Heath Ledger had the perfect response to people calling 'Brokeback Mountain''s gay love story 'disgusting'

It is truly upsetting to see how people meddle in the lives of others and complain about unnecessary things. Some choose to criticize others’ sexuality, personality and other opinions instead of focusing on issues that actually require attention and remediation. Late actor Heath Ledger found himself surrounded by similar controversies when he filmed “Brokeback Mountain” in 2005, per OUT. The plot follows a beautiful but heartbreaking love story of two men who developed feelings for each other while working together and fought a battle against societal norms to acknowledge it. The movie received significant backlash for its concept of homosexuality, which was still frowned upon at the time. However, when the actor was told about some people calling the storyline “disgusting,” he had a fitting response. 

Ledger co-starred with Jake Gyllenhaal in the Oscar-winning romantic drama, where two men hired as sheep herders fall in love despite having families of their own, according to IMDb. From the time it was announced till it was released and afterward, a section of the society criticized the gay love story, describing it as “disgusting." When the actor was asked about the hate towards his film, he gave an appropriate response. In a video shared by @Izzie177 on X, footage of Ledger’s response at a press conference reveals an eye-opening perspective. A reporter asked him, “How do you respond to people who suggest that this (the gay love story) is disgusting?" 

Without a doubt, the actor confidently said, “I think it's an incredible shame that people go out of their way to voice their disgust or negative opinions against the ways in which two people choose to love each other.” He added that this voicing of opinions needed to be done so determinantly for issues that were an impending threat. “At least voice your opinions about how two people show hate and violence and anger towards each other. Isn't that more important?” he remarked. He described the idea of thinking about and being bothered by someone else’s sexual preferences over the countless serious problems as “immature."

"It's obviously about two men in love and it's obviously gay-themed and it's very easily labeled but unfortunately, people are quick in life to label something that they're uncomfortable with. The pure fact of it is that it transcends a label. It's human,” Ledger said. The actor further mentioned that the movie exhibited love above everything else. “It's a story of two human beings, two souls who are in love. Get over the fact that it's two men. That's the point,” he shared in his powerful response.

Discussing another important perspective about homosexuality, Ledger pointed out, “The movie is not the story of an epidemic or a virus or something that can be cured in a hospital. We're showing that love between two men is just as infectious and emotional and strong and pure as it is with heterosexual love.” Concluding confidently, Ledger said, “If you can't understand that, just don't see the movie.” The actor passed away in 2008 after filming fantasy-adventure “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." His death was due to an accidental overdose of a mixture of prescription drugs, per CNN. However, even after his death, his response serves as a powerful reminder to homophobes that love comes in all forms and is not theirs to judge.