Dio Brando, or just Dio, is a fictional character in the Japanese manga series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. He was primarily the main antagonist in Part 1, “Phantom Blood”, and Part 3, “Stardust Crusaders”, and the posthumous key antagonist in Part 6, “Stone Ocean”.
Dio is a powerful immortal vampire and was considered the series’ most prolific villain. His character had the greatest impact in the entire series. His defining trait is his staunch ambition, which manifests in an unparalleled desire for power, regardless of the cost. He’s manipulative and violently domineering, and has repeatedly shown a lack of conscience and empathy. He simply wants it all and is living like a wannabe king.
With a character as strong as he is, it’s a surprise why fans of the Japanese manga always question his sexuality. They always see the series’ most talked-about villain as a part of the queer community.
Now, is Dio gay?
VOTE: What is Dio’s Sexuality?
Dio’s Sexuality Explored
Dio is canonically bisexual in both the anime and manga. Hirohiko Araki, the author of the franchise, confirmed the villain’s sexuality himself.
Dio’s sort of a composed character that could go either way. He could go with a man or a woman.”
Araki said in a 2007 Eureka interview
Now let’s take a look at Dio’s queer masculinity.
In the very first episode, Dio, upon learning the romance budding between two other characters, Jonathan and Erina, forcefully took Erina’s first kiss. This is basically to spite Jonathan, his stepbrother and one of his greatest rivals. Erina, in response, washed her lips with water from the muddy puddle. This offended Dio, leading him to strike her.
In the latter part of the series, Dio has been sleeping around with several women. He had at least four children from different mothers — Giorno Giovanna, Donatello Versus, Rikiel, and Ungalo.
In part 6, it was revealed that Dio had previously slept with another male antagonist, Enrico Pucci. When Dio asked Pucci if he would betray him one day, Pucci said he loves Dio as much as he loves god and that he has never even thought of betraying him.
But although the author heavily implied that Dio is bisexual, it was not explicitly stated in the manga or the series. It was only canonically implied. Maybe that’s the reason why the antagonist’s sexuality has remained a debate among some fans.
Fans, however, ship him with his stepbrother and one of his biggest rivals, Jonathan Joestar. JonaDio is the most shipped pairing in the fandom even though both characters hate each other to the core.
Is Dio Gay?
Although often perceived as straight because of his masculinity, Dio Brando is not heterosexual. The villain is bisexual. Dio had slept with a lot of women all throughout the series, but at the same time, he also had ambiguous relationships with other male characters like Pucci.
And as the franchise’s author, Hirohiko Araki, had confirmed himself, Dio Brando “could go either way”. He could be with a man or a woman, it doesn’t really matter. Dio’s sexuality, however, has nothing to do with his villainy.