I'm rewatching the show and something interesting about Herb's public outing is that he was arrested for public sexual acts. And now this recontextualizes the entire point of what this moment represents for Bojack's character.

While this 100% became publicized and an issue bc he's gay, and a straight man would have probably gotten a slap on the wrist and protected by the network, I still think if it somehow became news there would have been fan outcry for his termination if it was made a big deal in the media.

If Horsin' Around is basically Full House, the straight edged fan base would have been likely ravenous to stick it to him for "desecrating" their sacrosanct and wholesome programing with anything they deemed uncomfortable. This was a time where fundementalists had that kind of power in media and would have used it. Which could have lead to Herb's firing anyways (though maybe not if he was straight if he apologized but let's assume it would have).

My point is that take the gay aspect out and what Herb did was an illegal act by having sex in public technically for any orientation and thus making a decision to risk his career and jeapordize the show. This isn't like him just risking his career to be his true self and express his sexual orientation publically like any human deserves to do by just being openly gay, this was him doing it in a way that many could realistically have an issue with regardless of who he's sleeping with.

And Ignoring my feelings of how asinine it is that people would care about that kind of shit to protest and that people care that much about someone's sex life with other adults they don't even know, the reality is Herb knew the risk when he did it.

So is Bojack really an asshole for not following Herb? Esp when the network lied and told him they'd let him leave with Herb. In his situation he'd be risking his career and paying for the actions another adult chose to do.

I think it's interesting how the writers decided to not make this a situation where Herb was just outted but was arrested. Bc if he was just outted, like a tabloid caught a picture of him at a gay club, which lead to Herb being fired then yes Bojack would be an asshole for not following him. As then there is no argument Herb didn't anything wrong except being his true self in a world that hates it.

And Herb even says his issue with Bojack was completely abandoning him as a friend afterward. I think this is a scenario where Bojack actually didn't really do the wrong thing but his self hatred is so powerful he couldn't reconcile it and that lead him to believe he shouldn't talk to Herb again and that's the real message.

That Bojack could have made it right and even come to terms with Herb about not following him but it's Bojack's internal emotional turmoil that made him make it worse. He didn't have the emotional maturiy and strength to find some grey area and still be there for Herb even if he couldn't follow him. Bojack sees everything black and white and that's often the cause of so much of his actions.

I'm not saying Bojack shouldn't have walked. I'm saying that I can understand why Bojack didn't and how it can be justifiable. What makes Bojack the selfish asshole and what I think the point was based on these specifics and the show in its entirety is more complex than that one decision as he had numerous ways to compensate but didn't and leaned into it bc that's all part of Bojack's darkness.