Culture

Riverdale’s Madelaine Petsch opens up about ‘very nerve-racking’ bisexual kiss

Apr 13 2018
Written by Josh Jackman

(Netflix)

Riverdale’s Madelaine Petsch has revealed what it was like to perform the first bisexual kiss on the CW show.

Petsch, who plays Cheryl Blossom on the dark show about Archie Comics characters, revealed earlier this year that Cheryl was “definitely interested in both women and men.”

And in an emotional scene, with prominent bisexual lighting, Cheryl opened up about her sexuality to Toni Topaz, who also came out as bi earlier this season.

(Netflix)

She then nearly kissed Toni – played by her real-life friend and co-star Vanessa Morgan – in the next episode, before being sent to undergo gay ‘cure’ therapy.

Petsch has opened up about what it was like to be tasked with such an important moment, alongside her real-life close friend Morgan.

Speaking to Nylon magazine, the 23-year-old actress said that the kiss – which came during an all-girls slumber party at Cheryl’s – was an anxious moment for both of them.

(Netflix)

“It was very nerve-racking, because we wanted to make sure we did it with care and grace,” she said.

“But I think the responses have been overwhelmingly positive.”

The star also hailed the writers of the show for introducing a bisexual couple.

(Netflix)

“I’m really happy to bring bisexuality to TV, because you don’t see that often on television, especially with women,” she said.

“I find that so interesting because most of my friends — my female friends — are bisexual.

“It’s just the majority of our generation… and I don’t think you see it on television still.”

(Netflix)

She’s not wrong – a study earlier this year showed that no-one is 100 percent straight.

Petsch said her character’s sexuality had been built into the show from the start.

“It just makes sense with her character, too,” she said.

(Netflix)

“When we really delve into it, Cheryl’s got this mean exterior and facade, but then you find out that her mom has hated and [repressed] a really huge part of Cheryl for her entire life.

“She caught Cheryl in bed with a girl and told Cheryl that she’s deviant and disgusting—so Cheryl hated herself growing up.”

Toni and Cheryl are among several Netflix characters to reveal their bisexuality in the past year, including Darryl Whitefeather on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Adam on Jane The Virgin.

(The CW and Netflix)

Earlier this week, Riverdale co-star KJ Apa – who plays Archie on the show – hit out at rugby star Israel Folau for saying that gay people will go to hell “unless they repent of their sins and turn to God.”

The 20-year-old actor, who hails from New Zealand, took to his Instagram story to tell Folau in no uncertain terms to “sit down” and stop criticising gay people.

There was nothing Christian about the rugby player’s stance, he said.