Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher is weathering backlash after making transphobic jokes about Caitlyn Jenner on his show. Jenner announced she will run to be governor of California if current Gov. Gavin Newsom is recalled.
Jenner’s candidacy “landed with a thud” and she quickly became the butt of jokes online. Maher’s jabs, however, went too far.
Related: O.J. Simpson rants about trans women in sports & blames Caitlyn Jenner
Despite so much fodder for ridicule and mockery, Maher went for the lowest blows. Maher “joked” about the former Olympian’s genitals.
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“I know you think of her as a reality show star, but come on, people change. She is trans, rested and ready,” he started. “She’s got a great slogan: take the ‘sack’ out of Sacramento.”
“But Caitlyn Jenner is a very lifelong Republican. I love that about her. Wasn’t always sure about the man-woman thing, but low capital-gains taxes? Born that way!’
“And a lot of people, of course, are saying, ‘Isn’t it strange for a trans woman to be in a party that is passing anti-trans laws all over the country?'” he continued. “And Caitlyn said, ‘Yeah, I get that. It’s just something about being in a party that doesn’t respect me that makes me feel like I’m home with the Kardashians.'”
Jenner, a former Trump supporter, is one of the best-known trans people in America, but she has been a lightning rod for criticism among LGBTQ people. She has made waves for her tactless comments and support for the Republican party while it relentlessly attacks the trans community.
She isn’t the only LGBTQ candidate who may run for governor. Former out U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell is allegedly interviewing campaign strategists and talking to potential major donors and will be ready to pounce according to Politico.
Grenell said he isn’t running, but so did Jenner earlier this month when her possible gubernatorial campaign was getting attention and in February when rumors of her campaign started.
Gov. Newsom has a long history of supporting LGBTQ equality.
All of Twitter: Criticize Jenner's gubernatorial run because she is inexperienced and a terrible choice from a policy perspective. Do NOT engage in anti-trans BS.
Bill Maher, predictably: engage in anti-trans BS, got it https://t.co/CMdpWdRPk5
— Dr. Melanie Wilcox (@melmwilcox) April 24, 2021
Both are such awful people, hopefully they cancel each other out?
Bill Maher mocks Caitlyn Jenner's run for California governor https://t.co/kwInkwYkNw via @MailOnline— Krysz😷💉 (@edwood_k) April 24, 2021
Bill Maher isn’t funny, transphobia isn’t funny, no matter who the subject. Jenner’s politics are shit, but she doesn’t deserve an @HBO relic’s transphobic derision. https://t.co/6iNkeFQkxL
— 𝐇JM (@hmriffbroker) April 25, 2021
My dream is to be the “cancel culture” that ends Bill Maher’s show and replaces it with something funny and worthwhile. Let me be that show.
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) April 20, 2021
