‘Mean Girls’ actor Jonathan Bennett says he doesn’t want his character to be gay in possible sequel

Jonathan Bennett has caused a stir among fans after revealing he doesn’t want his Mean Girls character, Aaron Samuels, to be reimagined as gay in any future sequel. Speaking on the I’ve Never Said This Before podcast, the actor said he would prefer that Aaron stay true to his original storyline rather than have his sexuality rewritten to reflect Bennett’s own identity.

“I think Aaron would be straight,” Bennett told host Tommy DiDario in an interview preview shared by Entertainment Weekly. “I wouldn’t want to change the narrative of Aaron Samuels because Jonathan Bennett is gay. You would keep the narrative of Aaron Samuels because that’s the story.”

Bennett, who played the charming high-school heartthrob opposite Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams in the 2004 cult classic, explained that several male cast members have since come out as queer, which he finds “funny but coincidental.” Despite this, he insisted that representation shouldn’t come at the cost of altering a character’s established identity.

The Hallmark star’s comments have divided fans online, with some praising his respect for the original character and others arguing that updating stories for modern audiences can create more inclusive representation. One user on X wrote that Bennett’s stance was “refreshing and grounded,” while another argued that “representation matters more than keeping a 2004 storyline frozen in time.”

Although no sequel has officially been confirmed, Bennett shared that the majority of the original cast would be open to returning. He even pitched a concept where the former Mean Girls are now parents whose children attend the same high school, suggesting that his character might have become a teacher. “We would love to come back and bring the band back together,” he said, adding that the decision ultimately lies with Tina Fey.

The discussion has reignited nostalgia around the Mean Girls franchise, which recently saw a 2024 movie musical remake starring Angourie Rice and Reneé Rapp. Christopher Briney from The Summer I Turned Pretty played the updated version of Aaron Samuels in that film, calling it a “dream role.”

As fans debate Bennett’s remarks, the actor remains open to revisiting the world that made him famous, as long as it stays true to what made Mean Girls an enduring classic.