Caitlyn Jenner Goes From LGBT ‘Icon To Outcast’ After Hillary Clinton Slams & Donald Trump Defense? ‘Cait’ Ratings Crash
Caitlyn Jenner inspired and informed when she took on the challenge of revealing her transition from reality TV star Bruce Jenner, Olympic winner, and ex of Kris Jenner, to Caitlyn Jenner. Many in the transgender and general LGBT community hoped that through Caitlyn, the LGBT community would achieve more acceptance. But with recent revelations about her conservative political stance, including slamming Hillary Clinton and defending Donald Trump, Jenner has become an outsider herself, according to what some LGBT activists told The Wrap in its examination of how Caitlyn “went from icon to outcast.”
It was in April 2015 that Caitlyn opened up about her life in that famous interview with Diane Sawyer. With approximately 17 million viewers listening, it seemed like a triumph for others who were transgender. But now, as Jenner seems increasingly included to live in her own world, holding onto values from her old life, there’s concern.
Another trans activist, Sarah McBride, also revealed to The Wrap her insight about the LGBT community in general with regard to the rise in feelings against Caitlyn.
“I’m definitely seeing a growing frustration within the LGBT community with Caitlyn’s positions and actions. Her most recent comments about Ted Cruz were, for a lot of people, the last straw.”
Jenner has been outspoken about her backing for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Although Cruz recently remarked that permitting boys with all their “God-given equipment” to share shower rooms with girls was “lunacy,” Caitlyn praised him, volunteering to serve as “trans ambassador” for the “very articulate” Cruz.
Candid about being a conservative Republican, Jenner also dished on her reality TV show, I Am Cait, about Donald Trump.
“I think he would be very good for women’s issues,” insisted Caitlyn.
“[Jenner] has expressed on the show that she’s concerned about the national debt,” pointed out McBride. “But Ted Cruz isn’t the anti-deficit candidate, he’s the anti-LGBT candidate.”
Within the LGBT community, some are concerned that trans people remain somewhat on the outside. But hopes that Caitlyn would be the one to help rise their profile in a positive way have diminished, along with the ratings for I Am Cait. A recent episode attracted about 2 million viewers less than the premiere, and over 500,000 down from the final episode of the first season of Jenner’s reality TV show, which many had hoped would offer a realistic look into the lives of the trans community.
Why has Caitlyn disappointed so many? Is it only her politics, or does it go beyond that into the dramatic difference in her lifestyle and those of most individuals? The concern for some is that Jenner has the big bucks and the backing to do almost anything she desires, separating her from those who struggle to support themselves on a daily basis. Then there’s the question of whether Caitlyn has sought to become educated about LGBT issues.
Jenner, for example, initially admitted she had no knowledge of what HRC meant, which represents the nation’s biggest LGBT organization (Human Rights Campaign). And that’s also disappointed some activists.
Hopes that the second season of I Am Cait would reveal that Caitlyn had become more knowledgeable about issues facing the LGBT community were dashed on the premiere when Jenner made it clear that her politics have not changed. Caitlyn was outspoken against Hillary Clinton.
“If we are unfortunate enough to get Hillary [Clinton] as our next president, we need her on our side. But she won’t be. [Clinton] couldn’t care less about women, she only cares about herself…these girls think that now that I have transitioned that everything has to change. You can’t be conservative anymore, you have to be a liberal. No, I don’t believe that.”
However, Jenner has been honest about her politics since that first interview with Diane Sawyer, when she discussed her Republican choice. Caitlyn followed it up with an Ellen DeGeneres show appearance, confiding that she views herself as traditional and finally conceding that if gay marriage was really important, she would “go with it.”
But despite a recent protest, when those against Jenner described her as both “an insult to trans people” and “an insult to women,” some still defend Caitlyn for what she has accomplished.
“She’s been a net positive,” emphasized Mara Kiesling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “I don’t agree with everything she’s saying … but for a lot of people she’s a real inspiration and she’s gotten the media to focus on trans issues.”
I Am Cait shows the response from Caitlyn’s friends about her political views, pointed out the Advocate.
When Jenner insisted that Donald Trump would be “very good for women’s issues,” her pal Jenny Boylan made her feelings clear.
“Kill me now,” groaned Boylan.
And all of Caitlyn’s friends joined in supporting Hillary Clinton after Jenner slammed Clinton.
“I would never, ever, ever vote for Hillary. … If Hillary becomes president, the country is over,” insisted Caitlyn, calling Clinton a “lousy senator…f*****g liar…[and] political hack.”
As for whether I Am Cait can return to its high point when it comes to ratings, the number of viewers is shockingly down, pointed out the Hollywood Reporter.
Even though the first season never achieved the high number of viewers (2.7 million viewers) of that first episode, the second season is the first to have an episode go below 1 million viewers. Will politics bring them back, or will Jenner’s conservative stance push viewers further away?
[Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Glamour]
