer, seems to appropriate a role that should have gone to someone who actually understands the coming-out experience. Some fans say they wish other actors, known for their queerness and their roles as queer characters, to fill this role, instead of Corden.
Me watching James Corden in The Prom pic.twitter.com/mNBS2lctWJ
— Blackadder’s Christmas Carol ? (@RosieBlackadder) December 10, 2020
Meryl Streep when she’s forced to act alongside James Corden in #ThePrompic.twitter.com/tK8pjbKs4e
— Sleighvid Opie ? (@DavidOpie) December 11, 2020
James Corden’s performance being called a “cliche” by critics... it’s almost if gay ppl have been saying this shit was gonna happen for months... #ThePrompic.twitter.com/HDv6YXBaGI
— sean | ?️? (@cloutgoogle) December 10, 2020
I’ve just started #TheProm and James Corden is already on my last nerve... pic.twitter.com/kgZrG08bPE
— Lewis John Yule ??? (@LewisJohnY2) December 11, 2020
I’m only 3 minutes into The Prom movie and this James Corden performance is already giving bad gay stereotypes ? pic.twitter.com/2U6A2bR62V
— Anxious Libra (@mpowwr17) December 11, 2020
Why does James Corden have to ruin every film he is in. #ThePrompic.twitter.com/zGq28Cs6Cb
— Sophie Bessey (@sophie_bessey) December 11, 2020
everything about the prom was perfect.
except james corden. pic.twitter.com/W7o6D9NMlN
— noelle (@thefirstno3ll3) December 12, 2020
when gay people sue james corden just for being in the prom pic.twitter.com/sW9zJbTb9O
— fergie (@jamiesflower) December 11, 2020
Here are the names people are putting out there.
You are telling Ryan Murphy couldn’t get Tituss Burgess, Billy Porter or Nathan Lane to play Barry?!?!? #theprom#ThePromNetflixpic.twitter.com/J0nzarM5zn
— Giovanni (@giovanni_notgio) December 12, 2020
Tituss Burgess
Why isn't tituss burgess playing the james corden character in #ThePrompic.twitter.com/9pbAnX2frJ
— Another yule tide gay (@emily_bemilys) December 11, 2020
James corden being cast in the Prom while Tituss burgess is living and thriving is a crime to humanity. You could've had tituss, TITUSS!!!! #shocked#whatelsedoyouwantfromme2020? #wedontdeservetitussanywayspic.twitter.com/6VvTyfxVNS
— Laisee (@Eulalia_Rosalia) December 12, 2020
Until Netflix uses some cgi or sci-fi sh*t to replace James Corden with Tituss Burgess, I will not be watching The Prom.
— Darby Lynn Cartwright (@TheDarbyLynn) December 12, 2020
i am very very happy with The Prom and thought it was beautiful, but my only critique is why did they choose James Corden when Tituss Burgess would have literally killed that role. anyone else really, but my choice would have been Tituss
— carson reed (@_carsy_) December 13, 2020
Nathan Lane
You just know that Nathan Lane, as a GAY BROADWAY actor, would've done MUCH BETTER than J**** fucking C***** and his almost homophobic performance. #ThePrompic.twitter.com/541z6C52M8
— ✨ logan ✨ (@lalalogay) December 13, 2020
If they wanted to cast famous for The Prom Nathan Lane was right there
— STEPH ? | TS9 (@PianoFreak9) December 12, 2020
now i’m thinking about an alternate universe where Nathan Lane was Barry in “The Prom” instead and it’s just TOO GOOD? https://t.co/3eR2xSPMkn
— annika❄️ (@annikamarrie) December 13, 2020
I’m confused as to why James Corden is playing an unlikeable version of Nathan Lane in The Prom on Netflix when you could just have Nathan Lane send himself up
— Frankie (@FrankieWard) December 11, 2020
Billy Porter
My dream The Prom cast:
Dee Dee Allen-Christine Baranski or Ana Gasteyer
Barry Glickman-Billy Porter
Angie- Jane Krakowski
Trent Oliver- Norm Lewisyou’re welcome.
— benji (@sevenbenjisins) October 22, 2020
if you even give me a millimeter of space to talk about the prom i will explode into love and tears, god i miss it so much; but josh barry supremacy
— feliz sabidad // TPM DAY (@VeryBismuth) August 3, 2020
lilias white dee dee, billy porter barry, and god what a fantastic angie gwen verdon would've been https://t.co/tj0PIyfWXM
Billy Porter should’ve played Barry in The Prom
— Mikhail | #SulongWagPatinag #HandsOffActivists (@mikhailquijano) December 12, 2020
The way that billy porter or Titus burgess could have easily replaced James Corden in The Prom...
— ᜃᜌᜎ᜔ ᜇᜓᜋᜎᜂᜈ᜔᜶ (@keileighhh) December 13, 2020
Billy Porter should’ve been Barry in The Prom instead of James Corden. Have a delightful day!
— Weisz. (@discbedientt) December 12, 2020