Amy Schneider, who just became the newest Jeopardy! champion, has addressed some transphobic comments she’s received since setting the new record. Schneider, who is transgender, received tons of comments stating that “she’s a man,” and hit back at the trolling comments in a tweet on New Year’s Eve.
“I’d like to thank all the people who have taken the time, during this busy holiday season, to reach out and explain to me that, actually, I’m a man,” she writes in the spirit of sarcasm. “Every single one of you is the first person ever to make that very clever point, which had never once before crossed my mind.”
Amy Schneider, new ‘Jeopardy!’ champ, has a message for the haters
I’d like to thank all the people who have taken the time, during this busy holiday season, to reach out and explain to me that, actually, I’m a man. Every single one of you is the first person ever to make that very clever point, which had never once before crossed my mind 🙏
— Amy Schneider (@Jeopardamy) December 31, 2021
Schneider broke an incredible record of the most consecutive wins by a woman contestant on Dec. 28th, with 21 wins in a row. This record had previously been set by Julia Collins in 2014. A lot of the hate comments came in for Schneider with people saying she wasn’t actually female at birth, so that she shouldn’t qualify for setting this record.
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Despite all of the hate comments, Schneider got a lot of praise, too, for sticking up for herself. “As a pastor, I want to apologize for what you’ve had to endure,” one fan responded to Schneider. “It is my tradition that owns the sin of homo/transphobia. I’m grateful, tho, [sic] for your strength, and for not believing those vicious lies. Thank u for your strength, for standing tall, and inspiring us. Peace to you.”
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Scheider has even changed the beliefs and opinions of some at-home viewers. “Somehow, after 2-3 years of conversation, you being on Jeopardy every night has taught my dad to be accepting of trans people,” one Twitter user says. “You’re the first person he’s used correct pronouns with, an 83-year-old man, saying ‘this isn’t too hard.'”
