Netflix Bridgerton author slaps back at backlash to show’s queer romance amid 'disappointment' from fans
Fans were left annoyed with the surprise twist at the end of season two
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Bridgerton writer Julia Quin has hit back at fans and asked they "trust" herself and producer Shondaland after they issued their surprise and disappointment in the show for gender-swapping a fan-favourite love interest for Francesca Bridgerton (played by Hannah Dodd).
The latest season of the regency romance primarily focused on the love story between Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and also intertwined Francesca’s entry into the marriage market and the beginnings of her romance with the Earl of Kilmartin, John Stirling (Victor Alli).
For those who have read the books ahead of the shows being made, fans will know that Francesca's relationship isn't the only thing that she will explore in years to come.
Her novel, When He Was Wicked, sees her marriage to John disrupted by the introduction of his charming cousin, Michael, but fans were left frustrated when season two came to an end and saw Francesca cross paths with Michaela Stirling (Masali Baduza), who immediately left her flustered.
The change in character left some overjoyed that her future would include a queer storyline - a rarity in the Bridgerton series - but left others bothered by the significant change.
Many expressed their annoyance on social media and claimed that Quinn should have stuck to the original story that she wrote which left the bestselling romance writer to take to social media to address upset viewers.
In a lengthy statement posted to her Instagram, she penned: "Dear readers. Many Bridgerton fans have expressed their surprise, and for some reason, disappointment in the twist at the end of Bridgerton Season 3 - that Michael Stirling, with whom Francesca eventually falls in love in When He Was Wicked, would instead be Michaela.
"Anyone who has seen an interview with me from the past four years knows that I am deeply committed to inclusion as the stories move from book to screen. But switching the gender of a major character is a huge change.
"And so when Jess Brownell first approached me with the idea of turning Michael into Michaela for the show, I needed more information before conferring my agreement.
"I trust Shondaland's vision for Bridgerton, but I wanted to be sure that we could remain true to the spirit of the book and of the characters. Jess and I talked for a long time about it.
Francesca's marriage to John isn't all as it seems to be
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"More than once I made it clear that it was extremely important to me that Francesca's abiding love for John be shown on screen. When I wrote When He Was Wicked I actually had to fight to have the first four chapters, which established that love, included."
Further defending her decision, she added: "My publisher was worried that writing about Fran's love for John would take away from Michael's role as an eventual romance novel hero. But I felt that if I didn't show how deeply she loved John, and how deeply Michael, his cousin, also loved him, then their feelings of guilt at falling in love with each other after John's death made no sense.
"I didn't want to just tell the reader that they loved him. I wanted the reader to feel it. I'm confident now that when Francesca has her Bridgerton season, it will be the most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show, just like When He Was Wicked has always been the true tear-jerker of the Bridgerton book series.
"Honestly, it may pack even more punch, since John is getting a lot more screen time than he ever did on the page, and I think it's fair to say we've all fallen a little bit in love with him."
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Fans were annoyed they changed the character of Michael to Michaela
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Quinn concluded: "Thank you to readers and fans for your feedback. I am grateful for your understanding and touched by your deep commitment to the characters of the Bridgerton world.
"I ask that you grant me and the Shondaland team some faith as we move forward. I think we are going to end up with two stories, one on the page and one on the screen, and they will both be beautiful and moving. Thank you. Julia Quinn."
Despite her explanation, many fans still weren't happy with the reasoning as one said: "No. You have completely SOLD OUT as a writer. You’re allowing them to completely butcher your work. In what universe would Francesca be allowed to marry a woman in the 1800s? I’ve read all 8 Bridgerton books and all of the other books you’ve written and this is so incredibly sad."
Another agreed: "This is beyond disappointment. I'm queer and I like that they want to give the LGBTQ+ community representation BUT they should create new characters to give them that storyline, NOT CHANGE a major character that is loved by everyone in the fandom."
"You took away a heartfelt story of infertility, miscarriage, heartbreak, and miracle babies that we all love and needed more recognition of. Those of us who have had miscarriages and struggled with infertility had Francesca to relate to and see ourselves in. You have taken all of that away," a third penned.
Not all fans were upset with the choice, as one positive viewer wrote: "If the author herself is asking you to trust the process then pls just don’t cause a scene about it. If you want the original experience, go reread the book. Anyways can’t wait for this!"