Lj's Best Man Blunder: What Really Happened?

In the American comedy-drama miniseries *The Best Man: The Final Chapters*, Lance Sullivan's (Morris Chestnut) oldest child, LJ (Eric Scott Ways), comes out as non-binary. Lance initially confiscates LJ's clothes and prays for God to change them. However, by the end of the series, Lance changes his prayer and asks God to help him accept LJ for who they are. Lance also navigates his own prejudices and learns about LJ's authentic life when they go missing, and he frantically searches for them.

LJ comes out as non-binary

In the series "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", Lance Sullivan's oldest child, LJ, comes out as non-binary. LJ is played by Eric Scott Ways. This revelation prompts Lance to go on a journey of self-reflection and acceptance. Initially, Lance struggles to accept LJ's identity, even confiscating the clothes they want to wear. However, by the end of the series, Lance has evolved, and instead of asking God to change LJ, he prays for help to accept them for who they are.

LJ's coming out serves as a foil for Lance's crisis of faith. Lance, a traditional alpha male and religious man, is challenged to reframe his understanding of sexuality and gender. This storyline brings to light the challenges faced by families with LGBTQIA+ children and highlights the importance of love and acceptance.

Morris Chestnut, who plays Lance, shared his thoughts on Lance's reaction to LJ's coming out. He stated that Lance, being a control-oriented person, had to confront something he couldn't control. Chestnut's character eventually realizes that he needs to take responsibility and stop blaming LJ for his problems.

The series explores the dynamic between Lance and LJ, showcasing the growth and transformation of their relationship. While Lance initially responds to LJ's coming out with confusion and resistance, he ultimately moves towards acceptance and support. This evolution in their relationship adds depth to the series and provides a powerful message of love and understanding.

Lance initially confiscates LJ's clothes

Lance Sullivan, played by Morris Chestnut, is a retired NFL player and ladies' man who has always loved his wife Mia. In the first film, Lance almost breaks off his engagement to Mia when he finds out about her past entanglement with his best friend, Harper. In the sequel, Lance is nearing the end of his NFL career and dealing with Mia's illness and death.

In "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", Lance is in the midst of a midlife crisis, having retired from football and still grieving the loss of his wife. On top of that, he is struggling to come to terms with his oldest child LJ's gender identity. LJ, played by Eric Scott Ways, comes out as non-binary and starts using they/them pronouns. Lance's initial response is to confiscate LJ's clothes and pray for God to change them. This is a difficult situation for Lance as he has always been able to control other aspects of his life.

Lance's reaction to LJ's coming out is problematic and he ends up taking away their credit card in addition to throwing away their clothes. However, by the end of the series, Lance has a change of heart and decides to pray for God to help him accept LJ for who they are. This reflects a broader theme in the series of learning to love and accept family members for who they are.

The series also explores Lance's journey of self-discovery as he copes with the loss of his wife. To fill the void, he hooks up with random women, which is a return to his playboy ways before he settled down with Mia. Despite his initial struggles, Lance eventually finds love again and gets engaged.

Lance eventually accepts LJ

Lance's journey towards acceptance is not always graceful, and he makes mistakes along the way. But it is clear that he loves LJ and wants to do what is best for them. He just needs time to process and understand LJ's true, authentic self. By the end of the series, Lance is in a much better place, and he is able to proudly support LJ during a celebration for his jersey retirement. This shows how far Lance has come and that he has truly accepted LJ.

It is important to note that Lance's acceptance of LJ is not just about him coming to terms with their non-binary identity, but also about him learning to let go of his own prejudices and assumptions about gender and sexuality. This is a powerful message and one that many people can relate to, whether they are going through a similar experience with their own children or dealing with their own internalised biases.

Overall, Lance's journey towards acceptance is a heartwarming and inspiring one. It serves as a reminder that love and support for our children should always come first, even when we may not fully understand or agree with their choices. It also highlights the importance of self-reflection and growth, as Lance is able to recognise his own mistakes and work towards being a more accepting and supportive parent.

LJ goes missing

In the series "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", Lance Sullivan's oldest child LJ goes missing, prompting the entire crew to put their issues aside to find them. LJ, played by Eric Scott Ways, is a football prodigy but the sport is not their passion. Their disappearance causes their father Lance, played by Morris Chestnut, to navigate his own prejudice and learn about LJ's true life as he frantically searches for them.

Lance is in the midst of a midlife crisis, having retired from football and grieving the death of his wife Mia. He is also struggling with LJ's gender identity, initially confiscating the clothes they want to wear and praying for God to change them. However, by the end of the series, Lance changes his prayer and asks God to help him accept LJ for who they are.

The disappearance of LJ brings the whole crew together to find them, and in the end, they are successful. LJ is found, and Lance is later seen supporting them during a celebration for his jersey retirement. Lance has also found love again, as his new fiancée sports a huge engagement ring.

Lance supports LJ during a celebration for his jersey retirement

Lance Sullivan, the retired NFL player, is struggling with the loss of his wife and his child's gender identity. LJ, Lance's oldest child, comes out as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. Lance initially confiscates the clothes LJ wants to wear and prays for God to change them. However, by the end of the series, Lance changes his prayer and asks God to help him accept LJ for who they are.

Lance's journey with LJ comes to a head during a celebration for his jersey retirement. The celebration is preceded by a crisis: LJ goes missing, and Lance, along with the rest of their friends, frantically searches for them. During this time, Lance navigates his own prejudices and learns about LJ's authentic life. In the end, they find LJ, and Lance supports them during the celebration honouring his football career.

Lance's growth as a parent and a person is evident in his ability to set aside his differences with LJ and show up for them during the jersey retirement celebration. This moment serves as a turning point in their relationship, as Lance moves from denial and confusion to acceptance and support. It is a powerful example of a parent learning to love and accept their LGBTQIA+ child for who they are.

The jersey retirement celebration is a significant event for Lance, not only because it honours his football career but also because it marks a new beginning in his relationship with LJ. It is a moment of growth, understanding, and, most importantly, love. Lance's ability to put aside his own prejudices and support LJ shows the depth of his love as a parent. This celebration becomes a turning point in their relationship, and it is heartwarming to see Lance standing by LJ and celebrating their true self.

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