Mark Bryan, 62, has built an influential brand on his style. The straight, Texan grandfather and mechanical engineer is known for pairing traditionally masculine or unisex tops with skirts and heels—a pairing that has earned him numerous modeling campaigns, brand deals, and general admiration from the queer community.
In a new clip from his appearance in a German docu-series Beyond Fashionit would seem that that admiration is not returned.
In the first episode of the series, titled “Hat Mode ein Geschlect?” (“Does fashion have sex?”), Bryan chats with host and Strange Eye: Germany star Avi Jakobs on her style journey over frugality and manicures. Their rapport was easy enough at first, but things take a turn when Jakobs gets her nails done.
She expresses that she was excited to meet Bryan, because she assumed he was fighting for the queer community in some way.
“I don’t really think I’m fighting with you, but I’m not fighting against you either,” he says.
When she asks if he understands why some queer people might be upset about him using his “sexually fluid” style just as a fashion statement, it’s clear that he doesn’t.
As we see in the now-viral clip, the conversation quickly escalates:
I always knew they ugly skirts were hiding something demonic😭 pic.twitter.com/UnSC25ubL0
— TEVIN (@diornowhere) 4 November 2022
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“It’s not about the clothes, it’s about who they are and how they represent themselves,” he says.
“I think they made it harder on themselves by being more flamboyant. I think they are too outrageous and too extravagant.”
In a bit not included in the Twitter edit, Jakobs responds, “I just wish you would fight on our side. I’m so disappointed.”
“I’m trying to separate myself from the LGB community because of the gay community that wore skirts and high heels before me,” says Bryan. “I feel like they actually made it worse for me, being honest, because now I guess I’m gay.”
All Jakobs can do is gasp in disappointment before dryly replying, “I’m so sorry we made things worse for you.”
As the clip rolls around, people share in Jakobs’ disappointment and anger:
My face when he started saying that crazy shit Omg? pic.twitter.com/uu4uwjkqsX
— Eva 6000 🦋 (@alsoabouteve) 4 November 2022
sassy lex luthor is homophobic???? pic.twitter.com/xhrt5MqXcp
— Bunny🐰🌸 (@blueswvrld) 4 November 2022
The irony/hypocrisy that he can’t separate identity/gender expression/sexuality/equality, despite the fact that he wears 6 inch (late) Louboutins and has zero-zero clothing “flamboyantly” for magazine spreads, tells me, that he still has a LOT to work on. ..
— Ettiene (@leao25) 4 November 2022
One day our community will be ready to talk about how you’re going to give these straight people platforms, magazine covers, accolades and make them the faces of the non-gender conforming fashion movement for wearing tight skirts and nail polish when they’re actually horrible and greedy. people pic.twitter.com/SU3GtocUwc
— TEVIN (@diornowhere) 4 November 2022
I was drinking with this man and his manager during fashion week and promptly excused myself when he started saying low-key homophobic/transphobic shit. His energy as he continued to bring up homosexuality reminded me of my homophobic father. https://t.co/Cu1wrY3ezj
— LOUIS (@louis__pisano) 4 November 2022
And today is the day I decided not to praise Mark Bryan because the flamboyant gays wearing heels made his life difficult because people perceive him as gay (his words). Gurl bye! I mean… straight up, cis sir… bye pic.twitter.com/M1huJ7qDjF
— ideservecouture (@ideservecouture) 4 November 2022
See I was waiting for this to come up. Because it felt like he presented outside of the skirts and heels, which told me that he is not at all here for the strange community.
Next time I say cishets cosplay in a weird aesthetic to profit from it, don’t come for me! https://t.co/4c9F9eBjuo
– Taylor (He/Them) (@sonic79894) 4 November 2022
Another glaring example of why no honest person will ever really push us forward. Imagine biting the hand that feeds you like that and his ragged pencil skirt wearing butt, then BLAMED QUEER PPL FOR THE VIOLENCE that happens to us… don’t make me angry https://t.co/2kIMqnicRi
– President of the Ashawo Association (@uniekue) 4 November 2022
What gets me is that he walks at fashion week, photographed by fashion etc, like he’s happy when there’s money to be made💀 https://t.co/L6vEiBYMSl
– Marie (@HakyeonWife) 4 November 2022
He is as flamboyant as it gets with those heels and dresses. This dilapidated old man is a mess.
— renaissance rogue (@soleanddta) 4 November 2022
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Earlier in the episode, sparingly, Jakobs got teary-eyed hearing that Bryan could wear what he does almost unchallenged.
“I’m really happy for you that you didn’t have to experience that,” she says. “Deciding to wear that, for me, is a big statement because we’re only allowed to do that because of the past and brave people. That privilege that you have… it would be wonderful to use it to speak to honest men.
“Usually, I get attacked by straight men – it’s happened to me so many times – and usually the people who don’t have to experience that are the ones who will be listened to.”
Even after her emotional pleas, it’s clear that Bryan isn’t interested.
