Bros is the first gay rom-com ever made by a major studio and the first where every role is played by an openly LGBTQ actor, star and writer Billy Eichner proudly proclaimed at the VMAs back in August. While he made every effort to get folks out to the theatre to see the film —it bombed, taking in just $4 million dollars.
It cost $22 million to produce.
Eichner took to Twitter to share his frustrations and blame “homophobic weirdos” for not wanting to see the film —a perfect complementary comment to his prior rant on the homophobic SCOTUS at the VMAs.
Watch the clip below:
Please listen to @billyeichner’s speech on the #VMAs stage, and then listen to it again. ? pic.twitter.com/ZRQLgvAYwc
— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 29, 2022
The Twitter rant after the movie’s rough opening weekend was more of the same.
“Last night I snuck in and sat in the back of a sold-out theatre playing Bros in LA,” he wrote. “The audience howled with laughter start to finish, burst into applause at the end, and some were wiping away tears as they walked out. Really. I am VERY proud of this movie.”
He then scolded: “Even with glowing reviews, great Rotten Tomatoes scores, an A CinemaScore, etc, straight people, especially in certain parts of the country, just didn’t show up for Bros. And that’s disappointing but it is what it is.”
Everyone who ISN’T a homophobic weirdo should go see BROS tonight! You will have a blast! And it *is* special and uniquely powerful to see this particular story on a big screen, esp for queer folks who don’t get this opportunity often. I love this movie so much. GO BROS!!! ❤️?
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) October 2, 2022
Insulting half the country is an interesting marketing strategy that seemingly didn’t pay off for Mr. Eichner. Maybe next time, he won’t sling so many insults if he wants to get Americans to buy something he’s selling.
Twitter users were quick to check Eichner on some of his previous inflammatory, hateful languages and suggest that maybe the movie just wasn’t as good as he thought it was.
Dunno, sounds like you're pretty good at mass marketing: https://t.co/2FaMv2OhbI
— NeverTweet (@LOLNeverTweet) October 3, 2022
I'm not homophobic at all, but you really should have cast a likable actor as the lead. You began screeching in the opening scene & never stopped. I saw it with gay friends & this shut us down. One friend grew so bored that he started texting. I understood. Write better scripts.
— jeremy kinser (@jeremykinser) October 2, 2022
This you? Maybe don't tell people to stay away. pic.twitter.com/dXqmrDVWlK
— Luke (@KoolBackwards) October 3, 2022
So if straight people don’t see your movie we’re homophobic? Yeah that tweet ought to drive people in to the theaters in masses lol. You made a movie that doesn’t pertain to 90 + percent of people, who would’ve figured it wouldn’t do well at the box office ?.
— Hunter Biden’s burner (@BigCountry2389) October 3, 2022
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