Jesse Tyler Ferguson says he faced criticism from gay viewers over his “Modern Family” role, but stands by portraying a version of himself on the hit sitcom.
Modern Family’s Mitchell Pritchett may have been a groundbreaking character on network television, but actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson says he often fielded criticism from within the gay community for being “stereotypical.”
Ferguson, who portrayed Mitch for 11 seasons, acknowledged on the Dinner’s On Me podcast that playing a gay character on such a high-profile show brought a unique set of expectations and, inevitably, some pushback.
“After being on a show like Modern Family, where I’m portraying a gay man on a television show that’s as popular as it is, you receive criticism,” Ferguson explained.
“The loudest critique I heard was always from the gay community—feeling as if maybe I didn’t represent their idea of what a gay relationship was, or what a gay man was.”
One early flashpoint came in 2010 when fans noticed that Mitchell and his husband Cam (played by Eric Stonestreet) hugged rather than kissed on screen—especially conspicuous after another couple on the show shared a smooch.
A Facebook campaign soon sprang up demanding that the network show Mitchell and Cam locking lips.
Modern Family addressed the controversy head-on in a later episode aptly titled “The Kiss,” which used Mitchell’s emotionally distant upbringing to explain why he found public displays of affection challenging.
Criticism continued when actor Tuc Watkins compared Ferguson and Stonestreet’s portrayal to a “gay equivalent of ‘blackface,’” saying it didn’t feel “modern” at all.
Ferguson responded that he could only play the character he knew—“a version of me”—so accusations of stereotyping felt like an indictment of himself.
“If it’s stereotypical, I’m basically playing myself, so I guess, guilty as charged,” he quipped.
Despite these debates, Modern Family was widely celebrated for its queer representation.
The show was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the GLAAD Media Awards every year it aired, winning twice, and both Ferguson and Stonestreet earned multiple Emmy nods (with Stonestreet winning two).
Ferguson himself received five Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Beyond awards, the show made a lasting impact on viewers.
In June, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons—who played Mitchell and Cam’s adopted daughter Lily—publicly came out as bisexual, quoting one of Lily’s most memorable lines from the show.
It’s a testament to how Mitchell and his family helped normalize diverse family dynamics for audiences everywhere.
