Max Adler, who plays Dave Karofsky on
Glee, has said his onscreen romance with Kurt Hummel (played
by Chris Colfer) is not driven by lust.
During the show's second season, the
closeted bully endlessly tormented Kurt for being gay. Dave was
working though his feelings and appeared to be on the brink of coming
out gay during the season's final chapters. In Prom Queen,
Dave declined Kurt's prodding to come out to the school.
In this week's episode, titled On My
Way, Dave attempted to kill himself after Kurt rejected his
advances and his teammates tormented him when they discovered he is
gay.
In an interview with Entertainment
Weekly, Adler applauded Glee producers for taking
risks with his character.
“As an actor to portray this role on
a show like this has been the most amazing opportunity that I could
have asked for,” Adler said. “I was incredibly happy that they
were brave enough and honest enough to go there because I think it's
a very prevalent issue now in the world.”
On Dave proclaiming his love for Kurt,
Adler said he suspected his character is more likely in admiration of
his former classmate.
“To me it's never been lustful or
sexual,” Adler said. “It's always that connection of really
admiring Kurt for being the only person Karofsky sees that's truly
himself. … Kurt is like this beacon of hope and how it could be for
Karofsky. It's not so much he wants him in a romantic way.”