He's been honoured with the role of Disney's first openly gay character, but just don't ask Josh Gad about marriage equality.
While he says he is "proud" to play LeFou, who subtly reveals his desire for antagonist Gaston (Luke Evans) in Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, legalising same-sex marriage is a topic that he says is too controversial for discussion.
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Josh Gad from Beauty and the Beast
US actor Josh Gad, in Sydney for the premiere of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, talks to Fairfax's Sarah Thomas about his character LeFou, his time at NIDA and why he hates Vegemite.
The American comedian, most famed for voicing Olaf in Frozen, has spoken in the past about his brother (his "role model") who is "gay and married." When asked if he had any message for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to bring about change in Australia, Gad and his Disney minders were reluctant to respond.
"I'm going to stay out of that one. I don't need that controversy," Gad told Fairfax Media at the Sydney premiere of the film, before being swiftly led away by his publicity team.
Next up on the red carpet was KIIS 1065 Kyle and Jackie O Show's reporter, who asked Gad if he uses fur oil like his co-star Emma Watson and if he has "ever punched a kid?" Disney did not intervene, and he awkwardly laughed and replied, "no".
Gad – and Disney – might have been trying to avoid any further controversy, after the inclusion of a homosexual character was met with a slight backlash – an Alabama drive-in cancelled plans to screen the film, while the Russian government has banned children under 16 from seeing it.
![Josh Gad in Sydney for the Beauty and the Beast premiere.](/web/20170312121305im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/u/6/m/y/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.guv14s.png/1489262350557.jpg)
"It's all been blown out of proportion," Gad said in the one question Fairfax Media asked before same-sex marriage was brought up.
"Hopefully we can get to a time where something like this isn't even a discussion, but what I am proud about is that we have made a movie that speaks to everyone, it's a movie of inclusiveness.
![Gad as Lefou and Luke Evans as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.](/web/20170312121305im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/t/t/8/r/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.guv14s.png/1489262350557.jpg)
"I think that now people are seeing the movie they realise there is no ... controversy. The movie is wonderful and it's for everyone."
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