Pedro Pascal recently clarified the meaning of the word c—y to co-star Vanessa Kirby in an interview ahead of the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The superhero film, set to premiere later this month, is Marvel’s second reboot of the Fantastic Four series, featuring Pascal as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, and Kirby as Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman.
Behind the Scenes: Vanessa Kirby Reacts to the Term ‘C—y’
During an interview with Pedestrian TV, Vanessa Kirby praised Pedro Pascal while responding to an unexpected compliment connected to her work. The interviewer mentioned that Kirby had become popular on social media for her
“force field snatched c—y fierceness face,”
a phrase that left Kirby puzzled about its meaning. Unsure if it was meant positively or negatively, she admitted,
I don’t know if that’s a good thing.
—Vanessa Kirby. Pascal quickly reassured her, explaining that it was indeed favorable.
C—y face just means fierce, fabulous, beautiful, strong. It’s good, it’s good,
Pascal explained, giving his perspective on the term.
Origins and Cultural Background of the Term ‘C—y’
In a separate conversation with Glamour Magazine, linguist Adam Aleksic provided insight into how the term c—t evolved culturally. He described it as somewhat synonymous with camp and representing an “ironically cool” vibe. Aleksic traced the word’s roots back to its initially misogynistic connotations, but highlighted its reclamation during the 1980s within Black and Latino queer ballroom and drag communities.
Aleksic detailed how these communities, organized into different houses, shared a variety of localized slang which helped create a unique linguistic identity.
And it used to connect to each other, to forge a linguistic identity separate from the straight white norms of the English language,
he explained.
That’s why this language was being created, as a form of identity.
—Adam Aleksic
How Social Media Influenced the Spread of the Word
The linguist also discussed the phenomenon called context collapse, where terms like c—t are picked up and used by people unfamiliar with the original meaning, leading to broader normalization. He noted that social platforms accelerated this process, somewhat neutralizing the word’s charged origins and spreading its use beyond the original communities.
Upcoming Release and Cast Details for Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled to debut in theaters on July 25, 2025. Alongside Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, the cast includes Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, promising a fresh take on the iconic superhero team and continuing Marvel’s reboot efforts.
