Queerbaiting in Media: When Representation Turns to Manipulation

In Episode 62 of Creatinuum’s Hot Takes series—"What Is 'Queer Baiting' and How Should We Approach It?"—shares us about queerbaiting and how it shows up in the media, what it signals, and why audiences, especially queer ones, are over it. 

Photo by RDNE Stock project from Pexels.

Understanding Queerbaiting

Queerbaiting isn't just a letdown. It's a tactic. It’s when writers layer in just enough queer-coded tension—lingering looks, unspoken bonds, that one scene you’re sure meant something—then pull the rug out. No confirmation. No follow-through. Just a wink. The difference between this and true representation? Intention. One is teasing. The other is storytelling.

The Harm It Leaves Behind

For queer viewers, this doesn’t feel clever—it feels cruel. Time after time, these breadcrumbs are dropped, only to be swept away once the finale hits. Maybe the character dies. Maybe they marry someone of the opposite sex. Either way, the queer narrative evaporates. The message? Queer love isn’t real, or at least not worth centering. And that messes with people, especially younger viewers looking to see themselves in something.

Shows That Keep Doing It

The podcast lays it bare: this is a pattern. Certain long-running series built entire fandoms around queer-coded dynamics, only to undercut them with last-minute plot twists, mockery, or flat-out erasure. Whether it’s epic declarations immediately followed by death, or years of flirtation ending in a straight marriage, the result is the same: the queer storyline never gets to breathe.

Creators Who Should Know Better

It’s not just the scripts—it’s the intent behind them. Some showrunners know what they’re doing. They add just enough tension to keep queer fans engaged, but never take the leap. Why? Because it’s safer to imply than confirm. Because it’s profitable. Because they can. And when pressed, they blame audiences for reading “too much” into it—as if lighting, music, editing, and years of setup don’t matter.

It Can Be Done Right

Still, not all hope is lost. Some shows have managed to center queer stories without flinching. Ones where the characters are queer from the start, or grow into their identities over time. They are stories that let queer people be messy, kind, whole—human. That kind of storytelling doesn’t just resonate. It lasts.

What Now?

Audiences have choices. They can walk away from shows that bait. They can talk about it. They can uplift the stories that actually see them. And if you’re a writer? Do it right or don’t do it at all. Don’t tease what you won’t tell.

The Future We Deserve

Representation isn’t a side plot. It’s not a tool to boost viewership. It’s the bare minimum. And queer audiences aren’t asking for favors—they’re asking for stories that mean something—and one that doesn’t feel like an owed favor or a token of diversity for showrunners to call it a day. 

Listen in full to "What Is 'Queer Baiting' and How Should We Approach It?" available on Simplecast, Spotify, Apple, and other platforms.