Overview

• In a July 9 podcast episode, Ferguson said some gay viewers felt his portrayal of Mitchell Pritchett didn’t align with their idea of what a gay man or relationship should be.
• He explained he always took those critiques “with a grain of salt” because he was representing a single character, not the full spectrum of gay experiences.
• Ferguson noted that Mitchell was “a shade of who I was,” so any perceived stereotypes essentially reflected his own personality.
• His remarks revisit earlier community challenges, including a 2010 Facebook campaign demanding a Mitchell–Cam on-screen kiss and a 2014 critique by actor Tuc Watkins that the portrayal felt dated.
• Modern Family ran from 2009 to 2020 and won GLAAD Media Awards in 2011 and 2012 for its depiction of a married gay couple on network television.