Case Study: Killing Eve
Did you know that the ending of Killing Eve in 2022 sparked such outrage that fans launched a crowdfunding campaign, leading to the creation of a protest billboard in London?
Killing Eve fans have banded together to protest the show’s controversial ending. For four seasons Eve (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle (Jodie Comer) chased each other around the world, sharing shepherd’s pie, kisses, and sexual tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Though Sandra Oh downplayed the possibility of her character and Villanelle as a couple, their chemistry built the show a loyal sapphic following.
And Villanelle was shown to be canonically bisexual from very early on in the show. She repeatedly pursued tall, dark-haired women. She went to extraordinary lengths to win Eve’s attention, and sent her a range of intimate gifts. The obsession was mutual. Eve chose her fixation with Villanelle over her friends, her career, and even her marriage.
When it was announced that season four would be the last, fans wished, prayed, and did everything in our power to manifest Eve and Villanelle as a couple. And when it happened, we were ecstatic. But that joy proved short-lived. Just as Villanelle and Eve were preparing to ride off into the sunset together, Villanelle was shot and killed. She died in the River Thames while Eve screamed.
In response to what many perceived as a betrayal of lesbian and bisexual viewers, Killing Eve fans mobilized. They organised a crowdfunder. The GoFundMe campaign – titled ‘Villaneve Deserved Better, #KillTheTrope!’ – has raised over three thousand euros. More than half of its final goal. And the money has already been put to good use. The group behind it released a press statement explaining what they hope to achieve:
“The team decided on billboard, because ‘Bury Your Gays’ trope is bigger than just Killing Eve fandom. It has affected LGBTQ+ people since the Hays code in Hollywood that was introduced in the 1930’s. With billboard there is maximum exposure to the public, not just the fans. We demand better treatment of LGBTQ+ characters on tv and movies, enough is enough!”
The first billboard was in London, near the River Thames, where Villanelle died. It could be found at 53 Aldgate High Street. The billboard read “Let the trope sink to the bottom of the Thames”; a reference to Villanelle’s shocking fate. And that of countless other lesbian, gay, and bisexual fictional characters.
In the days that followed the finale, fans and critics alike expressed their outrage, heartache, and its profound effect on them. Fans were left feeling abandoned and betrayed by the choices the writers made, especially as the original text, penned by Luke Jennings, gave its queer characters a happy ending.”
The show’s ending sparked so much outrage that fans around the world banded together, uniting on the Killing Eve subreddit. Together, they designed the billboards and website with the goal of raising awareness about the harmful Bury Your Gays trope. This campaign and crowdfunder are a group effort, aiming to improve on-screen representation of LGBT characters.