98
It was super (mario) controversial at the time, he put his career on the line and evangelical groups wanted his head, but he ended up being on the right side of history.
He showed that giant turtle dragon dinosaurs of any orientation can make it to the top, and be flung face-first into a spiky floating sky mine.
Is it really affirmation if he says it as he throws Bowser to his death?
Really makes it seem like Mario is a proponent of "Bury your gays"
It's all kayfabe and stuntmen, as seen in Mario Kart and Mario Party, so dw
Okay but we as the audience are still supposed to suspend our disbelief and interpret it as Mario (the character) killing Bowser (the character)
Also, if it's all kayfabe and stuntmen, how do we know that Bowser isn't straight in real life and gay in kayfabe?
Or if Mario is straight in kayfabe and gay irl?
The mystery deepens...
Mario is ace^1^. Luigi is straight^2^. Wario is gay^3^ and Waluigi is both transmasc and pansexual^4^.