Netflix defended its LGBTQ inclusion on social media in response to a controversial meme posted about “unnecessary gay characters.”

One Twitter user posted a meme showing Netflix shoving “an unnecessary gay character” into “any new series” with the caption, “Every damn new series.”

Needless to say, Netflix was not a fan, and their Twitter account sassily replied to the meme with the caption: “[S]orry you have yet to realize that every gay person is very necessary.”

https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1258156383792279552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1258156383792279552&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Flifestyle%2F2020-05-08-controversial-meme-sparks-conversation-about-lgbtq-representation-every-gay-person-is-very-necessary-24242117.html

Ben Platt, who plays one of Netflix’s gay characters Payton in The Politician, had three things to say about the meme.

“i. hope the peeps who [retweeted] and liked this are enjoying the 99 percent of content that remains sinfully boring and straight—it’s for [you]!” he said. “ii. Love [you, Netflix] keep the queer content coming. iii. Moving forward, I’d like everyone to [please] refer to me exclusively as ‘unnecessary gay character.’”

https://twitter.com/BenSPLATT/status/1258163429862342656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1258163429862342656&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Flifestyle%2F2020-05-08-controversial-meme-sparks-conversation-about-lgbtq-representation-every-gay-person-is-very-necessary-24242117.html

Other users also reacted to the problematic meme in support of Netflix’s representation.

https://twitter.com/bitch_niggur/status/1257749511872696324

https://twitter.com/sagesturtle/status/1257721762848149504

https://twitter.com/FreeformTV/status/1258193228370554881

Some users defended the original post, claiming Netflix forced gay characters into shows only to appear more diverse and inclusive.

https://twitter.com/1Thezucc/status/1258546022906605570

https://twitter.com/PrCat88/status/1258157083599319041

https://twitter.com/ChiccoDiMaria/status/1258158326837370880

However, despite the criticism, Netflix’s LGBTQ inclusion has remained unmatched; in 2019, GLAAD reported that Netflix had the highest number of LGBTQ regular and recurring characters in their scripted original series than all other streaming services.