At a recent Collider Ladies Night After Dark panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Alexandra Shipp opened up about the lasting legacy of Love, Simon and how it helped shape a more inclusive future for LGBTQ+ storytelling on screen.
The actress first made waves in Hollywood with standout performances in biopics like Straight Outta Compton and blockbusters like X-Men: Apocalypse, where she portrayed a young Storm. But it was her role as Abby Suso in the 2018 teen rom-com Love, Simon that cemented her place in the hearts of queer audiences everywhere.
In the film, Shipp played one of Simon Spier’s close friends, offering support, sass, and vulnerability as Simon navigated his journey of coming out. While the story centered on Simon (played by Nick Robinson), it was the cast’s ensemble dynamic that made the film feel like a warm hug to so many viewers.
The Impact of Love, Simon
During the SDCC panel, Shipp was asked to recall the first time she felt the true power of her work. Without hesitation, she pointed to Love, Simon.
“I did a little movie called Love, Simon, and I remember when we were doing the press tour for it, how many young kids were coming up and saying that it was inspiring for them to come out to their families,” she said. “And what was also beautiful was parents who came up to us and said, You showed us how to accept our child the right way.”
Shipp emphasized how powerful media can be in shaping how people treat one another. “With TV and film, we have this finite amount of time to set the bar for human beings and how we should act through representation,” she explained. “For people to see something and go, Oh, that’s how you tell someone I love you the right way—it really kind of makes a difference.”
A Domino Effect in Queer Storytelling
Since the film’s release, Shipp says she’s seen a noticeable ripple effect in how queer stories are told. “I was able to kind of feel that, and since that movie, see kind of a domino effect when it comes to queer representation in TV and film. So I was like, Oh hell yeah. That’s what we do.”
Following Love, Simon’s success, the Love, Victor spinoff series launched on Hulu, bringing even more queer love stories to the forefront. And Shipp herself has continued to support LGBTQ+ narratives, both on screen and off, as an openly queer actress using her platform to push for authentic, joyful representation.
Coming Out at 28
In a deeply personal Instagram post, she shared her own coming out journey—one marked by fear, pressure, and ultimately, self-love.
“Hi. I didn’t come out until I was 28,” she wrote. “Though I don’t believe in regrets, this would definitely be #1 for myself. I denied denied denied. I struggled with not only my sexuality, but my femininity. I was scared it was too late. I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to get work. I was scared no one would ever love me. Scared. Scared. Scared.”
Her honesty resonated with many. “It’s exhausting being scared all the time. It’s exhausting chasing other people’s ideas and opinions of who you should be,” she wrote. “Today I’m happy in ways I don’t think my kid self could imagine. I get to be exactly who I want to be EVERY F*CKING DAY and it feels incredible!! It’s never too late to be you.”
In the face of industry pressure, Shipp has chosen authenticity over fear. “If I don’t work because of a flawed, racist and homophobic system, then it was never the right thing for me,” she stated. “I’m not denying anything anymore. I’m not scared anymore. I have #pride in who I am and what I’m doing on this planet. I am myself and I love LOVE.”
