The Last of Us: Nick Offerman says he got “a lot of homophobic hate” over his gay role
Nick Offerman has opened up about the homophobic backlash he received after his The Last of Us appearance. Earlier this year, the Parks and Recreation talent made massive waves for his guest star appearance in the show’s third episode, titled ‘Long Long Time’ after the Linda Ronstadt classic.
Spoilers ahead Unlike the series’ first two episodes, the heartwarming entry focused on Bill (Offerman), a paranoid survivalist, and his partner Frank (Murray Bartlett).
Throughout the episode, viewers follow the couple over two decades as they fall in love, protect their Lincoln home from infected people and raiders and strike a partnership with Joel (Pascal) and Tess (Anna Torv).
In their later years, a terminally ill Frank asks Bill to euthanize him. Subverting the harmful trope of equating homosexuality with tragedy, Bill dishes our two lethally doses to their wine glasses, saying: “This isn’t the tragic suicide at the end of the play.” Upon its release, the episode received universal critical acclaim – with praise aimed at Bartlett and Offerman’s performances, Craig Mazin’s script and Peter Hoar’s direction.
