Bias Watch

Anti-trans trolls are losing it over this Drew Barrymore interview with Dylan Mulvaney

Anti-trans trolls are losing it over this Drew Barrymore interview with Dylan Mulvaney
Drew Barrymore and Dylan Mulvaney Photo: Screenshot

Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney stopped by The Drew Barrymore Show recently to discuss her ongoing TikTok series, “365 Days of Girlhood.” Predictably, anti-trans trolls on social media have been trying to turn the heart-warming chat into a faux scandal. But Barrymore’s fans are pushing back.

Mulvaney’s project has seen her posting videos every day for the past year, documenting the first year of her transition. The series culminated Monday in a live variety show at New York’s Rainbow Room, marking the one-year anniversary of Mulvaney coming out as trans.

“This is very personal for me,” Barrymore said, welcoming Mulvaney on Monday’s episode of her show. “In a world where we’re all trying to figure out who we’re supposed to be, the risk, the bravery…”

She went on to ask Mulvaney about the advice she was given by trans icon Laverne Cox, and about how she deals with negative and transphobic responses to her content.

“There’s so much hatred directed at the trans community right now,” Mulvaney said. “It’s everywhere. And I think the greatest weapon that I can contribute is trans joy, and comedy and talking about hard subjects and really intricate moments of a transition, and try to let everybody in to see that I’m not a monster. I’m not somebody that is trying to do anything but be myself and be happy.”

Later in the interview, an emotional Barrymore knelt in front of Mulvaney, and the two embraced as Mulvaney slid down to sit beside the host on the floor for a heart-to-heart about how they both deal with negativity. “Thank you for joining me on the floor!” Barrymore said. “The floor always feels safer!”

After a commercial break, Barrymore told Mulvaney how much she’s loved watching her journey. “I think there’s also a way to be taught and educated—to open minds.” she said, “And there are those who can, and I think you have that gift.”

It was a truly lovely moment. But after the episode aired, anti-trans trolls on social media, including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), seized on the moment when Barrymore knelt in front of Mulvaney, mischaracterizing it as “disturbing.”

“A woman fawning over a man in woman face who mocks women and uses them to make money,” one person wrote on Twitter, misgendering Mulvaney. “Is this how sad society has become?! Drew Barrymore should interview a real women and not a fake one who is a mockery and disgrace.”

“Drew Barrymore kneels for Dylan Mulvaney, a man pretending to be a woman, in one of the most bizarre ‘interviews’ you will ever see,” tweeted conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.

Barrymore and Mulvaney’s fans were quick to shut down the hate, however. One noted that Barrymore kneels in front of her guests constantly, regardless of gender, and it had nothing to do with genuflecting before Mulvaney specifically.

Another fan, described in moving terms what it was like to see the Hollywood star show her support for trans people: “Seeing a cis woman literally collapse to her knees with the weight of love and empathy she has for trans people and how much pain she feels for their struggles is actually extremely moving and a sign of someone who truly just wants the best for others with all their heart,” they wrote.

This isn’t the first time Mulvaney has faced transphobic attacks accusing her of performing in “womanface,” a term meant to evoke Blackface that has been growing in popularity among TERFs. Last October, beauty brand Ulta was accused of “erasing women” when they featured Mulvaney on an episode of their YouTube interview series “The Beauty Of…”

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