The Paper: Asexuality & Queerbaiting in The Office Spinoff
The Paper, The popular new spinoff of The Office, has garnered a significant viewership thanks to its familiar mockumentary format and new cast of quirky characters.
The Paper, The popular new spinoff of The Office, has garnered a significant viewership thanks to its familiar mockumentary format and new cast of quirky characters. However, a specific storyline involving the character Mare has caused a stir within the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly among asexual viewers, who are calling out the show for what they see as a harmful and lazy use of queer baiting. While the show seems to have intended a parallel to the original series’ handling of Oscar Martinez’s sexuality, the execution falls flat, turning what could have been a moment of meaningful representation into a punchline that perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
The inciting incident is a plot to make the paper’s new editor in chief, Ned look bad: a coworker, Esmeralda, tells Ned that Mare is an asexual. In a familiar echo of a plotline from The Office, this initial mix-up has a superficial similarity to how Oscar was once called gay as a joke. The difference, however, lies in the character’s reaction. Oscar, who was secretly gay, was caught off guard, navigating the complexities of his identity and his desire to keep it private in a professional setting. The humor came from the awkwardness of a truthful observation made in a jest, forcing Oscar to confront his fears of being outed at work. With Mare, the reaction is entirely different, and therein lies the problem.
For several episodes, Mare is shown to be deeply offended by the suggestion that she might be asexual. Her outrage is not subtle; she repeatedly expresses outrage, goes to great lengths to "prove" her heterosexuality, and at one point, even refers to asexuality as "weird." This is where the narrative crosses a line. As many users on a Reddit forum dedicated to asexuality, puts it, the show introduces the idea of a main character being asexual only to fabricate the asexuality to use as a plot device to sabotage another character. As shadow_sparke notes, “Wow.... queerbaiting is always kinda messed up but man??? Especially to the community with barely any representation.”
This is the core of the queer baiting argument: The show dangles the possibility of asexual representation for a few episodes before yanking it away, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of those who were hoping for a character they could relate to.
The user Past-Feature3968 on the same forum also felt that Mare’s reaction was particularly problematic, noting how "angry" she got at the suggestion and calling the word "weird." This casual dismissal of a legitimate sexuality as something "weird" is not a minor offense. It sends a message to viewers that asexuality is something to be mocked and looked down upon. Past-Feature3968 says:
“In a later episode, Mare is angered by the notion that Ned thought she could be ace. Called it “weird” to believe. Plus, when Ned still thought she was ace, he was flabbergasted when he saw her dressed up (out of her usual loose clothing) and flirting with a different guy, as if no ace could possibly do or enjoy either of those things.”
The reaction would be unthinkable if the character had been called bi, pan, or a lesbian. While it's true that misidentifying anyone’s sexuality can be problematic, the use of asexuality as a source of comedy and disgust takes it a step too far. It reinforces the misconception that asexuality is a choice, a flaw, or a form of celibacy, rather than a valid sexual orientation.
The disappointment is palpable in the Reddit community. User mr_wheezr highlights the frustratingly low amount of asexual representation in media, stating, "We have little representation as it is and they give us this. An encouragement for the denial of asexuality." This sentiment is echoed by gnxo, who shares their frustration with the "fake-out" and wishes that more people knew that "aces can still have sex." This points to another layer of the show’s failure: it missed an opportunity to educate its audience on what asexuality actually is. Instead of showing the diversity within the ace community, the show opted for a tired and harmful trope that relies on ignorance for its humor.
While some might argue, like the user Manlor on the Reddit forum, that the show made it clear early on that Mare wasn't asexual, and that it was merely a plot device for a rivalry, this defense misses the point. The issue isn't whether or not Mare is actually ace. The issue is how the show used asexuality as a vehicle for ridicule and embarrassment. The very act of Mare being so offended by the label is what makes the joke land, and in doing so, it frames asexuality as something to be ashamed of.
The humor in the original Office storyline with Oscar came from the irony of a true statement being used in a lie. With The Paper, the humor comes from the disgust of a false statement, effectively punching down on an already marginalized community. The show could have used the opportunity to explore a character’s journey of self-discovery or to simply normalize an often misunderstood sexuality. Instead, it chose the path of least resistance, trading a moment of genuine representation for a cheap laugh.
Ultimately, The Paper's handling of Mare and her alleged asexuality serves as a cautionary tale for writers. While a show may try to replicate a successful formula, it is crucial to understand the nuances and societal implications of the topics it chooses to tackle. The show’s use of asexuality as a punchline is not just a missed opportunity; it’s a hurtful and regressive piece of storytelling that contributes to the ongoing invisibility and misunderstanding of the asexual community. It is a form of queer baiting that prioritizes lazy comedy over responsible and respectful representation, leaving fans disappointed and questioning why asexuality continues to be the butt of the joke.
