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If you’ve watched even just one episode of the Sex and the City revival, And Just Like That, you probably have some feelings about Che Diaz and, the more you’ve watched the more I’m certain, those feelings are probably negative.
Not only is Che the mastermind behind what is perhaps the worst podcast in history, complete with a “woke moment” sound effect and a tagline that reads, “the podcast that discusses gender roles… and cinammon rolls,” (yes, seriously), but they’re a famous comedian who’s… anything but funny.
Furthermore, they are framed in the show as the reason for Miranda Hobbes’ divorce from her longtime husband, Steve, which is fine because given Miranda’s new (and pretty unexplained) alcohol addiction, she hasn’t been happy in her marriage for a while and deserves to be. Plus, we love a queer queen, especially one on a Sex and the City spinoff.
The main issue I, and a lot of others take with Che’s character isn’t about their jokes. It’s about the fact they give off ultimate fuckboy energy at every turn, making the viewer worry Miranda is throwing away her marriage for nothing. They literally told Miranda they loved her, before saying they’re not dating and are “getting to know each other” (!) the very next episode. If that’s not a red flag and doesn’t take you back to your early ‘20s dating history, I don’t know what to tell you.
Now, Sara Ramírez, the actor who plays Che in the new season, has spoken out, revealing they’re aware of the criticism and, despite both Che and Sara being non-binary and using they/them pronouns, the writers did not base the character on them. “I don’t recognise myself in Che,” Ramírez told The New York Times, ahead of the show’s season finale.
“I’m very aware of the hate that exists online, but I have to protect my own mental health and my own artistry,” they continued, “And that’s way more important to me because I’m a real human being. I’m really proud of the representation that we’ve created. We have built a character who is a human being, who is imperfect, who’s complex, who is not here to be liked, who’s not here for anybody’s approval,” Ramírez continued. “They’re here to be themselves.”
Ramírez also pointed out that they are “not in control of the writing,” adding: “I welcome the passion that folks are bringing to the table around this representation. But in real life, there are a lot of different human beings who show up to the table, speaking truth to power in myriad ways. And they all land differently with different people. And Che Diaz has their own audience that they speak to who really get a kick out of what they’re doing.”
When asked how they thought the character of Che would respond to the public reaction of their character, Ramírez said the question would better be answered by the writers of the show who brought the character to life, before theorising anyway. “I imagine Che would have something very witty and silly and funny as a rebuttal; something that ultimately reminds everyone that they are human,” they said. “Something with a sprinkling of self-deprecation, because I think they know they’re a narcissist. And maybe just a little reminder that no one’s perfect.”
King has also commented on the reaction to the character of Che in a recent interview with Variety, saying the hate likely has more to do with fans’ love of Miranda and Steve’s relationship than anything else. But seriously, why did you write them as a fuckboy, if you didn’t want this response?!
“I said in the writing room, ‘Uh, get ready. Because what’s coming is outrage about Miranda calling out her marriage.’ Whoever is in the activating of that will be an issue,” he said. “People are going to look for who’s the villain. Che is, in my estimation, honest, dangerous, sexy, funny and warm,” he later added. “What everybody else is projecting on that character has a lot to do with what they want to have happen to Miranda in the story. It has so little to do with Che.”
