Papa & Daddy, Asia’s very first gay parenting series, will be made available worldwide on GagaOOLala starting April 23rd, 2021.
Taking the role of gay characters on screen for the first time, Papa & Daddy stars the two-time recipient of the Malaysia Golden Awards, Melvin Sia (Romantic Delicacies, Love Destiny, V-Focus), and rising Taiwanese actor, Mike Lin (Love & TT, The Outsiders).
The six-episode gay family comedy, supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, is written and directed by Nancy Chen and stars Malaysian Chinese actor and singer Melvin Sia (謝佳見) and Taiwanese actor Mike Lin (林輝瑝).
“I am highly honored to have had the chance to take on the role of Damian and have done my level best to rightfully portray his character,” said Melvin Sia in a press conference last April 21.
In addition, Sia noted that while the world is gradually accepting LGBTQ+ community, Asia is largely lacking behind.
“Thus, with Papa & Daddy and GagaOOLala, I genuinely believe we can reach out to a larger online audience and ultimately, amplify the message of love and acceptance, diversity, and equality for all, regardless of one’s sexual orientation,” Sia stated.
The story behind the series is inspired by the life of Mr. Jay Lin, the founder and CEO of GagaOOLala, and Lin’s personal experience of being a gay dad and raising two children of his own.
“As a gay parent myself, I have heard people question whether children raised under LGBTQ+ households could grow up physically and psychologically healthy. I see Papa & Daddy as a personal opportunity to help shape the narrative on the modern family and in the process assist LGBTQ+ individuals who have contemplated starting a family,” said Lin.
With Papa and Daddy, Nancy Chen, Taiwanese director (Big Three Dragons, HIStory4) and screenwriter (A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities, 2018), brings to life a tale that centers around a gay couple raising a child together, and the joys and challenges that come with juggling the obligations of family, work, romance, and, ultimately, societal acceptance.
The first two episodes of Papa & Daddy will be available on GagaOOLala on April 23rd, with a new episode every week. The first episode will be available for free.
Watch here the trailer and the “Merry Together” lyric video here.
