Bette Midler AND Macy Gray attempt to walk back on their comments with mixed results

Bette Midler and Macy Gray react to controversy. 

 

After a poorly worded tweet criticising gender inclusive terminology, Bette Midler has addressed the backlash in further messages, while Macy Gray appears to be dealing with it by gaslighting us all.

What a week it’s been and it’s only Wednesday!

 

After one of the OG gay icons, Bette Midler, appeared to be using transphobic language by castigating the use of inclusive gender terminology, she seems to have taken the backlash to heart and attempted to clarify what she meant.

 

 

She clearly does mean to talk about women but one read of the article in question only reveals it to be another deep dive into how trans rights and women’s rights are projected as being in conflict, when when in reality, they are not.

 

The use of trans inclusive language, as has been broadly explained by many, doesn’t take anything away from anyone’s personal experience – and suggesting that it does simply amplifies anti-trans rhetoric being peddled by those who are seeking to invalidate people. 

 

 

READ:  Everyone is talking about Jon Stewart's glorious takedown of Arkansas Attorney General over trans rights. Watch for yourself.

Also complaining about the term ‘pregnant people’ whilst being unduly militant about ‘female only spaces’ basically means neither trans men or trans women have the right to be included. And there’s only one word for that.

Bette is, of course, an icon and perhaps just needs one of her old bath-house pals to school her just a little on the nuances of this ever-changing cultural divide. 

 

Meanwhile, after being egged on by Piers Morgan, singer Macy Gray seems to have been taken aback by the criticism she clearly knew would be coming. In a statement to Rolling Stone, she said:

 

“I have nothing but love for the LGBTQ+ and transgender community and have been a supporter since Day One. My statement on Piers Morgan was grossly misunderstood. I don’t hate anyone. I respect everyone’s right to feel comfortable in their bodies and live their own truth.”

 

Unfortunately you only have to watch the clip (below) to see that she knew it would cause offence… and lo and behold it did so it’s hard to believe it could be ‘grossly misunderstood’.

Gray also appears to have deleted tweets made following the Morgan interview, where she initially doubled-down on her sentiments, in a post shared by JK Rowling saying “truth hurts”.

 

As with Bette, it seems to be another case of not thinking before they spoke. Railing against inclusive terminology makes you look like you’re NOT inclusive but once again collating surgery with womanhood is missing the point entirely.

 

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