Netflix’s new docu-drama series, Alexander: The Making of a God, has sparked backlash from “anti-woke” influencers who are offended that the series depicts Alexander the Great in a homosexual relationship.
Alexander the Great is often glorified in “manosphere” circles as a hyper-masculine figure to aspire to, the semi-legendary conqueror famous for his ambition and military accomplishments.
Alexander’s extraordinary life resembles that of a mythical hero; the man was tutored by Aristotle and proved to be a strategic genius who was undefeated in battle, forging one of the largest empires in history before dying at the age of 32.
Alexander’s sexuality has been the subject of debate among historians, but it is largely accepted that the great conqueror wasn’t strictly heterosexual.
Not to mention, the modern binary of homosexuality and heterosexuality is not applicable to the cultural norms of Ancient Greece, in which many men engaged in same-sex relationships without shame.
That’s not to suggest that Ancient Greece was some kind of progressive, LGBTQ paradise — it certainly wasn’t — but it was more complicated than “gay” and “straight.”
What Was Netflix’s Alexander The Great Controversy?
On X (Twitter) the account “End Wokeness” — widely known in reactionary online spaces — took offense to Alexander (Buck Braithwaite) kissing Hephaestion (Will Stevens) in the first episode of the series.
The post noted that the kiss took place in the “first 8 minutes” and claimed that the series “turned [Alexander] gay.”
Many of the responses to the “End Wokeness” post point out that the romantic depiction is not unusual, and likely, historically accurate.
Despite widespread pushback from followers, “End Wokeness” insisted that there was something wrong with the depiction. Eventually, a Community Note debunking the claim was attached to the post.
X owner Elon Musk seemed to enjoy the thread, responding with a laughing emoji.
Netflix’s diversity and inclusion initiatives have repeatedly sparked backlash from “anti-woke” influencers complaining about historical accuracy, such as the Cleopatra casting controversy, but in this particular instance, history leans on Netflix’s side.
The series has been criticized for inaccurately portraying Alexander’s military strategies and accomplishments, but his relationship with Hephaestion aligns with the beliefs of many historians.
Ironically, many “anti-woke” influencers have a shallow understanding of history, and tend to fetishize time periods they don’t fully understand — they often refuse to acknowledge clashing cultural norms and assume that anything outside of heterosexual monogamy is some kind of modern deviation.
Were Alexander and Hephaestion Really Lovers?
Admittedly, the scene is something of a creative liberty, as there is no concrete evidence that Alexander and Hephaestion were lovers, but there is plenty of evidence hinting that the two were more than friends.
Alexander died shortly after Hephaestion died, and Alexander’s own wife believed that his intense grief over losing Hephaestion contributed to the conqueror’s untimely death.
Historian Robin Lane Fox described their relationship in no uncertain terms, writing in his award-winning, non-fiction book Alexander the Great:
“Hephaistion was the man whom Alexander loved, and for the rest of their lives their relationship remained as intimate as it is now irrecoverable: Alexander was only defeated once, the Cynic philosophers said long after his death, and that was by Hephaistion’s thighs.”
Alexander’s supposed lack of interest in women was noted by his peers — even his mother was concerned that Alexander would never father an heir.
The X account “Bad History Takes” wrote a thread debunking the claims of “End Wokeness,” noting that Alexander’s alleged lack of interest in women was sometimes framed as a virtue of self-control rather than a sexual preference.
Regardless, the thread concludes that Alexander “doesn’t fit modern notions of heteronormativity.”
The details of Alexander’s sex life might still be the subject of speculation, but Netflix did not “turn him gay.”