Diversity is at the core of any Star Trek show, from The Original Series right up toStarfleet Academy. The crew of Captain Kirk's Enterprise was a rich tapestry of different people who worked together to solve some of the galaxy's most pressing issues. This is probably why Karim Diane is so confused about some viewers' anger over the recent revelation that his character, Jay-Den Kraag, is a gay character.
Diane, who plays the Klingon cadet Kraag on Starfleet Academy, recently took to to his Instagram page to comment about some reactions over the character's sexuality, saying in the video below:
"I genuinely cannot believe that a gay character on a TV show in 2026 can cause this much commotion! Y'all, like, I thought--I don't know what I thought, like--y'all gotta understand, I live in New York City, right, so you could be purple in Brooklyn, and nobody cares, nobody gives a s**t, you know what I mean?"
Diane continued by saying:
"So when I come to the internet, and I see all of these feathers being ruffled! It's like, jarring! But um, nevertheless, I guess this signals that there's more work to do, so yeah, uh, anyways, let's talk about Kyle kissing Jay-Den in episode 7, y'all!"
Let's talk about it, indeed.
It's easy to understand Diane's confusion over this type of uproar. It's almost like those who see Star Trek as one concept, a sci-fi franchise that shouldn't evolve over time because its origins are sacred to fans who have been around since The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, as if Data didn't allow his own child to choose their sex and gender identity, right?
It's truly incredible that many of the fans who are complaining that Starfleet Academy isn't really Star Trek and that a gay Klingon is an impossible idea, or written as a controversial ploy to raise viewership, are shoving the show's actual message of found family, the search for identity, and the consistency of change aside.
The young cadets are on a mission of discovery, including who they are at their core and what that means going forward. While Starfleet Academy is presented through the eyes of the young, the show is for everyone who wants to learn and keep an open mind.
As Captain Kirk once said, "Leave any bigotry in your quarters," because we Star Trek fans shouldn't allow any room for it on our fandom bridge! I'm interested in watching more of Jay-Den's growth as a gay character and what it means for a being whose lineage is tied to honor and a warrior's courage. After all, there are many different ways to be brave.
Share your thoughts and comments with us about the Klingon controversy via the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount+ with new episodes dropping every Thursday through March 12.