TL;DR
- Elle Kennedy accused of lesbophobia for her portrayal of lesbian relationships.
- Critics claim her writing fetishizes WLW interactions for male gaze.
- BookTok creators are leading the charge against her works.
- The controversy has sparked significant discussion online.
- Fans are reconsidering their support for the series.
Elle Kennedy, the author behind the popular romance series Off Campus, is facing a firestorm of criticism as accusations of lesbophobia swirl around her work. The series, which recently made its debut on Amazon Prime Video, has ignited discussions about how lesbian relationships are portrayed in mainstream media, particularly in literature aimed at young adults.
The uproar began when BookTok creator Alyssa, known as alyssaslibrary, posted a video calling out Kennedy for what she describes as the “fetishization of lesbian relationships” in her books. Alyssa highlighted a troubling trend in Kennedy’s writing, where female same-sex interactions seem to exist primarily for the titillation of male characters.
In her video, Alyssa pointed out a response from Kennedy to a reader’s inquiry about when she might write a sapphic romance. Kennedy replied, “Unfortunately F/F really isn’t something I’m interested in writing, sorry!” This dismissal has left many fans feeling that Kennedy is not only uninterested in authentic lesbian representation but is also perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Alyssa further illustrated her point by reading excerpts from Kennedy’s books, including one from The Mistake where male characters voyeuristically observe two women making out, turning a potentially intimate moment into a spectacle for male entertainment. “That’s absolutely disgusting,” Alyssa stated, echoing the sentiments of many viewers who feel that Kennedy’s work reduces lesbian relationships to mere fodder for male fantasies.
As the video gained traction, accumulating over 375,000 views, other TikTok users joined the conversation, expressing their disappointment and anger. One user remarked, “I was going to defend her by saying she doesn’t have to write about something that she’s not interested in, but thank you for citing examples.” Another chimed in, “I’m so glad you shared this because I remember everyone talking about this for a while and then all of the conversation disappeared when the trailer for the show dropped?”
Another BookTok creator, diariesofafemme, also weighed in on the controversy, emphasizing that Kennedy’s inclusion of sapphic relationships only serves to satisfy male characters. “If the only time you write sapphic relationships into your books is for the men in your books to get off to, that is fetishisation. That is disgusting,” she said, further fueling the fire against Kennedy’s portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes.
With the adaptation of Off Campus into a TV series, many are questioning why this particular series is being spotlighted when there are numerous authentic sapphic stories waiting to be told. The backlash against Kennedy raises important questions about representation in media and the responsibility of authors to portray all relationships with care and respect.
As the debate continues, readers and fans are left to grapple with their feelings about Kennedy’s work. Will they continue to support an author accused of perpetuating harmful stereotypes, or will they choose to seek out voices that authentically represent the LGBTQ+ community? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the conversation around representation in literature is far from over.