‘I’m grateful to Trump’ says Barry Humphries in transphobia-riddled interview

‘I’m grateful to Trump’ says Barry Humphries in transphobia-riddled interview

Barry Humphries, the performer behind Dame Edna Everage, has doubled down on past transphobic comments and praised Trump in a new interview.

Speaking to the British arm of conservative magazine The Spectator, Humphries speaks of his fondness for the frequently gender-defying art of cabaret while accusing trans activists of “terrible rat-baggery”.

“[Being transgender is] a fashion – how many different kinds of lavatory can you have?” Humhpries said.

“And it’s pretty evil when it’s preached to children by crazy teachers.”

“They had their genitalia chopped off and tucked in and whatever they had to do,” he said, after recalling the time he labelled trans people “mutilated”.

“And that aroused a lot of indignation – probably among the people who’d spent a lot of money having it done. But I don’t think I’m right to pontificate. I’m really an actor.”

“I agree with Germaine [Greer]. You’re a mutilated man, that’s all. Self-mutilation, what’s all this carry-on?” Humphries said in 2016, prompting frustration from the trans community.

In the interview, the writer asks Humphries if he thinks US President Donald Trump has cribbed something from another of his characters, Sir Les Patterson.

“No, I don’t think so. I’m grateful to Trump for stirring up politics. And I won’t be joining any marches against him.”

Humphries ends the interview discussing the process of ageing. “Little things start to fail,” he said.

“I acknowledge Barry Humphries is an artist, performer and entertainer, but that doesn’t mean he’s an expert on transgender issues,” Transgender Victoria executive director Sally Goldner said of Humphries’ past comments.

“I’ll go on my gut instinct that he thinks any publicity is good, like his friend Germaine, that any headline is good.

“His remarks are hateful and promote vilification.”

You May Also Like

3 responses to “‘I’m grateful to Trump’ says Barry Humphries in transphobia-riddled interview”

  1. Quite some time ago, I wrote an article online which was disparaging towards transgender people and was duly taken to task for it. That was fair enough and even though it was quite some time ago, I am fine with apologising for any hurt caused by me here and now.

    People defending Barry Humphries somehow think his entitlement to free speech is being taken away from him. He in fact has more opportunities than most of us – including the majority of transgender people who tend to be ignored by the commercial media.

    At any rate, if you start praising a bigot like Trump you get what you deserve.

  2. A sad and vindictive interview – shame on your ignorance of real transgender issues with no empathy at all – Dame Edna’s true colours !

  3. Mr Humphries. At last I feel I can say out loud that I think you are a…… there are so many expletives pass g a cross my mind…. c….., f….., b….., but most of all you are a sad old buggar. Along with Ms Greer and all the other old farts who think they “know” stuff…. you guys just can’t shut-the-fuck-up about things you know nothing of.

    Try talking to people who live with gender disphoria. Ask them. Find out that maybe others have real issues around gender, sexuality…. things you have never experienced.

    Adult intelligence is required before sprouting off.

    I hope you will gain some ideas from my tiny missive.

    Hail to gender and sexual diversity.

    Phil