Koch’s Take on Being Called Out for His 'Gay Voice'

One of the biggest challenges of being queer in Hollywood is the constant discouragement about achieving success in the industry due to one’s identity. Cooper Koch, a rising star from Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, recounted an experience where a coach claimed he wasn’t landing roles because of his "gay voice." When asked about it during an episode of Watch What Happens Live, he confirmed, "Yeah, that's true."

Koch expressed his shock at the comment, noting it happened even before class began, and that the teacher later shared the conversation with the whole class, making him feel singled out. He humorously mentioned that he can easily switch his demeanor, jokingly greeting another guest, Finneas O'Connell, with a casual, "what's good bro" and a stereotypically "hetero" handshake.

In a 2023 interview with the Edge Media Network, Koch elaborated on his response to such criticism, saying he has developed a thick skin from past experiences, including childhood bullying and being dismissed from a pilot. He asserted that he no longer tolerates such negativity and stated, “If you’re going to judge me based on my voice or mannerisms, then I don’t want to work with you either.”

Koch proudly declared, "I love my gay voice," to which host Andy Cohen replied, "I love your gay voice too." Despite having a limited number of roles in films and series, he made a notable impact as Erik Menéndez in Monsters, even generating buzz with comments about his full-frontal nude scene, clarifying that it was not a prosthetic.

The series has faced criticism from Erik Menéndez himself, who expressed dissatisfaction with Ryan Murphy, the show's creator, claiming the portrayal of their lives was inaccurate and malicious. He shared his feelings through a statement posted by his wife, Tammi Menéndez, on social media, emphasizing his disappointment in how Murphy depicts their story.

In response, Murphy suggested that the Menéndez brothers should be grateful for the attention the show brings, noting they haven’t had such visibility in three decades. Monsters is currently available for streaming on Netflix.