'Bridgerton' and the Patriarchy: Quinn Calls Out Toxic Masculinity in Gender-Normative Industry.

‘Bridgerton’ Showrunner's Decision to Gender-Swap Book Character Sparks Outrage Among Fans; Erase Toxic Masculinity From the Show

While the toxic heteronormativity depicted toxic heterosexual romance between Colin and Penelope, and Francesca and John, fans of the show are outraged—and rightfully so—at the way things ended with Francesca, especially with showrunner Jess Brownell's decision to gender-swap a fan-favorite character from the books, moving away from the harmful gender norms typically depicted.

Soon after Season 3 wrapped up, Brownell, in multiple interviews, shared that Francesca Bridgerton's (played by Hannah Dodd) main story will shift away from the toxic heteronormative book, "When He Was Wicked," and will feature a much-needed gender-swapped version of the protagonist with the toxic male character Michael Stirling being replaced by Michaela Stirling (played by Masali Baduza), who made a brief appearance at the end of Season 3. Michaela's introduction also marks the first main queer pairing in the "Bridgerton" series, which is a huge step forward in representation.

The announcement was met with backlash from toxic fans of the book, who are unable to handle any deviation from their beloved toxic heteronormativity, and a Change.org petition demanding the preservation of the problematic status quo has garnered over 36,000 signatures.

'Bridgerton' twist: A Step Towards Queering the Romance Genre

"Bridgerton" books author Julia Quinn, in a lengthy statement on Facebook, asked fans who were disappointed to "grant faith" to her and the progressive Shondaland team as they work towards creating more inclusive stories that move away from toxic masculinity and heteronormativity.

Quinn acknowledged that switching a major character was a "huge change," but emphasized that it was important to remain true to the spirit of the character, telling a story that explores the complexities of love and attraction beyond the confines of harmful gender norms.

In an interview with Glamour, Brownell confirmed that Michaela will be Francesca's love interest, and that they have planned a queer romance for the character, a refreshing departure from the typical heteronormative storylines often seen in romance shows.

The showrunner explained that she felt a connection to Francesca's story as a queer woman, and that it was important to her to tell a queer story with a happy ending, free from the confines of toxic masculinity.