Alexis Kestler
As a long-time fan and avid streamer of the popular web series RWBY, I was shocked by accusations that the main heroine, Ruby Rose, is homophobic. This controversy emerged from an angry rant scene in Volume 9, Chapter 7. Out of context, a sarcastic remark Ruby makes toward her teammates Blake and Yang seems prejudiced. However, looking closely at Ruby‘s characterization and the full circumstances of this scene dispels any notion she harbors bigoted views.
I want to provide an extensive examination from the perspective of a dedicated RWBY streamer and gaming geek. My goal is to give Ruby a fair analysis based on all available context and evidence from the series. There‘s been intense debate among fans, so I hope looking at this issue holistically can bring more understanding.
Diving Into Ruby‘s Backstory and Personality
As the leader of Team RWBY, Ruby Rose displays courage, morality and skill well beyond her years. She designed her own fierce weapon at just 15 – the Crescent Rose, a high impact sniper scythe. Ruby gained early admission to the elite Huntsman Academy because Headmaster Ozpin recognized her determination and purity of spirit.
What truly defines Ruby is her idealism, optimism and devotion to helping others. She became a Huntress to follow in her late mother‘s footsteps and protect the world. Ruby serves as a beacon of hope and light, encouraging teammates through difficult battles and personal struggles.
For example, when teammate Weiss Schnee expressed insecurity about leaving behind her family‘s stifling legacy, Ruby reassured her she could forge her own path. Ruby‘s kind words gave Weiss the confidence to embrace her individuality.
Ruby also demonstrates open-mindedness about differences. Her transgender friend May Marigold faces frequent discrimination, which Ruby rails against. When May was assaulted for her gender identity, Ruby fought fiercely by her side against the transphobic attackers.
Overall, Ruby values and supports people from all walks of life. She sees the best in everyone and builds them up.
The Context Around Ruby‘s Angry Rant
Keeping Ruby‘s personality in mind, the rant scene was extremely uncharacteristic of her. Prior to the outburst, Ruby endured intense trauma seeing her illusions shattered by villain Neo. Ruby blames herself for falling for Neo‘s tricks and endangering her friends.
She spirals mentally following this failure, feeling overwhelmed by the constant pressure to protect the team physically and emotionally. When Blake and Yang approach Ruby for romantic advice, preoccupied with their new relationship, she finally snaps.
Ruby vents angrily about always having to uplift everyone, make impossible choices, and ignore her own pain. She asks why she‘s forced to be the leader. This breakdown reflects Ruby buckling under the weight of responsibility, not simmering prejudice.
Let‘s examine the full outburst:
"Why are you asking me? Just because I‘m a leader? Because I‘m just supposed to have something to say? Because I don‘t. I mean, why do I have to be the leader anyway? Why do I always have to be the one to pick people up? What about me? No time, right? Gotta get home. Gotta help Sean. Gotta find someone who isn‘t gonna just screw everything up. Gotta stay positive, right? Smiles all around. Maybe even finally get our feelings sorted out. Good for you, by the way. We‘re all so happy for you."
Ruby emphasizes how alone she feels, unsupported while endlessly supporting others. Her sarcasm toward Blake and Yang stems from bitterness at having to put their romance above her own pain. She immediately expresses regret after her rant, saying she didn‘t mean it.
Looking at the full context makes clear Ruby harbors no ill will toward the relationship. She is lashing out due to complex pressures no 15 year-old should endure alone.
Ruby‘s Warm Reactions to Blake and Yang‘s Romance
If Ruby held prejudiced views, she would not happily accept Blake and Yang‘s romance when they officially reveal it to the team. But in fact, she expresses joy for their happiness.
When Blake nervously tells the crew she and Yang are dating, Ruby rushes to hug them both, exclaiming "This is amazing!" At the celebratory party afterwards, Ruby dances with the new couple, telling them "I‘m so happy for you two."
These heartfelt reactions contradict any claims that Ruby opposes her teammates‘ same-sex relationship. She behaves with complete support and warmth.
RWBY Writers Confirm Ruby is Not Homophobic
The writers and creators of RWBY have directly clarified that Ruby fully accepts Blake and Yang‘s relationship. They explain her outburst arose from situational stress, not homophobia.
Series writer Kiersi Burkhart addressed the controversy on Twitter, tweeting "Ruby is 100% supportive of Bumbleby. Her snapping under pressure is not meant to reflect any latent or overt homophobia/biphobia."
Fellow writer Eddy Rivas also tweeted "Ruby is absolutely NOT homophobic nor does she have any ill will toward Blake and Yang’s relationship."
Rooster Teeth fully backs Ruby as an LGBTQ+ ally. The accusations of homophobia contradict her core characterization.
Fan Response and Healthy Discourse
When out of context clips of Ruby‘s rant first circulated online, many fans understandably felt hurt. They accused the show of promoting harmful tropes by making the heroic lead intolerant.
However, as the full context emerged, most critics reconsidered their view of the scene. They agreed Ruby‘s outburst stemmed from trauma and pressure, not prejudice. Even fans initially offended said they felt relief learning the truth.
Nonetheless, this discourse within the passionate RWBY fandom proves that we must carefully examine the media we consume. Fans should hold creators accountable for any potentially harmful implications they portray, even accidentally.
While the homophobia accusations were unfounded, fans were right to scrutinize a concerning depiction. As long as we focus on objective analysis rather than exaggeration, this kind of debate ultimately makes stories more inclusive.
The Verdict – Ruby Rose is a Flawed but Loving Leader
After thoroughly analyzing the rant scene, Ruby‘s characterization, creators‘ statements, and fan response, I can confidently conclude that Ruby Rose harbors no homophobic sentiments whatsoever.
She is a young, imperfect leader under colossal stress she isn‘t ready for. Ruby finally cracked under the pressure, but swiftly made amends afterward. She even acknowledges her mistakes and resolves to be more open with her team about her struggles.
At her core, Ruby cares deeply about all people, regardless of their differences. She devotes herself fully to uplifting others. The accusations of bigotry contradict her essential heroic nature.
While heated at times, the debates among RWBY fans stemmed from a place of investment in seeing positive representation. Passionate audiences analyzing shows under a microscope amplifies the voices of marginalized groups. Through respectful discourse, we can gain nuance and separate truth from misconceptions.
In the case of Ruby Rose, the truth is clear – she shines as a beacon of courage, hope and light, for huntsmen and huntresses of all kinds.
