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Summary
- Paul “Jesus” Rovia, played by Tom Payne, is gay in AMC’s The Walking Dead; in Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s comic he is Paul Monroe and is also gay.
- The show confirmed it in season 7, episode 14, “The Other Side” (19 March 2017), when he tells Maggie he has found it hard to get close to “neighbours, friends… boyfriends.”
- In the comics Jesus and Aaron become a couple; on television they remain close friends.
- Jesus is killed by a Whisperer in “Evolution,” season 9, episode 8 (25 November 2018); in the comics he survives to the final issue, #193.
- The character shares only a nickname with Jesus Christ. The Gospels record no marriage or sexual relationship for Jesus, and churches have traditionally held that he was celibate.
Bibliography (Click to show)
- “Paul ‘Jesus’ Monroe,” Wikipedia (comic and television appearances, change of surname). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_%22Jesus%22_Monroe
- “The Next World,” “The Other Side (The Walking Dead)” and “Evolution (The Walking Dead),” Wikipedia (episode air dates). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Other_Side_(The_Walking_Dead)
- Andrew Trendell, “Latest episode of ‘The Walking Dead’ confirms main character as gay,” NME, 20 March 2017. https://www.nme.com/news/tv/latest-episode-walking-dead-main-character-confirmed-gay-season-7-episode-14-watch-2022931
- Malcolm Venable, “The Walking Dead’s Tom Payne on Why Nobody Should Care Jesus Is Gay,” TV Guide, 19 March 2017. https://www.tvguide.com/news/the-walking-dead-jesus-gay-tom-payne/
- Josh Wigler, “‘Walking Dead’ Star Gets Candid About His Exit: ‘It Was Constant Frustration,’” The Hollywood Reporter, 26 November 2018. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-tom-payne-exits-jesus-fate-explained-1163273
- Noel Murray, “30 Best ‘Walking Dead’ Characters,” Rolling Stone, 7 December 2016. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-lists/30-best-walking-dead-characters-123477/paul-jesus-rovia-104833/
- “Sexuality and marital status of Jesus,” Wikipedia (traditional Christian view). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_and_marital_status_of_Jesus
- Scripture quotations from the English Standard Version (John 11:5; 13:23; Hebrews 4:15).
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