Actor Kevin Bacon received backlash after posting a viral video protesting a law that bans drag queens from performing in front of children.
On Sunday, Bacon, 64, posted a video on Twitter of Bacon and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, dancing to singer Taylor Swift’s song “Karma” while donning T-shirts with the slogan “Drag is an art and drag is a right” on the front, per the Daily Wire.
In the caption of the video, which now has over 13 million views, the “Footloose” star wrote, “Drag bans are bad karma.”
“Right now, drag performers and the LGBTQIA+ community need our help. Tap the link in my bio to shop the [Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon] campaign supporting the [ACLU] Drag Defense Fund in the nationwide effort to protect creative expression or make a gift,” he added.
However, users on Twitter were not entertained by Bacon’s video.
#DragBans are bad karma. Right now, drag performers and the LGBTQIA+ community need our help. Shop the @SixDegreesofKB campaign supporting the @ACLU Drag Defense Fund or make a gift https://t.co/Ef2Eiz8Mzg #DragIsARight pic.twitter.com/BUyfecVFA4
— Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) April 23, 2023
“No one has an issue with drag queens; we have an issue with drag shows being used to make children the target of sexualized entertainment. Stop conflating the two,” one user wrote.
Another user wrote, “This is such an awkward video to begin with and a bizarre case for Kevin Bacon to co-sign. And you’re correct. Nobody has an issue with drag.”
The user continued, “There’s an issue when the audience is a 4th grade (sic) class.”
One user accused Bacon of “trying to sexualize children.”
Another user called him out for being a “virtue signaling (sic) celebrity who doesn’t really understand the issue.”
“We’re not protesting drag queens or the freedom for them to perform. We’re just asking for kids not to be exposed to implicitly sexual performances, let alone giving them,” the user added.
This came after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a bill into law on March 2. The bill bans an “adult cabaret performance” in public or in a location where minors are present. Violation of this law could lead to criminal charges. It takes effect on July 1.