Billy Eichner 2022 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals at the Prudential Center - Newark, NJ

Billy Eichner Under Fire For Blaming Homophobia Over 'Bros' Poor Performance

Home / Entertainment / Billy Eichner Under Fire For Blaming Homophobia Over 'Bros' Poor Performance

By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on October 4, 2022 at 6:00 AM PDT

Billy Eichner's new film, "Bros," hit theaters last weekend, but the box office numbers were extremely disappointing.

Despite receiving excellent Rotten Tomatoes scores, an A CinemaScore, and rave critic reviews, the first gay rom-com to be given a wide theatrical release came up short in the box office -- and Billy Eichner is blaming "homophobic weirdos."

“That’s just the world we live in, unfortunately,” Eichner wrote on Twitter. “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.”

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The "Lion King" actor continued in a different Tweet, "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!!!"

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Fans Attack Billy Eichner For Homophobic Comment

Billy Eichner 2022 MTV Video Music Awards - Arrivals at the Prudential Center - Newark, NJ
MEGA

After Eichner Tweeted his thoughts, blaming homophobia for why the movie flopped, fans were quick to respond. One Twitter user replied to Eichner, writing, "You straight up told us conservative LGB not to go see it. Do you really think straight people in general that aren't virtue signaling SJWs were going to be interested either way? C'mon."

https://twitter.com/JenMart62117214/status/1576841802723692544

And another user Tweeted at Eichner, "I just don't feel represented in a movie about gay men. And representation is the only important thing about a story, right?"

https://twitter.com/abbythelibb_/status/1576905127856082944

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One Twitter user, who is part of the Gay community, was offended by Eichner's Tweet. "As a Gay I can say with 100% certainty that I would rather slam my head in a sliding glass door than watch this movie," the user wrote. "Don’t blame the straights and “homophobia”. It’s tiresome. Your movie just sucks. ??‍♂️"

https://twitter.com/big_nate2000/status/1576763963412340736

And one Twitter user wrote, "No offense, but don't tell me what to do...that is my wife's job. I don't need to see a particular movie to let people know I'm not homophobic. My friends and family know me, and I don't really care what strangers think. I'm not into virtue signaling."

https://twitter.com/MattyHorn1967/status/1576711465473490944

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There are thousands of Tweets replying to Eichner after he blamed homophobia for "Bros" poor box office performance.

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Billy Eichner's "Bros"

Billy Eichner 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards - Arrivals
MEGA

"Bros" hit theaters this weekend, but came up with disappointing box office numbers, as it opened in fourth place with a slim $4.8 million gross from 3,350 locations. Prior to its opening weekend, the film received incredible reviews from critics, great Rotten Tomatoes scores, and an A CinemaScore.

The movie is the first gay rom-com to be given a wide theatrical release and stars Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Ts Madison, Monica Raymund, and others. The official synopsis is as follows:

"This fall, Universal Pictures proudly presents the first romantic comedy from a major studio about two gay men maybe, possibly, probably stumbling towards love. Maybe. They're both very busy. From the ferocious comic mind of Billy Eichner (Billy on the Street, 2019's The Lion King) and the hitmaking brilliance of filmmakers Nicholas Stoller (the Neighbors films, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island, Trainwreck), comes Bros, a smart, swoony and heartfelt comedy about how hard it is to find another tolerable human being to go through life with."

"Bros" is currently playing in select U.S. theaters.

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