I think the conversation behind all of this is very fair. I also think that there are many other characters that have been designed over the years to be lusty, like I said in my post. I think Chance in particular was re-designed to stand on her own and minimize sexuality, which I found a really interesting approach to the character, not to say either was bad. Perhaps Eddie was not designed to be that way in his earliest iteration (i believe there is literally a canonical line that describes him as “ugly”), but I also think that the intention has changed this year and I think it is, indeed, intentional. I think this would be as creepy as saying that the Mardi Gras performers are “hot” and I believe that some of them are, and I think this is also on purpose! Perhaps this is wrong of me. I don’t think this automatically means I am trying to sexually assault them. I’ve been to a casting for Mardi Gras and they literally ask one to take their shirt off. In Mardi Gras, I do not believe this is done to create a scary or intimidating ambiance. As a side note, I’ve also been groped while performing at Halloween Horror Nights, and I was wearing what were essentially street clothes without a lick of blood. I understand the fears of sexualization of characters - but once again, Mardi Gras is very intentional and even more laser-focused on alcohol sales, if we’re going to go in this direction. If either event is explorative (I think they BOTH are), I think Mardi Gras is the one to investigate first.
Whether he was initially created to look the way he does or not, I think even the most entrenched insiders can agree that this year he was asked to play that way, got attention from event goers, and then was nearly asked to “kill Jack” at the end of the event. I imagine that, had things gone differently or if his characterization was poorly received that creative would not have even considered this final staging. If we are only to judge a character on how they were intended to appear, I don’t think the Storyteller would have turned into a demon in the house this year, nor would Chance have evolved. I think it is fair to say that the original concept of Eddie evolved this year, too. I can’t imagine the first version of Eddie being in a COMEDY zone, especially as he was envisioned as a terrorist originally.
I’m not intending to follow an actor home, and I agree, following an actor home is HORRIBLE. I am merely saying that, in the spirit of American Horror Story, the literal go-go girls in cages at this event in years past, Lady Luck, MOST classic horror including A Nightmare On Elm Street, and countless other horror and horror-adjacent forms of media, lust and sex are central and intentional.
Horror and sex go together so intrinsically that it is made fun of in both Scream and Cabin In The Woods. They are both heightened senses of awareness, and so many horror films and even scenes in Horror Nights past have used this trope for comedic purpose and distractive purpose. I am not trying to stalk any particular performers, and I think it’s sad that all of my analysis was boiled quickly down to the incorrect assumption that I want Eddie to come to the event because I want to sleep with his performer - I find this really unfair. I wrote many other reasons why the character does, indeed, stand on his own - in the way that any of the two-dimensional cardboard cutouts of horror tropes that are the “Icons” stand on their own. In the end, the performances are what creates the character, as well as whatever backstory they are willing to provide. I think Eddie’s backstory is probably more involved than Storyteller’s, maybe even moreso than Lady Luck.
Legacy, if I am to be so bold as to offer a take, I think that it isn’t so much of a leap to say that Eddie’s obsession with movies and ultimate turn as a “puppet master” of a street devoted to movies would indicate that he is aware of glamour, horror movie tropes, and appearances. I mean I also think that’s why he has a big freaking chainsaw, because it’s like the ultimate trope. I also think he’s hiding something horrific under the mask, which is also a very specific movie trope. But yes, I agree, even if the character is aware of his siren powers (like Director or Luck or even Storyteller), the scary part is the chainsaw. I would also go to the fact that many have said artistic directors were asking the actors to be aware of their sexuality - and this I think would constitute a creative decision for the character, though I don’t know the details of these rumors, so I can’t comment with full certainty or knowledge.
Without the voice of the actor here, I think that much of the commentary is moot here, anyway, but I don’t think this discounts my observation of public perception of the character.