They were always intended to be gay, and were based off a real life gay couple. “Really gay” was always a nudge nudge deal rather than openly admitted fact.
Frank Oz, who previously performed as Bert, stated Bert and Ernie were not gay, saying,
"They're not, of course, a gay couple. But why that question? Does it really matter? Why the need to define people as only gay? There's much more to a human being than just straightness or gayness."[17][18]
Sesame Street went on to clarify further, stating:
"No, Bert and Ernie aren't gay - they're 'best friends'".[19]
The Gaystar News reported that fans reacted negatively to this assertion. Frank Oz later tweeted in September 2018
A last thought: If Jim and I had created Bert and Ernie as gay characters they would be inauthentic, coming from two straight men. However, I have now learned that many view them as representative of a loving gay relationship. And that's pretty wonderful. Thanks for helping me understand.[20][21]
So, I would say they weren’t intended that way from the start but only because the writers didn’t think to do so. Frank Oz is a great reference for these things, and if he says “I love how you see them as representation” then that’s good enough for me.
And it’s okay for them to be hetro life-mates, or bffs, or whatever. It’s okay for people to head cannon them as gay if they like, but all they were ever intended to represent was a kind and loving friendship between two dudes who were fundamentally different. By the same token, love, kindness, and actually being friends with your partner is important even in a romantic relationship. Bert and Ernie are good role models for any relationship really, as they were meant to be.
They were always intended to be gay, and were based off a real life gay couple. “Really gay” was always a nudge nudge deal rather than openly admitted fact.
From Wikipedia:
So, I would say they weren’t intended that way from the start but only because the writers didn’t think to do so. Frank Oz is a great reference for these things, and if he says “I love how you see them as representation” then that’s good enough for me.
Aw that’s sweet. 🥰
I know! How enlightened and humble that answer was!
Agreed, thanks for sharing it.
No they weren’t.
They were created in the 60’s, the writer who head-cannoned they were gay wrote for them in the 80s.
Officially and historically they are not gay.
And it’s okay for them to be hetro life-mates, or bffs, or whatever. It’s okay for people to head cannon them as gay if they like, but all they were ever intended to represent was a kind and loving friendship between two dudes who were fundamentally different. By the same token, love, kindness, and actually being friends with your partner is important even in a romantic relationship. Bert and Ernie are good role models for any relationship really, as they were meant to be.