Cole Escola’s Sexuality Explained: What Fans Need to Know About One Piece’s Bon Clay Star

Netflix went and did the obvious-smart thing: Cole Escola is playing Bon Clay in One Piece season 3. If you know the character, you can probably see why that fit has fans buzzing.

Why this casting just makes sense

Escola publicly came out as non-binary in 2022 and uses they/them pronouns. They have been very open about their identity and experiences, and they have become a visible presence for queer folks across TV and on stage. None of that changes the plot of One Piece, but it does make this particular piece of casting feel more dialed-in than usual. The show is putting a character who plays with gender on screen, and they hired an actor who actually lives that experience. Simple, effective.

A quick refresher on Bon Clay

In One Piece, Bon Clay proudly calls himself an "okama" and leans into both masculine and feminine traits. He flat-out says he is both a man and a woman. More importantly, his story is about loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice. He is flamboyant and funny, sure, but the series consistently treats him as a big-hearted, honorable friend who shows up when it counts. That nuance matters.

The bigger picture

Eiichiro Oda has long gotten credit for giving Bon Clay a layered portrayal of gender fluidity in a mega-popular series, and One Piece has other characters pushing on traditional gender roles too, like Emporio Ivankov. Casting Escola continues that thread in live action. Aligning the character with an openly non-binary performer is a meaningful step for representation, and it signals that the adaptation is interested in getting this right rather than just borrowing the look.

• Netflix confirmed Cole Escola will play Bon Clay in One Piece live-action season 3.
• Escola came out as non-binary in 2022 and uses they/them pronouns.
• Bon Clay is a flamboyant, gender-fluid character who declares he is both man and woman and is defined by loyalty, courage, and selflessness.
• One Piece has a track record of gender-diverse characters (see: Emporio Ivankov), and Oda’s handling of Bon Clay has been widely praised.
• The live-action series is currently streaming on Netflix; season 3 is on the way.

Where this leaves us

Putting a non-binary actor in a role that plays openly with gender isn’t just good optics; it makes the character feel more grounded and respectful. It also builds hype for season 3 without a single new fight scene. I’m curious to see how Escola threads the needle between Bon Clay’s big theatrical energy and his very real emotional core. Feels like the right person for a character who’s larger-than-life but never a joke.