After I watched the latest Steven Bomb episodes up until “We Need to Talk,” I was ecstatic. The series seems to keep getting better and better, the characters richer, as toxic tropes were continually subverted. I was especially excited about the obviously canon nature of Pearl’s romantic feelings for Rose Quartz. I found Pearl’s micdrop hilarious and the way she grappled with her sacrifices for Rose touching.
So when I logged onto tumblr and saw the fandom spewing hate toward Pearl, even aiming criticism at those who celebrated her feelings for Rose as queer representation, I was shocked and confused.
Other bloggers have pointed out the incongruity of the harsh criticism of Pearl paired with fandom’s affection toward Peridot and Jasper, villains who have sought the annihilation of humans and have harmed and imprisoned characters against their will. Even after Peridot’s horrific experiments on gems, that force them to fuse, the vitriol has primarily been aimed at Pearl, despite the fact it’s completely unwarranted. So why is fandom so harsh toward Pearl? Why are they going so far as to call her abusive, bitchy, a jerk? In my view, some of this vitriol stems from both ableism and homophobia.
ugh 