Nick Offerman slams ‘homophobic hate’ over ‘The Last of Us’ episode

Nick Offerman is clapping back at haters. 

Offerman, 53, won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series for his role as Bill in HBO’s “The Last of Us.” 

The ceremony was hosted by former “Saturday Night Live” star Aidy Bryant and took place in Santa Monica, Calif., on Sunday.

Offerman, who also won an Emmy for the role in January, beat nine other actors in the category, including his “The Last of Us” co-star Murray Bartlett, Billie Eilish (“Swarm”), Jack Farthing (“Rain Dogs”), Adina Porter (“The Changeling”), Lewis Pullman (“Lessons in Chemistry”), Benny Safdie (“The Curse”), Luke Tennie (“Shrinking”), Olivia Washington (“I’m a Virgo”) and Jessica Williams (“Shrinking”).

During his acceptance speech, Offerman thanked his wife, “Will and Grace” star Megan Mullally, 65, and HBO.

“Thanks to HBO for having the guts to participate in this storytelling tradition that is truly independent,” he said onstage. “Stories with guts that when homophobic hate comes my way and says, ‘Why did you have to make it a gay story?’ We say, ‘Because you ask questions like that.’”

“It’s not a gay story, it’s a love story, you a–hole,” Offerman went on, which got an applause. 

Offerman was referring to his episode in “Long Long Time,” which first aired on Jan. 29, 2023. 

The show is about Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor in post-apocalyptic America, after the population has been decimated by a zombie-like fungal infection. Joel becomes the unlikely protector of a teen girl, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), as he’s tasked with escorting her across treacherous lands. 

In the third episode, Joel heads to meet Bill (Offerman), an acquaintance, but the majority of the episode is spent on a flashback of Bill’s life with Frank (Bartlett). 

Bill is a misanthropic survivor living alone in a fortified home. When Frank stumbles on his house, Bill distrusts him, but Frank eventually bargains for a hot meal, a shower and clothes. 

The two men end up in an unlikely romance – which was made even more surprising because of the show’s grim tone. The episode follows them through the years, as they’re able to eke out a peaceful existence, despite the world falling apart around them.

Their story has a bittersweet ending: Frank gets a degenerative disease, and Bill decides to die with him, because he’s not interested in living without him. 

Back in the present day, Joel and Ellie find their bodies, and a note from Bill leaving Joel supplies, and describing how loving Frank gave him a purpose. 

Bill and Frank’s story in the show is a departure from the video game that “The Last of Us” was based on. Although Bill is still gay in the game, his relationship with Frank is much less romantic.

“The Last of Us” has been renewed for Season 2, but no premiere date has been announced. Pedro Pascal won a SAG award for his role in the show on Saturday night, beating the “Succession” actors, to his own apparent shock.