The viral horror character M3GAN is once again making headlines, this time not for her dance moves or murderous programming—but for being dubbed a “gay icon” in a staged feature by Out Magazine. In a promotional campaign timed for the release of the sequel M3GAN 2.0, the publication released a faux interview with M3GAN in which the fictional robot appears on the cover.
“Being a gay icon is my default setting,” the robot said. “To the alphabet mafia, I see you. I slay for you.”
The only issue? M3GAN isn’t real.
leaning into M3GAN being an absolute gay icon in their marketing was the best move they could have made, and it’s working pic.twitter.com/TcMUkduUSU
— Gareth Clarke (@gxrethclarke) June 27, 2025
The character, a childlike android created in the 2022 film M3GAN, does not speak outside of scripted appearances in the movie and marketing materials. Every line attributed to her—including those in the Out cover story is fabricated by publicists, writers, or media teams for promotional purposes.
Despite this, several PRIDE-focused media outlets, including PinkNews, Attitude, and Out, have presented these statements as if they represent authentic advocacy from a real person.
A screenshot from the trailer for M3GAN – YouTube, Universal Pictures
One article featured M3GAN “sending a message” to fans who identify with a gender that differs from their birth.
“Your existence is not a debate,” the fictional robot said.
While the sentiment may be well-intended, there’s no narrative content in either M3GAN or its upcoming sequel, M3GAN 2.0, that explicitly relates to PRIDE issues. There are no openly PRIDE-centric characters, themes, or plotlines in the film. The original movie follows a young girl coping with loss, whose robotic companion becomes increasingly violent in an attempt to protect her.
A screenshot from the trailer for M3GAN – YouTube, Universal Pictures
So where did the icon status come from?
According to the film’s screenwriter Akela Cooper, it was a result of audience response. Cooper told Out in a 2023 interview that M3GAN’s themes of “chosen family” and the campy presentation resonated in certain communities. That connection—combined with her meme-worthy dance sequence and stylized outfits—sparked a wave of viral interest and internet memes that labeled her an icon to certain identity-centric communities.
A screenshot from the trailer for M3GAN – YouTube, Universal Pictures
However, M3GAN’s recent press appearances go beyond organic fan enthusiasm. With pre-scripted quotes and a fabricated media tour presented as if she’s a real celebrity, the current campaign appears to be a deliberate strategy to position the character as a figure of cultural alignment during PRIDE Month.
It’s not unusual for fictional characters to “give interviews” or appear in press campaigns as part of a film’s promotional rollout. Characters like Borat, Kermit the Frog, and even Deadpool have been featured in real-world interviews, talk shows, and staged media events. These appearances are typically played for comedy or used to build buzz in-character.
However, what sets the M3GAN campaign apart is the injection of overt political messaging into these fictional soundbites. While Kermit might promote a new movie or Borat might satirize a celebrity during a press junket, they generally do not deliver scripted endorsements of real-world social movements or issue statements that resemble advocacy slogans. M3GAN, by contrast, has been positioned as a kind of symbolic spokesperson for PRIDE causes—despite having no actual narrative connection to them in the films.
This marks a shift in how character-driven marketing is being used—not just to entertain or promote, but to imply alignment with cultural or political identities, even when those associations aren’t supported by the source material.
There’s no indication that M3GAN’s creators originally intended her to represent or embody any specific messaging. The original film includes no such themes, and the character’s personality is entirely dependent on the writing and visual presentation provided by the production team.
A screenshot from the trailer for M3GAN – YouTube, Universal Pictures
Yet the headlines now frame her as something more. Out Magazine went so far as to call her (a fictional robot killer) “a symbol of empowerment.”
In the end, M3GAN may be many things—an artificial intelligence, a horror icon, a viral sensation—but she is also a fictional construct. The words attributed to her are not her own, and her newfound status is the result of curated marketing rather than story-driven substance.
How do you feel about M3GAN dubbing herself a “gay icon”? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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