Transparent creator apologises for ‘joke’ about Bruce Jenner
Transparent creator Jill Soloway has apologised for posting a joke about former Olympian Bruce Jenner – amid reports that the star will come out as transgender.
Supermarket tabloids in the US have intensely scrutinised the reality star’s appearance for months, with InTouch magazine coming under fire for a crudely photoshopped photo of him as a woman.
Bruce Jenner has not publicly commented on any of the rumours, and has not come out as transgender.
However, Jill Soloway – the creator of trans-focussed Amazon show Transparent – posted a picture to Facebook featuring the Jenner/Kardashian family in the style of the show’s artwork.
She wrote: “I couldn’t not. Someone sent it to me. Tell me it’s wrong and I’ll take it down.”
After a backlash, the TV writer pulled down the image, and posted a lengthy apology.
She wrote: “Yesterday I saw an internet meme of the TRANSPARENT poster with the faces of Bruce Jenner and family photoshopped in to replace the Pfeffermans.
“It was not something we created, but as a long-time Kardashian fan and reality show obsessive, I impetuously regressed to a naïve, teenage self.
“It wasn’t until after I’d posted it on my Facebook page inviting debate that I saw it the way everyone else did: as a cruel mockery of the journey Bruce Jenner may or may not be undertaking.
“I took down the image immediately. Bruce Jenner has not said he is transitioning; his identity is his to share and no one else’s to determine.
“The well-being of the trans community is of utmost importance to me. As a cis woman I will never know what it is like to be trans.
“I acknowledge the hurt and pain of the trans community and welcome their feedback.
“I made a mistake; it was horrible judgment. My complacency is checked and it won’t happen again. Please accept my apology.”
