On my social feed, there had been widespread fan enthusiasm for the prospect of the brothers hooking up. Horniness on the internet isn't unusual, of course, but the total absence of accusations that this plotline is "queerbaiting"- a term describing the practice of simulating or teasing queerness in art for commercial gain -- has been surprising. Over the last decade, the reaction to LGBTQ+ representation has been defined by mistrust -- especially toward artists who have hinted at queerness in their work, but gone to great lengths to avoid defining themselves that way publicly. Audiences are right to demand more and better queer representation, but the discourse around this particular topic has often felt uncompromising and, sometimes, harsh. Does the public embrace of the Ratliff brothers' bizarre dynamic suggest that audiences are ready to be more flexible?

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/white-lotus-hookup-queerbaiting-backlash-1235298071/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5699520&forum_id=2#48780427)