The Bert And Ernie Gay Debate Has Inspired The Most Hilarious 'Sesame Street' Memes

19 September 2018, 17:22

By Sam Prance

This is a lot to process...

Gather round children. It's finally time to find out whether or not Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street are gay. For years, fans of the tv show have speculated on whether or not the pair are friends or more than that. Now, multiple people involved in the series have commented on the matter. It all started this weekend when Sesame Street writer Mark Saltzman told Queerty that Bert and Ernie were inspired by his own relationships as a gay man.

Speaking to the publication, he said: “I remember one time that a column from The San Francisco Chronicle, a pre-schooler in the city turned to mom and asked “are Bert & Ernie lovers?” And that, coming from a preschooler was fun. And that got passed around, and everyone had their chuckle and went back to it. And I always felt that without a huge agenda, when I was writing Bert & Ernie, they were."

Considering that LGBTQ+ figures so rarely feature in children's tv, it's amazing to hear that two characters in a beloved show that has been around since 1969 were written with a queer dynamic in mind. Nevertheless, this revelation sparked a massive debate on Twitter. Some were adamant that Bert and Ernie have a platonic relationship, while others were living for the fact that they could be gay.

In fact it caused so much discussion, that Sesame Street responded to the interview. They tweeted: “[Bert and Ernie] remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.” Not only that but The Muppets creator, Frank Oz, chimed in, too, saying: "It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert & Ernie are gay. It's fine that he feels they are. They're not, of course."

Obviously, as Bert and Ernie are fictional characters and their sexuality isn't ever explicitly referenced in Sesame Street, it's ultimately up to you to perceive them as you see fit, regardless of Frank and Mark's statements. Still, the whole ordeal has provoked an array of hilarious memes and reactions. Here are just a few of the best.

Some think that the writing's been on the wall for years.

.

Whether they're queer or not, people shouldn't be shocked by the possibility that Bert and Ernie could be gay.

Others are just concerned for Bert and Ernie's well-beings.

.

Ffsssssss.

One or two fans aren't buying Sesame Street's statement.

.

It doesn't matter if Bert and Ernie aren't gay but this reasoning doesn't add up.

People are even calling out homophobes.

.

They have a point.

Where are the complaints about Kermit and Miss Piggy?

.

We see no lies.

Then there are those who are writing fan-fiction...

.

This deserves a Pulitzer.

...and providing evidence to support their cases.

.

Platonic or homosexual - this is a bop.

A couple of comedians are making jokes about the whole situation.

.

No comment.

A few are taking it too far.

.

What version of reality is this?

And last, but not least, Sesame Street viewers are focusing on more pressing theories.

Okay. We NEED confirmation on this!