Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar has revealed that Cartoon Network bosses tried to meddle in the show’s famously-queer dynamic.
Queerness is at the absolute core of the acclaimed cartoon series, which has won fans young and old alike for its pitch-perfect depiction of love between non-binary crystal gems Ruby and Sapphire, who together fuse to form Garnet.
Steven Universe, which ran from 2013 to 2019, has set the standard for LGBT+ representation in kids’ entertainment, with many subsequent shows finding a newfound freedom to depict queer relationships and gender diversity on screen.
But in an interview with Paper Magazine, Sugar revealed that despite the fan love for the series, it was an uphill battle to get Cartoon Network onboard with the show’s vision.