It's been more than a decade since the release of Ouran High School Host Club -- and at present, it remains a classic favorite for many fans. Aside from being an iconic series in the shojo and reverse harem genre, Ouran High School Host Club’s takes on LGBTQ+ representation were way ahead of its time. The series’ protagonist, Haruhi Fujioka, is genderfluid while her father is a queer drag queen. However, LGBTQ+ representation throughout the series wasn’t always perfect. Some of these instances were passed off as jokes, harmful stereotypes or simply put in the story for comedic value.
While Ouran High School Host Club may have elicited a “kiss, kiss, fall in love” mood from fans regarding the series as a whole, one aspect of the LGBTQ+ representation in the series was definitely a miss -- the boys love representation. Let’s take a look at the problematic “forbidden brotherly love” trope of the Hitachiin twins, Hikaru and Kaoru.
Each member of the Ouran Academy Host Club has their own image or act to follow in order to sell themselves. As Kyoya puts it, the club members utilize their specific individual traits. In the case of Hikaru and Kaoru, it’s their “forbidden brotherly love” -- which is basically twincest. They act affectionately and touchy toward one another -- from excessive hugging to caressing each other's face -- which can get a little too close for comfort. To appeal to the Host Club’s customers, Hikaru and Kaoru act like lovers -- and the fact that they’re twins adds more “spice” to their image.
The twins capitalize on this trope to appeal to their shipping-obsessed patrons, who soak it all up. As such, it may be argued that what the twins are doing is simply in line with their mischievous personalities and for the sake of fan service. While their trope does add some comedic value to the series, it’s also equal parts just as uncomfortable. Supposedly, the gay acts are just for show for the sake of the Host Club. However, there are instances in the series where the “incestuous brothers” act goes beyond the walls of the club. At the beginning of Episode 15, in the Hitachiin residence, Hikaru and Kaoru are seen sleeping next to each other, shirtless. They continue to be affectionate with one another, just as they usually are when participating in Host Club activities.
Despite the twins mainly doing this for performative value, the message and implications of the portrayal of their relationship are possibly harmful. In a way, it fetishizes incest -- especially since the regulars of Hikaru and Kaoru are seen fangirling with (literal) hearts in their eyes whenever the twins are acting like a couple. Throughout the series, the people who see Hikaru and Kaoru doing the “forbidden brotherly love” act merely accept it -- and are even charmed by it.
Aside from this, it may even be argued that Hikaru and Kaoru are yet another case of queer-baiting in manga and anime. While they do consistently act as if they are sexually and romantically attracted to each other, it's unclear whether Hikaru or Kaoru is actually attracted to or interested in the same sex. In addition, both of them eventually develop feelings for Haruhi.
While it's understood that Ouran High School Host Club is a parody of shojo and otaku culture, some of these topics and tropes may still be potentially harmful, even if it’s just being added for entertainment or comedic value. Highlighting Hikaru and Kaoru’s twincest act throughout the series was a big miss for boys love representation in Ouran High School Host Club. Considering how well the representation was portrayed with Haruhi and Ryoji “Ranka” Fujioka in terms of gender expression and identity, the same could have happened for BL. Instead, the Hitachiin twins ended up becoming part of manga and anime’s long list of harmful BL stereotypes or BL representation gone wrong.
