D.L. Hughley Compares Caitlyn Jenner To Mrs. Doubtfire, Stands By Remarks Despite Criticism
Since Caitlyn Jenner was announced as the recipient of the Arthur Ashe courage award by ESPN, celebrities everywhere have chimed in with their opinions. Comedian D.L. Hughley is the latest, and it looks like no one else laughing.
Hughly was caught by TMZ cameras commenting on Caitlyn receiving the Arthur Ashe award at last week’s ESPYs, and his opinion has been construed as transphobic.
“(Ashe) fought AIDS with dignity and honor, and Caitlyn Jenner put on a dress. I don’t think it’s the same thing,” Hughley said.
TMZ then asked if he thought Jenner was beautiful. D.L. responded with two not-so-flattering comparisons.
“In a Mrs. Doubtfire way, yeah. Bruce Jenner looks like every P.E. teacher I ever had.”
Hughley, however, would not back away from his statement, unlike other celebrities who have been forced to apologize after their initial posts concerning Caitlyn Jenner’s transformations were criticized. D.L. took to Twitter to bolster his argument by posting side-by-side comparisons between the Robin Williams character and Caitlyn. He even memed it with the words, “Somebody Tell me I’m Wrong!”
Somebody tell me I'm wrong #TeamDL pic.twitter.com/RuJeRUyiY7
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) July 18, 2015
Hughley isn’t the first celebrity to come under fire for criticizing the fact that Caitlyn Jenner received the Arthur Ashe courage award. Peter Berg for example was labeled as transphobic for posting derogatory remarks of Caitlyn to his Instagram account. And even though he claimed his intent was merely to focus the media’s attention on our nation’s veterans, Berg was forced to backtrack, posting a follow-up apology.
“I have the utmost respect for Caitlyn Jenner and I am a strong supporter of equality and the rights of trans people everywhere. I also believe that we don’t give enough attention to our courageous returning war veterans, many of whom have sacrificed their bodies and mental health for our country and our principals – principals that include the freedom to live the life you want to live without persecution or abuse.”
Berg eventually deleted the initial post, offering the explanation that he “deleted it because [he was] deeply saddened over the rage and hatred on both sides it [was] responsible for.”
Meanwhile, rapper Snoop Dogg also got in trouble for calling Caitlyn Jenner a “science project” back in June, as reported by the USA Today. Snoop was enraged that the media was focusing on Jenner’s transformation and not the fact that fellow rapper Akon was busy supplying solar power to 600 million Africans. His remarks were immediately lambasted.
Clearly the issue of transphobia is still too sensitive for people to address with anything other than positive commentary — a fact D.L. Hughley is understanding first hand.
[Photo credit: Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images]
