Prison Break actor Wentworth Miller has spoken out on the lack of queer representation on the show and in Hollywood in general after quitting his lead role as Michael Scofield after five seasons.
Miller, who confirmed that he is gay in 2013, had played Michael, a man who deliberately gets sent to prison in order to break his elder brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) out, in every season of the Fox drama since it began in 2005.
But the actor announced in early November that he won't be appearing in any further seasons of Prison Break, explaining: "I just don't want to play straight characters. Their stories have been told (and told)".
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The actor has now written an Instagram post in which he addresses the issue of LGBTQ+ representation on TV and in Hollywood, particularly questioning why some fans suggested that Michael could leave his wife Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies) for Theodore 'T-Bag' Bagwell (Robert Knepper).
"Forgive me – I need to put my finger on something," he wrote. "In and around the 'reveal' I'm gay [in real life], don't wish to play straight parts etc', I saw dozens of comments suggesting Michael leave Sara for T-bag. Or that T-bag will be 'looking' for Michael/me.
"Is it possible, to some folks, T-Bag = 'gay' rep on Prison Break? Maybe the ONLY rep on TV in their part of the world? [...] For the queer kids, the queer adults who will never come out because coming out = death in their part of the world... is T-bag the best they can expect?"
The actor went on to examine the role of Hollywood in general when it comes to diverse representation, saying that "storytelling is sacred" and "balanced, responsible storytelling matters".
"You never know who's watching. Or where," he wrote. "'Dude. Lighten up. It's a show.' I hear you. [But] Hollywood is never not sending messages, in my opinion. Even when we don't think what we're watching has a message, messages are being sent. About gender, sex, race, dating, power, politics...
"A lot of folks in Hollywood don't want to accept this, in my opinion. A lot of folks (yes, I've been one) check out and cash checks, turn blind eyes to messages sent. I see the impact on this page, many experience it in real life."
Miller, who has also starred in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, added that he had once heard a producer tell a co-star on a different TV show that they were making "fast food" and said that this approach to making TV and film is troubling, particularly if it results in a lack of diversity and representation on screen.
Related: Prison Break actor up for Law & Order return
"I don't mind a little fast food in my diet. It's an issue if my diet is exclusively fast food. It's an issue if a large percentage of your audience only consumes fast food shows," he said.
"Are fast food shows Hollywood's best chance to send messages that evolve/expand, add nutrition to less-than-ideal diets? If so, I'd argue those shows become MORE important, not less. Deserve more respect. Nuance. Intention. Better representation. Because their audiences do too."
Prison Break is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, while seasons 1-5 are also out on Blu-ray and DVD.
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Reporter & Sub-Editor, Digital Spy Susannah is a freelance writer and sub-editor, specialising in the entertainment industry. She graduated in 2014, with a BA in English and American Literature and Creative Writing, and an MA in Creative Producing. She’s been writing for Digital Spy ever since, after first getting involved through work experience, and has written hundreds of stories for the site on a range of topics, from The Sims to Doctor Who. Susannah has also written for Reveal Magazine. Her special interests are soaps (her Mastermind subject would be 2000s Coronation Street), Marvel and Star Wars. She can also quote far too many lines from Friends and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
