Pikachu Embraced as an Icon in LGBTQ+ Culture

Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, the dynamic duo behind the Las Culturistas podcast, recently hosted the fifth installment of their Culture Awards, which aired on Bravo. This variety show, cleverly disguised as a serious awards ceremony, celebrated quirky categories like “Fastest Four-Legged Mammal” and “The Break Me Off a Piece of That Award for Man We Wanna Dip in the Chocolate.” If you’re among the few who subscribe to Peacock, you can catch the entire show there, while the rest of us are left enjoying clips of the highlights and special guest appearances circulating online. One standout guest was none other than Pikachu.

Yang and Rogers delivered a campy rendition of the original Pokémon anime theme song, complete with dancers dressed as trainers from the series, wielding props resembling the tall grass found in classic Pokémon games where players encounter wild creatures. And who do they discover in that grass? The iconic little yellow Pokémon himself.

For those unfamiliar, the Pikachu on stage wasn’t just any costume; it was an official mascot you might spot at events like Go Fest and the World Championships. This performance marked a unique collaboration between the show and The Pokémon Company, showcasing Pikachu alongside some rather risqué performers. It’s a notable evolution for a brand that usually guards its image closely (unless you’re the U.S. government, of course). The official Pokémon account even chimed in on Instagram, calling it the “most iconic performance” of the evening.

You can check out the performance featuring Yang, Rogers, and Pikachu below. The duo definitely brought their vocal A-game!