Lanterns producer labels Green Lantern ring as sexist, sparking fan backlash

In a recent interview, Vanessa Baden Kelly, co-executive producer and writer for HBO’s new series Lanterns, claimed that the iconic Green Lantern power ring is inherently sexist, suggesting a female character, Bernadette, would have been selected as its bearer if not for bias. The show portrays Bernadette as the mother of the latest Green Lantern, and features a controversial scene where she delivers a lecture on racism to an alien, which critics say feels forced and breaks narrative immersion.

Kelly, who previously worked as a community activist for figures such as Ben Crump and Karen Bass, defended the choice as intentional commentary. The backlash targets not only Kelly’s remarks but also the involvement of HBO, Warner Bros., and DC chief James Gunn in approving the material. Detractors argue the approach reflects a broader trend of “woke” revisions to traditionally male-oriented franchises. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between creative direction and fan expectations in the superhero genre.