The Bridgerton biphobia is making it really hard for me to enjoy the new season.

I want to watch my lovely little show, filled with Taylor Swift songs reimagined by orchestras, pretty flowing dresses, posh accents. I want to sink into the magical Regency world where a beautiful Black woman is queen, and Francesca is a bi-icon. But it’s so hard to sit through Bridgerton season four when the biphobia is running rampant again. And the worst part? It’s fans of the books, my own community, who are fueling it, which feels like a betrayal.

The biphobia centres around Francesca’s storyline, specifically how her second love interest, Michael Stirling — aka her husband John Stirling’s cousin — was introduced as Michaela. Spoiler alert: In her Bridgerton book, When He Was Wicked, John dies, and Francesca ends up with Michael. Fans were furious, taking to social media to complain about the queerification of the storyline.

Liam Daniel/Netflix

And now, in the new Bridgerton season, that same biphobic energy is rearing its ugly head again. Some are swearing they won’t watch Francesca’s season at all — go for it, babe, but don’t act like that’s about the story.

One viewer commented, “Unfortunately for me, this change has caused me to not be excited for future seasons.” Another said, “I’m not sorry for feeling disappointed after waiting for his reveal and not getting a fine ass man.”

Bridgerton fans, your biphobia is showing. Or is it just queer femmes like Francesca and me that bother you so deeply? Because your inconsistency is glaring, and honestly, I have no patience for it.

Francesca’s story is love after loss

One key aspect of the outrage is how Francesca’s future romance with Michaela supposedly detracts from her present relationship with John. Fans feel sorry for him, disappointed by the unique, electric connection they shared. But besties, the entire point of Francesca’s storyline is a second-chance romance. Her book is literally dedicated to love after loss.

Yes, her story deals with infertility (more on that to come), but it’s equally about the capacity to love more than one person in different ways. Most of us won’t end up with our high school sweetheart, or the person we adamantly declared to our besties was THE ONE. No, really. Most of us experience multiple relationships before we find the person whose morning breath is a worthy sacrifice.