Gaybaiting vs. Privacy vs. Fantasy

[NotHardUp1]

My internet free "on air" channels change all the time, and I add or block them, depending on the content. Tastemade Travel showed up in my lineup and the first show I've watched on it is Basic Versus Baller. (Had to look up the meaning of the title. Basic could have meant the black slang putdown, or the simple standard meaning of no frills. Baller seems to be a street slang for talented basketballer, or later just plain excellent.)

Watched a couple of episodes back-to-back, and enjoyed them about 60%.

Their hook is two brothers travel to tourist destinations and answer some trivia question to see which one will tour on the cheap and which will go luxury.

The series was filmed back in 2018-2019, and the hosts are Alex and Marko Ayling, collectively known as the "Vagabrothers." They both have a metro vibe, so I checked their social media and both are straight and partnered. That made me wonder if I wished one or both gay, or if it was from context clues that are associated with many social media gays in America.

The term "gaybaiting" came to mind, but not sure that applies. Both brothers are better than average looking, and young enough to be youthfully attired and stay in hostels. But the lack of any partner or preference reference seems carefully managed.

Of course, it could be nothing more than separating the on-air persona from the private life of the hosts. But, judging from their heavy identification as content creators online, the avoidance of any girlfriends in their show seems likely a point of marketing.

The viewer can imagine whatever and the fantasy is preserved. Travel shows in general, the ones not geriatric, may intentionally be inclusive of gays due to the demographics, but there does seem to be a difference between avoiding pushing heteronormative scenes versus gaybaiting.

Do you ever see shows or performers where you wonder if you're being intentionally flirted with, or it's just projection or wishful thinking?

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Yes, sometimes (maybe more often than I'd like to think) I'm indulging in wishful thinking, and sometimes we're obviously being baited, and yes, sometimes it's intentionally ambiguous.

From what I can see, in the case of the Vagabrothers, I suspect it wasn't gaybaiting, but maybe more like baiting in general. Careful avoidance of any reference to girlfriends could let fans of any gender fantasize about them.

Or it could be that keeping any reference to their private lives off the show makes sure that the viewer remains focused on the basic-versus-baller dynamic and on the places they're visiting. (The latter would be crucial if they were getting freebies from the places they stayed or ate.)

 

[rareboy]

Do you ever see shows or performers where you wonder if you're being intentionally flirted with, or it's just projection or wishful thinking?

There are so many that it is disturbing. Way too many where a musical performer now tries to play coy. (koff Aaron Carter koff) Even Will and Grace used to make me feel that with Eric McCormick in the role we were being baited into an 'Is he or isn't he' thing.

And YouTube 'Influencers' are notorious for it.

Most of the time though, it is pretty benign and I am glad to find out that the metro dude has a lovely wife and kids and seriously end up hoping that they just haven't repressed all of themselves in order to only come out a decade from now.

 

[eddielee]

I think that it has become fashionable to be speculated as gay. I say speculated, because if you're thought of as out right gay, that kills the hetero popularity. People play off the gay mystique to widen their audiences.

 

[NotHardUp1]

I think that it has become fashionable to be speculated as gay. I say speculated, because if you're thought of as out right gay, that kills the hetero popularity. People play off the gay mystique to widen their audiences.

Indeed. I happened to wake at a time when the final Late Late Show with James Corden was airing, and I saw a clip with Harry Styles. That sent me researching him, as I never hear pop music usually, outside the radio, so don't know the artists. He certainly does seem like he has played off the faux gay thing for publicity and fan draw.

 

[Charon]