The trailer for Scary Movie 6 features a joke about non-binary pronouns. Some laugh, others talk about inappropriate humor
The scene that sparked the debate comes right at the beginning of the trailer. A character in a typical horror movie situation confronts the iconic killer Ghostface from the Scream series. When a witness to the attack shouts "He stabbed her!", the injured character corrects him, "Not her. My pronouns are they/her. Stabbed them."
It's a short gag, typical of the style of the Scary Movie franchise, which has been parodying horror clichés and pop culture themes since 2000. But reactions online show that even a few seconds of humor can open up a broader debate about how mainstream entertainment works with queer identities.
There have been both positive and critical reactions on social media. Some commenters called the joke an "awkward punchline" or an example of insensitive humor. Others, on the other hand, argue that this kind of satire may be a sign of normalisation - a moment when non-binary people are part of the mainstream comedy space, rather than a topic that is treated exclusively with caution.
A parody that pokes fun at all
The creators of the series, the Wayans brothers, have long been known for aiming their humour at everyone indiscriminately. Scary Movie has always functioned as an "egalitarian" parody - poking fun at horror stereotypes, Hollywood stars and current social issues.
It is this context that some commentators believe is important. The pronoun joke is presented in the trailer not as a mockery of a particular group, but as part of a broader comedic tradition in which the film pokes fun at everything from movie clichés to social trends.
The personal context of one of the filmmakers also plays an important role in the debate. Comedian Marlon Wayans is known as a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has spoken publicly about his child being transgender. For some commentators, this fact is the reason why they see the gag as playful hyperbole rather than an attack.
"We're part of the joke - and it's also a representation"
Some queer commentators also expressed support for the scene. Trans activist and author Dee Whitnell, for example, said on social media that he was surprised but pleased by the presence of the joke in the trailer.
She said it was important that the Scary Movie series traditionally parodies all social groups. "It's a franchise that makes fun of everything. That's why it makes sense to me that we're a part of it," Whitnell said.
Some cultural commentators share a similar view. For them, the moment when queer identity becomes a regular part of humor - not exclusively a serious drama or educational story - may be the real sign of inclusion.
Queer characters between seriousness and humour
The representation of non-binary and trans people in films has long been a sensitive topic. They often appear in stories that highlight their internal struggle, social acceptance or discrimination. Humour or a lighter tone appears less frequently in these stories.
This is why a short comedy scene can come as a surprise. For it shows a character who is not only defined by his identity, but is simply part of an absurd horror situation - just like the others.
This may be the reason why the trailer elicited such strong reactions. For some it's a pointless or stale joke, for others it's a moment where a non-binary identity is explored in a mainstream comedy without much declaration or explanation.
And it's that kind of presence - sometimes subtle, sometimes a little provocative - that often gets social change into pop culture. Not always through big dramatic stories, but sometimes through a short gag in a trailer that's mainly meant to make the audience laugh.
