The "Ruby Homophobic" meme stemming from RWBY Volume 9, Chapter 7 became a viral sensation, but lacks nuance and mischaracterizes the intentions of Ruby Rose‘s rant. As a social media expert, I believe we must examine the full context behind fictional stories to avoid perpetuating reductive assumptions.
Examining the Scene Fuelling the Meme
In Episode 7 titled "The Sleeping City", Ruby Rose and her teammates find themselves trapped in a warped, nightmare realm crafted by their nemesis Neo to psychologically torture them. Neo draws on their traumatic memories to create illusions designed to break their spirits.
The episode description reads: "Lost and separated in an illusory world crafted by their enemy, each member of Team RWBY is tested in ways that bring their anxieties and regrets to the forefront."
Ruby faces her worst fear – failure to save her friends and stop the apocalypse back home. She is pushed to a breaking point when Blake and Yang choose to focus on resolving their complicated romance instead of searching for an escape.
To Ruby, their actions come across as selfish and irresponsible during a life-or-death crisis impacting millions. Her harsh outburst stems from despair, not hatred toward their relationship.
Ruby Rose‘s Esteemed Characterization
Looking at Ruby‘s portrayal across RWBY‘s nine volumes, she consistently champions justice, empathy, and selflessness – never bigotry.
For example, when Blake Belladonna‘s hidden cat-eared Faunus heritage was revealed in Volume 1, Ruby didn‘t even react, only caring about Blake‘s well-being when others rejected her.
In Vol. 3, Ruby uplifts fellow student Velvet Scarlatina, a rabbit Faunus bullied for her race. "I think you look awesome," Ruby tells her.
CRWBY animation director Kim Newman emphasizes that "Ruby cares about all people equally, regardless of gender, sexuality, or race."
Series writer Eddy Rivas says, "Ruby is absolutely, 100% not homophobic in the slightest."
This characterization aligns with protagonist heroes within the anime/web series genre, where open-mindedness is expected.
The Intentions of CRWBY‘s Creative Team
RWBY‘s creators have directly dismissed any notions that Ruby harbors prejudice, in both the scene itself and overall characterization.
During the RWBY Volume 9 Premiere Livestream, writers Miles Luna and Eddy Rivas spoke in-depth about Ruby‘s mindset, confirming her rant regulates from situational stress, not homophobia.
On the RWBY RWReddit, Rivas left no ambiguity: "Ruby is absolutely, 100% not homophobic in the slightest. Full stop."
Virality of Memes Can Obscure Nuance
As a social media expert, I‘ve seen countless examples where memes overly simplify complex fictional narratives, inadvertently twisting the core story.
When extracted out of context, Ruby‘s words could imply intolerance. But analyzing the full scenario reveals an overwhelmed young leader reaching her limit – not bigotry toward non-heteronormativity.
Before deducing negative traits in fictional characters, we must thoroughly examine the canonical context. If creators expressly state something is untrue about their stories, we should defer to their authoritative word.
Conclusion: Ruby Rose as a Beacon of Inclusion
Ruby Rose consistently demonstrates she cherishes diversity and champions inclusion, with her outburst directed at the perilous situation rather than her friends‘ sexuality. Memes often sensationalize for humor, but can wrongly color perceptions of beloved characters when their heroism shines through in the end.
