Former Superman Actor Dean Cain Criticizes Jon Kent's Coming Out As Bi

Looks like not everyone was a fan of Superman's coming out...

Earlier this week, it was announced that Jon Kent, the son of legendary DC Comics characters Clark Kent and Lois Lane, and the next superpowered hero to be taking on the Superman mantle, would be coming out as bisexual in the latest, upcoming issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El #5. In addition to coming out, he would also be getting a boyfriend via reporter Jay Nakamura, and would be joining the likes of Robin and the Green Lantern as beloved DC characters who made their sexualities known recently. But that's not enough for some people close to the longrunning Superman media franchise, apparently.

During a Tuesday appearance on the Fox News' morning talk program Fox & Friends, Dean Cain, the actor and conservative pundit who is probably best know for his role as the Man of Steel in ABC's early '90s TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, gave his opinion on the new Superman being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and he didn't have nice things to say, calling Jon Kent's coming out "bandwagoning," amongst other things.

"They said it's a bold new direction, I say they're bandwagoning," the 55-year-old said. "Robin just came out as bi -- who's really shocked about that one? The new Captain America is gay. My daughter in [The CW series] Supergirl, where I played the father, was gay. So I don't think it's bold or brave or some crazy new direction. If they had done this 20 years ago, perhaps that would be bold or brave."

He continued:

"Brave would be having him fighting for the rights of gay people in Iran where they'll throw you off a building for the offense of being gay. They're talking about having him fight climate change and the deportation of refugees and he's dating a hacktivist -- whatever a hactivist is. Why don't they have him fight the injustices that created the refugees whose deportation he's protesting? That would be brave, I'd read that. Or fighting for the rights of women to attend school and have the ability to work and live and boys not to be raped by men under the new warm and fuzzy Taliban -- that would be brave. There's real evil in this world today, real corruption and government overreach, plenty of things to fight against. Human trafficking -- real and actual slavery going on... It'd be great to tackle those issues."

Despite Cain's objections, the news of Jon Kent's coming out was hailed as a triumph by many, especially for comic books fans who have been waiting patiently for mainstream LGBTQ+ representation for decades now. And that impact wasn't lost on writer Tom Taylor, who crafted the newest issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El alongside artist John Timms.

"I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I'm very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea," Taylor said in a statement. "Superman's symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice. Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics."

"Over the years in this industry, it probably won't surprise you to hear I've had queer characters and storylines rejected. I felt like I was letting down people I loved every time this happened," Taylor told IGN. "But we are in a very different and much more welcome place today than we were ten, or even five years ago. When I was asked if I wanted to write a new Superman with a new #1 for the DC Universe, I knew replacing Clark with another straight white savior could be a real opportunity missed. I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes. Today, Superman, the strongest superhero on the planet, is coming out."

Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 will be available on comic book stands on November 9.

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