Actor Wil Wheaton, known for his longtime role as kid genius Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, welcomed pride month this weekend by giving a special shout-out to his queer fans.
Wheaton, 48, took to Facebook to publicly acknowledge the number of Star Trek fans that had a crush on the actor–or his character–during the show’s run.
“Over the years, I’ve met several men who have told me that their childhood crush on Wesley Crusher was a big part of them coming out and living their lives with joy and love and pride,” Wheaton wrote. “I can not even begin to tell you how much this means to me. I love it so much that I, and some of my work, were there for people (when I didn’t even know it was happening) who needed a safe place.”
“Happy Pride,” he concluded, “you lovely and perfect humans. I, and Wesley Crusher, see you, and we absolutely adore you.”
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As the post went viral, Wheaton’s wife, Anne Wheaton, also weighed in on Twitter.
Over the years, I've had men tell me they had a crush on Wesley Crusher and then immediately apologize to me for it. Don't apologize! We both love that his character helped you figure out who you are. And I love that Wil wrote a FB post about it.
Happy Pride, friends. ? pic.twitter.com/rUGM3evVwy
— Anne Wheaton (@AnneWheaton) June 5, 2021
“Over the years,” she wrote, “I’ve had men tell me that they had a crush on Wesley Crusher and then immediately apologize to me for it! Don’t apologize! We both love that his character helped you figure out who you are. Happy Pride, friends.”
Wheaton’s on-screen Star Trek mom, actress Gates McFadden, also voiced her support.
proud of my spaceson for writing this! love you for posting space daughter-in- law
— Gates McFadden (@gates_mcfadden) June 6, 2021
“Proud of my spaceson for writing this!,” McFadden tweeted. “Love you for posting space daughter-in-law.”
The Wesley Crusher character had a slight habit of getting annoying on Trek. Truth be told, that didn’t stop us from crushing on the character as adolescents ourselves. We have a feeling Wheaton’s pride wishes will make rewatching Wesley-centric episodes of the show a bit more enjoyable.
Catholicslutbox
He was so cute. What happened to him? (looks wise)
jal
Rude! TNG was 30 years ago. Do you look the same at 48 as you did at 18?
wiggie
who the hell looks the same at 48 than they did at 18???
Catholicslutbox
It’s something he says in Big Bang theory…
dougie
Hmmm. . . .I think that he’s pretty cute for a 48 year-old guy.
Prax07
Picard was the one for me, not Wesley.
Liquid Silver
Ditto. *Door bleep noise* “Come!”
“Again? Okay!”
nm4047
I think he’s confusing creepy old men that lust after twinks, don’t paint the entire community
DarkZephyr
Don’t be absurd. He specified childhood crushes. I had a crush on him back then too and I was a lot *younger* than him, I was no creepy old man, I was a kid. As jal pointed out below to Vince, he was talking about *childhood* crushes. You and Vince are trippin’. C’mon now.
Vince
He was practically a child back then and these were grown ass men that decided to come out because of what. They’re into young twinks?
jal
What part of “childhood crush” don’t you understand? He’s talking about people who were kids when they had the crush, and are adults now.
Mattster
Well, here on earth, time passes. The show was on THIRTY YEARS AGO. It’d be kind of odd if the people saying they had crushes on him weren’t men yet, wouldn’t I?
Toofie
What a sweet thing to post. Love the support from his wife and tv mom too.
cuteguy
What a great lgbtq ally
wiggie
yup, definitely had a childhood crush on him
WSnyder
Is it ever possible for an LEBTQ+ Ally to say or do something nice towards the Community without some here twisting, criticizing or putting it or that ally in a bad light? Can’t you ever just accept a kind gesture or do you always have to critique?
ScottOnEarth
Right on! Well-said.
ScottOnEarth
Let’s ignore that sad losers who are finding flaws in anything Wil posted and celebrate that a straight ally is on the right side of humanity, along with his wife and space-mom. What a sweet FB post he made 🙂
dougie
100% agree
Polaro
Indeed.
Harley
My teen crush was Captain Kirk. Especially with all his shirtless scenes.
Chrisk
Mine was Trip on Enterprise. He was always taking his shirt off.
mailliw110
He wasn’t bad for my tastes. But it was that episode when the whole crew went crazy and Sulu went shirtless…….I just wish I knew I was gay at 13.
Chrisk
Ha. They wanted to tear into that little twink butt.
TheRedLine
I never thought his character was annoying on the series. Have people said that because of the scripts or was it because he was the youngest cast member? Is space exploration limited to adults only? I don’t get the fuss. I was in my early to mid-twenties during the shows run. I enjoyed his role just as much as any other cast member and I am a fan. Anyway, thank you Wil Weaton, for acknowledging! I think that’s all anybody really needs to say here.
RyanMBecker
From what I’ve read, Wesley was annoyingly smug and too conscious of how perfect he was. Wheaton said in an interview that even he wanted to punch the character. He said that in the context of all the hate mail and physical confrontations he had had, as if he was really Wesley Crusher. I think the character even ruined his career.
Charlie in Charge
I absolutely dressed as Wesley for Halloween in 6th grade for this reason.
SiamSean
Charlie, I love it! Bet you got extra candy at the door from at least some of your male neighbors ?
Fahd
On Big Bang Theory, I found the whole subplot of Sheldon’s resentments towards Will Wheaton hilarious.
RyanMBecker
I’m not a Trekkie by any stretch but this had me grinning. Happy Pride.
tjack47
That was such a sweet thing to write. How kind of him.
Polaro
He was every gay nerds crush. I certainly found him enticing.
Daws
I love that they posted this! I had a major crush Wesley Crusher.
bsg1967
We did? I’m 53 and love me some tng but missed that star fleet directive
DavidIntl
Yes – absolutely had a crush on Wil Wheaton, going back to Stand by Me. Then was sad when he lost his looks with time, but – somewhat unusually – the pendulum seems to swung the other way and he is aging better now.