MTV's 'Faking It' Is Absurdly Offensive

Oh good, it looks like there may be something more offensive than Dads or Mixology burning through our television waves. And by “oh good,” I mean “save me, Jeebus!” Coming from the network that brought us once-important high school-based series like Awkward and Daria, comes MTV’s most-heinous new show called Faking it. The “comedy” is about two high school “losers” who pretend to be lesbians in order to gain popularity. I’m going to say that again just so it really sinks in. There is an entire television series that has been signed off on, written, and filmed to completion that is about two young women who pretend to be lesbians so they can be more popular. In high school. And all of your frat party nightmares/flashbacks are coming back in a barrage of keg beer and eye-rolls.

Based on the premise alone there is already plenty to gawk and/or be left uttery gobsmacked by. However, according to the show’s showrunner Carter Covington, "I feel like for teenagers these days and for the MTV audience, the show is not going to be controversial. It's going to be an exaggerated version but very much based on the world they live in now." Because sure, you can just reduce the entire young gay community’s feelings on a subject like identity and coming out into your own convenient pitch. The show's creators and cast have gone on about the show's positive and progressive message, but right now, we're not really buying it.

For starters, exploiting a lesbian identity in order for some sort of social bragging rights is its own complex issue. Unfortunately, things get much much worse based on the trailer alone. Here are the absolute worst moments from said trailer. (Spoiler: it’s basically all of them).

The only representation of an African American woman in the trailer is one of the pregnant "Teen Moms."

Also, after MTV used teen moms as fodder for reality TV, they have also now reduced them to punchlines.

“I don’t even like looking at my own vagina”

Huzzah! Let's teach young women to be ashamed of their bodies. Vaginas are ick, right!? All of those folds and smells and moisture. Let's just keep our legs, mouths, and minds closed on the subject of women understanding their own biology.

The gay male stereotypes are no better

Let's hope there's an actual spectrum of gay people in this show so these representations aren't meant to be both singular and all-encompassing.

“Anyone else think the lipstick one is kinda sexy?”

Oh good, now we have a romantic straight male love interest for one of the faux-bians. Jincey Lumpkin at the Huffington Post wrote of her issue with the term "lipstick lesbian," as well as the advances of heterosexual men on lesbian women. "In my experience, revealing that I am a lesbian often causes even more trouble, because straight people (men in particular) can't seem to grasp the concept that a lesbian can be girlie-looking... being called a 'lipstick lesbian' makes it appear as though my sexuality is frivolous, and that I'm merely being provocative with my 'lifestyle choice.'

“Straight guys love lesbians, just watch any porno”

This joke isn't funny in dick joke bro humor and it's not funny here. I don't even think it was funny when Varsity Blues was a thing. Also, considering there is a lot of porn out there that is really dangerous and scary for women, living up to men's porn fantasies isn't something we should be aiming for here.

“Being gay is the best thing that ever happened to us”

Well, the use of the word “being” is wholly problematic since you know they are “acting” or “pretending” to be, but they are not “being.” Queer theorists and gender studies professors of the world, I feel your collective sigh.

The applause and confetti cannon that erupts after the girls kiss in front of their entire student body.

I suppose you could take this as a "step in the right direction." You know, gay students being celebrated rather than abused. However, again, this grossly misrepresents the experience of an entire generation of gay teens. And are the girls really being celebrated or is their "hot lesbian kissing" being celebrated here?

And then the look of “lust” that happens between Karma and Amy afterwards.

Yes, sexuality can indeed be fluid. However, it seems like this show is creating an "enforced" sexuality on these two girls. Gay or straight, that's not cool.

The show has yet to air, so there is still room for it to not be, you know, total offensive garbage. Our expectations are low, but hey, you never know.

Watch the trailer for Faking It here:

Images: Faking It/MTV