Benedict Bridgerton, the charming and enigmatic character from the hit series “Bridgerton,” has captivated audiences with his artistic flair and intriguing storyline.
As the second eldest Bridgerton sibling, Benedict’s personal life and sexuality have sparked significant curiosity and speculation among fans.
The series, set in the Regency era, subtly hints at his complex romantic inclinations, leaving viewers eagerly debating his true desires.
In this article, we delve into the character of Benedict Bridgerton, exploring the clues and implications surrounding his sexuality, and what it might mean for his future in the beloved Shondaland adaptation of Julia Quinn’s novels.
Benedict Bridgerton Sexuality: Is He Gay?
Benedict Bridgerton is straight. Let’s break it down. In Bridgerton season one, there was a scene where Benedict had a flirty interaction with Sir Henry Granville, a successful artist and the only confirmed gay character in the series so far.
Even though it was just a conversation with some suggestive remarks, and Benedict later had a threesome with Henry’s wife and another woman, some fans have believed for two seasons that Benedict might be gay.
In Bridgerton season two, Benedict was shown romancing a nude female model from his art class. Fans took to Twitter (then known as X) to express their feelings about this. Their reactions were surprisingly accurate, given what happens in season three.
Now, with season three out, some viewers are once again asking: wait, so Benedict Bridgerton isn’t gay?
Related: Brad Mondo’s Sexuality Exposed: What Fans Are Asking?
Who Does Benedict Bridgerton Marry?
Spoiler alert! Stop reading if you don’t want to know about the Bridgerton book series!
In Julia Quinn‘s Bridgerton series, Benedict marries a woman named Sophie in the third book, An Offer From a Gentleman. The story is long and involves Benedict meeting Sophie at a masked ball without knowing her real identity for a while.
Although Benedict is not gay in the books, the TV show has changed many things from the original story.
For example, Penelope Featherington’s weight loss reflects the time when the book was written, and Lord Debling (Sam Phillips) isn’t even a character in the book.
So, the Netflix series might give us a queer Bridgerton sibling.
Related: Maya Hawke’s Sexuality: Everything You Need to Know!
What Happens To Benedict In Bridgerton Season 3?
The recap at the start of Bridgerton season three, part one, was pretty detailed, but it didn’t cover Benedict’s story much.
This has sparked the “Is Benedict gay?” conversation again, especially since viewers saw him having affairs with Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New) all over town.
This has led to a lot of talk on social media. Back in 2022, Entertainment Weekly asked Luke Thompson about his character’s sexuality, and he didn’t give a clear answer.
He said Benedict has an open and fluid personality, which makes him fun to play with because his story could go in many directions.
Thompson mentioned that fans are eager to see every aspect of sexuality and gender explored, but there is still a lot of time for Benedict’s story to develop.
The previous showrunner, Chris Van Dusen, also discussed the speculation in a TVLine interview for season two.
He said there was a lot of talk about Benedict’s sexuality in season one, but the storyline with Henry was more about tolerance in a very intolerant time and showing Benedict in that world.
So, it seems Benedict is an ally and supportive of the queer community, but not necessarily a part of it himself.