Actress Blake Lively is being called out online for language she used more than a decade ago to describe transgender-identifying people.
The 36-year-old is currently promoting the drama “It Ends With Us,” which has drama of its own due to the way the film portrays domestic violence. There has also been criticism of some cast members, including previous comments that have been interpreted by some as transphobic.
One X user posted a screenshot of an old quote from Lively that said, “I hope to have a few girls one day. If not girls, they better be trannies. Because I have some amazing shoes and bags and stories that need to be appreciated.”
Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you.
sometimes ill be quietly going about my day and then ill remember the time blake lively said this to a journalist pic.twitter.com/SIHZcrlzui
— joshua 🍒 (@joshcharles_21) August 18, 2024
She made the statement in 2012 while speaking with Elle Magazine, per Page Six.
The post blew up online, receiving 3.6 million views and inspiring strong reactions. Some followers were annoyed with the actress for using that word while others defended her, pointing out it was a different time.
“You just blew up the whole smear campaign with this one,” one commenter replied.
“Im kinda her biggest critic/hater right now but I must say that the word ‘tranny’ wasn’t seen as derogatory back in those days. It was just short for transexual,” another person argued.
WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI
The original poster doubled down with a follow-up, posting another screenshot of an article calling out Lively for using the word at the time.
“This article was published the same month she said this quote, btw. to suggest using the term as a straight woman was acceptable in 2012 is misguided at best and just straight up ignorant at worst – she straight up should have known better,” the X user insisted.
The article quoted a 2009 interview Lively did with Allure. She said at the time, “I feel like a tranny a lot of the time. I don’t know, I’m… large? They put me in six-inch heels, and I tower over every man. I’ve got this long hair and lots of clothes and makeup on. I just feel really big a lot of the time, and I’m surrounded by a lot of tiny people. I feel like a man sometimes.”