Actor Oliver Stark of 9-1-1 fame addressed the feedback from a same-sex kiss his character engaged in on a recent broadcast of the ABC procedural drama.
On Thursday’s broadcast of the series – the 100th in the show’s history – Stark’s character Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley had a romantic exchange with Tommy Kinard (played Lou Ferrigno Jr.), which Stark said prompted considerable feedback from fans.
The London-born actor, 32, took to Instagram Stories on Saturday, saying he was ‘humbled and overwhelmed by the positive reaction to Buck’s storyline.’
The Into the Badlands actor added, ‘I’ve read so many of your messages and I couldn’t be prouder.’
Stark also addressed the less than kind responses he received over the post, saying the people who sent them don’t understand the message of ‘love and inclusion’ underpinning the program.
Oliver Stark, 32, of 9-1-1 fame addressed the feedback from a same sex kiss his character engaged in on a recent broadcast of the procedural drama. Pictured last month in LA
On Thursday’s broadcast of the series – the 100th in the show’s history – Stark’s character Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley had a romantic exchange with Tommy Kinard (played Lou Ferrigno Jr.)
‘If you are one of the smaller group of people commenting on my posts about how this has ruined the show,’ Stark said. ‘I would like you to know that I truly don’t care.’
Stark cited the romantic relationship that played out on the show between the characters Henrietta ‘Hen’ Wilson and Karen Wilson, played by Aisha Hinds and Tracie Thoms, respectively.
‘It’s featured queer relationships from the very beginning including a beautiful Black lesbian marriage played out by two of the best actresses I’ve ever watched,’ Stark said.
He wrapped up in saying, ‘If one other character finding a new facet to his sexuality and realizing his bisexuality is your deal breaker – I fear you’ve missed the entire point of the show.’
Stark added that people put off by the storyline developments ‘are not required to announce your departure.’
The series, which initially debuted on Fox in 2018 before ABC acquired it last year, is centered around a group of first responders based in Los Angeles.
The show, which was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, also stars Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Kenneth Choi, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ryan Guzman and Corinne Massiah.
Stark spoke with Variety on Thursday about his character’s storyline arc, saying Minear spoke with him previously about making the Buckley character bisexual.
The London-born actor took to Instagram Stories on Saturday, saying he was ‘humbled and overwhelmed by the positive reaction to Buck’s storyline’
Ryan Guzman, Aisha Hinds, Stark, Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Kenneth Choi and Jennifer Love Hewitt were pictured last month at the show’s premiere held at Spring Place in Beverly Hills, California
‘He had already been in contact with Lou, who plays Tommy – he wanted to know that he was on board before bringing it to me,’ Stark said. ‘So not with too much notice he said, “I think this is the most truthful way to continue Buck’s storyline.”
‘And I said, “I 100 percent agree.” I think it’s deserved and I think it’s earned – and I am excited to to get the chance to tell it.’
Bassett told the outlet that she was caught off-guard by the shift in story in regards to the Buckley character.
‘He was quite the ladies’ man from the beginning – the wild card – so this is something new and surprising for him as well,’ she said.
