‘Rugrats’ Betty Will Be Openly Gay in Paramount+ Reboot

Phil and Lil’s mom Betty is getting a fresh update in the Rugrats revival series coming to Paramount+ later this month. According to AV Club, the new Rugrats series features Betty as an openly gay woman. Natalie Morales, a bisexual actor who is voicing Betty in the reboot, described her character as “a single mom with her own business who has twins and still has time to hang out with her friends and her community.”

In a statement shared with AV Club about the new version of her classic cartoon character, Morales said, “anyone who watched the original show may have had an inkling Betty was a member of the alphabet mafia.” She added, “I think it’s just so great because examples of living your life happily and healthily as an out queer person is just such a beacon for young queer people who may not have examples of that.”

Morales said that while Betty may be a fictional cartoon, she still holds plenty of power and influence. “Even cartoons were hugely influential for me as a kid,” she said. “If I’d been watching Rugrats and seen Betty casually talking about her ex-girlfriend, I think at least a part of me would have felt like things might be okay in the future.”

The new Betty has a few other changes, too. She’s a football fan who owns the Betty’s Beans cafe, and she’s not afraid to joke about her past relationships. She’s also getting an updated wardrobe, with creators swapping out her female symbol sweater for a Gemini top.

The Rugrats reboot features beloved characters like Tommy Pickles, Angelica and more, bringing “even bigger adventures” this time around. The Paramount+ series will reunite original voice actors E.G. Daily (Tommy), Nancy Cartwright (Chuckie), Cheryl Chase (Angelica), Cree Summer (Susie) and Kath Soucie (Phil and Lil), and will introduce new talents like Morales, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Timothy Simons, and Nicole Byer.

Catch the Rugrats reboot when it premieres May 27 on Paramount+.

Where to watch Rugrats