"You Don't Crap On the Fans": Xena's Lucy Lawless Reflects On SNL Episode Poking Fun At Warrior Princess Fanbase

Lucy Lawless recalls how her 1998 Saturday Night Live appearance left her displeased by how it portrayed Xena: Warrior Princess's fanbase. The fantasy television series ran from 1995 to 2000 across six seasons, exploring the exploits of Lawless's Xena and her allies, as she faces several figures from ancient mythology on her quest to find redemption for her past exploits. Xena: Warrior Princess's world holds a strong legacy as not only being an inspiration to many productions that would have female leads face their own evils, but how LGBTQ+ characters were portrayed on-screen.

With Lawless promoting her upcoming documentary Never Look Away, which she directed and is about the adventurous camerawoman Margaret Moth, the star shared a story from her own career with The Guardian. When appearing on Saturday Night Live for season 24's third episode in 1998, Lawless's monologue was interrupted by Tina Fey's portrayal of a stereotypical butch lesbian who asks her out as she discussed the show's fanbase, something she now regards as "cringey"

“It’s cringey. Ugly, stupid stuff.”

Lawless would later state that she expected there to be more to the joke rather than a lazy and cheap jab at Xena: Warrior Princess's strong queer following. The star emphasized that fellow television icon William Shatner had advised her to never take fan support for granted:

I was looking for more. Like, ‘Is that the joke?’ You don’t crap on the fans. It was Bill Shatner who said to me, ‘Stick with the fans and they’ll stick with you.’”

Why Lawless' Xena: Warrior Princess Fanbse Defense Is Important

Xena & Gabrielle Offered Viewers An Important Relationship Few Had Seen On Screen

While their on-screen relationship was treated with some ambiguity and buried under subtext and innuendo, Xena: Warrior Princess did attract a strong following among the lesbian community for the development of Xena and Gabrielle's (Renee O'Connor) bond. From Gabrielle joining Xena in part to escape an arranged marriage, to them being identified as Soulmates who would be reunited in future reincarnations, evidence of the pair's romantic status was strong. Lawless would become one of the pair's strongest supporters following the finale, revealing in a 2003 interview with Lesbian News that its events had solidified their love beyond subtexts to her.

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17 Mind-Blowing Secrets Fans Didn't Know About Xena: Warrior Princess

The cult hit Xena: Warrior Princess broke barriers on television, but the show was plagued with controversy, sexism, and network meddling.

As such, while Lawless may not have been certain on the pair's relationship until 2000, many fans were heartened to hear how she acknowledged their perspective and experiences in the middle of the show's run. In a time when there were few queer leads and relationships between two women put on screen, it is clear Lawless understood why Xena stood out to many as a vital role model.

Our Thoughts On Lawless's Xena: Warrior Princess Fanbase Defense

Xena & Gabrielle Helped Break Ground

Xena and Gabrielle's relationship was an influential moment for many in the LGBTQ+ community. While the relationship was largely explored in the subtext that only the dedicated would pick up on, those who did were gifted with a valuable step that gave many their own heroes, and potentially allowed others to discover more about themselves.

Even long after shows led by queer women, such as She-Ra: Princess of Power, Killing Eve, and Agatha All Along, have aired, Xena: Warrior Princess's legacy cannot be understated. As such, many fans will be relieved to see that Lawless had been a strong defender and acknowledged their importance even during the show's original run.

Source: The Guardian

Staring Lucy Lawless and Renne O'Connor, Xena: Warrior Princess follows the titular heroine, a formidable female warrior from Ancient Greece who uses her powers to help protect and defend the innocent. Xena is accompanied by her sidekick, Gabrielle, on all of her missions. The series ran from 1995 to 2001, and maintains cult classic status and a devoted fanbase to this day. 

Cast Lucy Lawless

Release Date September 4, 1995

Seasons 6

Streaming Service(s) Apple TV+