Nick Offerman Speaks Out Against 'Homophobic Hate' for Last of Us Character

Nick Offerman had something to say about his character's critics after winning a Spirit Award for The Last of Us.

In the first season of The Last of Us, Nick Offerman was featured as a guest star alongside Murray Bartlett. The two respectively played Bill and Frank, lovers and survivors who perish together in the midst of the apocalypse. Offerman previously won a Primetime Emmy Award for the guest role, and on Sunday, he also won a Spirit Award for playing Bill. During his acceptance speech, Offerman clapped back against those who criticized the inclusion of a gay romance in the acclaimed HBO drama series.

"I'm astonished to be in this category, which is bananas," Offerman said on the stage, per Deadline. "Thanks to HBO for having the guts to participate in this storytelling tradition, that is truly independent stories with guts, that when homophobic hate comes my way, and says, 'Why did you have to make it a gay story?' We say, 'Because you ask questions like that. It's not a gay story, it's a love story, you assh*le.'"

Offerman continued, "So, more of that. Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin wrote this thing. Peter Hoar directed it. Murray Bartlett planted the strawberries, and that is not a euphemism. Thank you to my mom and dad, and my agents at UTA, but most importantly, my bride, my puzzle coach, and legal property, Megan Mullally."

Don't Expect to See Nick Offerman in Season 2 of The Last of Us

While Bill and Frank met their end in the first season, some fans may have wondered if the characters might return in a flashback scene in Season 2. Craig Mazin has shut this idea down, explaining that while the characters were a very important part of Season 1, they were going to remain in the past. That came offer Nick Offerman made the joke that a prequel could be made about Bill and Frank, addressing how they met in the form of a musical.

"I’m very proud of the episode we did with Bill and Frank," Mazin said, per Deadline. "There won’t be more Bill and Frank. Nick was joking about a prequel, that was kind of a joke. We are very happy with what we achieved.”