In light of the recent Roe v. Wade case and being overturned by SCOTUS, many celebrities have come forward with their own messages of protest. Bette Midler and Macy Gray are two people who have come forward with their messages, but received backlash as a result. Midler said, “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name!”
Her tweet continues, “They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators, and even ‘people with vaginas’!,” her tweet reads. “Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”
Fans push back on Bette Midler and Macy Gray for ‘transphobic’ comments
WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! They don’t call us “women” anymore; they call us “birthing people” or “menstruators”, and even “people with vaginas”! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 4, 2022
Her tweet was deemed transphobic by fans, and she quickly addressed the situation, saying, “There was no intention of anything exclusionary or transphobic in what I said; it wasn’t about that.”
RELATED: Bette Midler Has Proposition For Women After New Abortion Law In Texas
Gray, on the other hand, caused upset when she appeared on Fox Nation’s “Piers Morgan Uncensored.” On the show, she said, “I will say this and everyone’s gonna hate me but as a woman, just because you go change your (body) parts, doesn’t make you a woman, sorry.”
Gray later addressed the situation in a statement to Entertainment Tonight, saying that “I have nothing but love for the LGBTQ+ and transgender community and have been a supporter since day one.” She continues, “My statement on Piers Morgan was grossly misunderstood. I don’t hate anyone. I respect everyone’s right to feel comfortable in their bodies and live their own truth.”
One Twitter user said of the situation, “what is it about “womanhood” that TERFs like macy gray and bette midler are so desperate to cling to? trans women existing doesn’t make me any less of a woman, no matter how different our experiences may be. it’s just ridiculous at its core honestly.”
Another said, “SAD NEWS: Macy Gray & Bette Midler have come out as TERFs. Unfollow, un-support, and unsubscribe.” A TERF is a term used to describe “a feminist who excludes the rights of transgender women from their advocacy of women’s rights,” according to a quick Google definition. However, there were still plenty of people in Midler and Gray’s corner, supporting them for their messages.
One fan said, “Macy Gray is completely right for 1) her stance and 2) not bowing down to the mob. Never concede to this lunatics.” Another wrote, “It’s really sad how the truth has become the enemy these days. Bette Milder and Macy Gray didn’t say anything wrong and they are not transphobic for saying what they said.”