Velma Dinkley Finally Comes Out Of The Closet In ‘Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!’ Even Google Is Celebrating This Iconic Moment!
Google is celebrating the fact that the Scooby-Doo character Velma Dinkley has officially stepped out of the closet, by adding a joyful animation to search queries that meet specific criteria. Fans who enter Velma’s name into Google’s search engine are being treated to an animated overlay of confetti and LGBTQ+ Pride Flags with their search results. The animation is also triggered when Velma’s full name is searched along with other search terms related to the Scooby-Doo franchise. This is an iconic moment because all the hints and speculations have finally cleared up as Velma has finally stepped out of the closet! Jinkies, you guys!
Velma’s appearance in Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!, which was released this Tuesday as a Halloween special, was the first time the long-running franchise has openly acknowledged anything in terms of her sexuality. This news was super thrilling to all our fans but, we were of course, also disappointed about the fact that it took the franchise so long to let such an iconic character step out of the closet and come out as a lesbian.
Also Read: Jinkies, Velma From Scooby-Doo Is A Lesbian! Series Producer Says The Obvious Hints Were Always There
So, Why Did This Iconic Representation Take So Long?
Thankfully, the previous writers and producers of Scooby-Doo have cleared the air in terms of this delay, by stating the fact that Velma has always been a lesbian. But, there was pushback from the studios which would not allow them to depict her sexuality openly, on screen. Thankfully, the new movie which was directed by Audie Harrison goes above and beyond to make sure that there’s no doubt left, as to her sexuality.
Responding to a fan on Twitter, Guardians of the Galaxy and Peacemaker director James Gunn, who wrote the screenplay for Scooby-Doo, a 2002 live-action film stated, “Velma was explicitly gay in my initial script. But the studio just kept watering it down & watering it down, becoming ambiguous (the version shot), then nothing (the released version) & finally having a boyfriend (the sequel)” This tweet was reported widely at the time and has since been deleted.
Across the Scoobyverse, Velma Dinkley was also made to date two boys i.e. Patrick Wisely and Shaggy Rogers. But, Shaggy clearly stated that something felt clearly ‘wrong’ and ‘off’ between them. So, the official declaration of her sexuality is a brilliant step in the right direction.
This Iconic Moment Is Also Incredibly Validating
Honestly to me, this news also feels pretty validating because I had literally spent years catching hints and speculating about Velma’s sexuality. I know that I am for sure, not the only one who’s been through this and is now, beyond excited that the validating moment is finally here. Plus, the fact that Velma Dinkley, the cerebral mystery solver with the ever-present orange turtleneck, has canonically, been declared as a lesbian, is also a very bold and iconic move because it broadens the scope of representation for the LGBTQIA+ community. It makes people feel appreciated, adored, loved and of course, represented.
You see, the sudden rise of LGBTQIA+ characters on television has always been a slow process. Alas, it has also been marked off, very often, by gimmicks and useless plays for views and ratings. This has also shown up in the form of lesbian kiss episodes and scenes which have literally just been added to shows to titillate and attract people to the main characters on the show instead of exploring and diving deep into genuine LGBTQIA+ relationships. Thankfully, this is slowly subsiding giving room to more complex and deep stories and much more affection and representation. We can only hope this keeps coming in, can’t we?
Also Read: Disney+ ’Loki’ Finally Confirms He’s Gender Fluid. Here Are 10 Other LGBTQ+ Superheroes You Need To Know About!
Another change to Velma’s character is coming soon. In 2021, HBO Max ordered a spinoff adult animation series called Velma. Mindy Kaling will voice the character because she will be South Asian in the show. The iconic character is just getting more and more relatable day by day. I genuinely cannot wait to see this awesome series. Can you?
First Published: October 07, 2022 3:57 PM
