Nick Offerman has fired back at Ben Shapiro over his criticism of The Last of Us, accusing the conservative commentator of 'rampant homophobia' while claiming he got eight things wrong when discussing the HBO drama.
The 56-year-old actor addressed Shapiro's remarks during an appearance on Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso, where he was shown a clip of the political commentator discussing 'Long, Long Time', the acclaimed third episode of the first season of The Last of Us. Offerman, who played Bill in the episode, appeared stunned by Shapiro's assessment and took particular issue with his reading of the story and its characters.
Offerman Hits Back at Shapiro's 'Homophobia'
The dispute centres on Shapiro's criticism of the episode, which follows Bill, played by Offerman, and Frank, played by Murray Bartlett, as their relationship develops during a post-apocalyptic outbreak.
In his commentary, Shapiro mocked Offerman by referring to him as his Parks and Recreation character, Ron Swanson, and described the fictional character as 'gay Ron Swanson'. He also criticised the episode for focusing on the relationship between two men rather than delivering the kind of zombie action he expected from the series.
After hearing the clip, Offerman strongly rejected Shapiro's interpretation.
The actor said he was 'embarrassed for his reading comprehension' and claimed Shapiro had got 'eight things wrong' in his recap, before accusing him of 'rampant homophobia'.
Offerman's comments were directed at Shapiro's criticism of the programme and the way he discussed its gay central characters, rather than simply objecting to a negative review.
Why 'Long, Long Time' Became So Significant
'Long, Long Time' was a major departure from the central survival narrative of The Last of Us.
The episode follows Bill, a heavily armed survivalist who lives alone after society collapses, before Frank enters his life. Their relationship develops over the course of the story, giving the episode a more intimate and emotional focus than the action-heavy elements associated with the wider series.
Offerman and Bartlett's performances were widely praised, with Offerman winning the Primetime Emmy for outstanding guest actor in a drama series for his portrayal of Bill.
The episode's focus on a gay relationship also made it particularly significant within a mainstream post-apocalyptic drama. Rather than treating Bill and Frank's relationship as a subplot, the episode placed their love, companionship and eventual fate at its centre.
That appears to be one of the elements Offerman felt Shapiro fundamentally misunderstood.
Shapiro's 'Gay Ron Swanson' Remark
Shapiro's comparison between Bill and Ron Swanson also became a key part of Offerman's response.
Offerman played the famously masculine, woodworking-loving Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, a role that became closely associated with his public image.
The actor said he had previously read Shapiro's comments and later turned the controversy into material for his comedy music performances. Offerman joked that he had planned to make a joke about the situation but could not improve on the fact that Shapiro had questioned his masculinity.
The remark allowed Offerman to turn the criticism back on itself, particularly given the contrast between his macho Parks and Recreation persona and his acclaimed portrayal of a gay man in The Last of Us.
Offerman Is More Concerned About Viral Reach
Despite making light of the controversy, Offerman said the wider impact of such commentary concerned him.
He argued that provocative clips can travel quickly through online communities and reach audiences who may accept the claims being made without seeing the full context.
Offerman compared the situation to other viral political commentary and said he found it troubling to consider how many people could be reached by material he regarded as inaccurate.
That concern appears to be more significant to him than engaging in a prolonged online argument with Shapiro.
'I Don't Engage'
Offerman also explained why he generally avoids getting drawn into social media battles. Rather than spending his time responding to critics, the actor said he preferred to continue working and pursuing interests away from online disputes.
He joked about being encouraged to respond to billionaires and political figures on social media, but said he would rather reach old age having spent his time reading poetry and making his own work.
That approach has allowed Offerman to address the controversy without turning it into a sustained feud.
Offerman's Career Continues To Move Forward
The clash with Shapiro comes as Offerman continues to build on the success of his television career.
His performance as Bill remains one of the most acclaimed roles of his recent career, while his earlier work as Ron Swanson continues to shape his public image.
For Offerman, however, the latest controversy appears to be less about defending either character and more about challenging what he sees as a fundamental misunderstanding of the story.
While he has responded with jokes about Shapiro questioning his masculinity, his strongest criticism was reserved for what he described as the commentator's inaccurate reading of The Last of Us and what he called 'rampant homophobia'.
