Simon Pegg, actor and co-writer of Star Trek Beyond agrees with original Hikaru Sulu actor George Takei that it's unfortunate that it has taken so long for Star Trek to openly featue a gay character. However, he "respectfully disagrees" on Takei's opinion on Star Trek Beyond's reveal that John Cho's Sulu is gay.
Yesterday, Takei told the Hollywood Reporter that the decision to make Sulu openly gay is disrespectful to creator Gene Roddenberry's vision for the Star Trek universe. Takei said that he's delighted that there's a gay character but "Unfortunately, it's a twisting of Gene's creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it's really unfortunate." After hearing Takei's opinion, Pegg is standing by the Star Trek Beyond character.
"We could have introduced a new gay character, but he or she would have been primarily defined by their sexuality," Peg said in a statement released to The Guardian. "seen as the 'gay character,' rather than simply for who they are, and isn't that tokenism?
Pegg thought that the character's sexual orientation was just "one of many persoanl aspects, not the definining characteristic.". He also believed that Roddenberry would have explored Sulu's sexuality on the original series if the audience at the time was more open-minded.
"It's also important to note that at no point do we suggest that our Sulu was ever closeted, why would he need to be? It just hasn't come up before," Pegg said. Star Trek Beyond is an alternate timeline with alternate details, he explained "Whatever magic ingredient determines our sexuality was different for Sulu in our timeline."
Pegg concluded with love: "Whatever dimension we inhabit, we all just want to be loved by those we love (and I love George Takei). I can't speak for every reality but that must surely [be] true of this one. Live long and prosper."
So who do you agree with about this matter?
Star Trek Beyond will hit theaters on July 22.
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