US: Right wing pundit files police report against trans activist
Anti-LGBT activist Ben Shapiro has filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department alleging battery against transgender reporter Zoe Tur.
Shapiro filed the report on Sunday morning, two days after the heated exchange with Tur on a panel discussion over Caitlyn Jenner’s receipt of ESPN’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award, Tur grabbed Shapiro’s neck and warned: “You cut that out now, or you’ll go home in an ambulance.”
Shapiro faced the wrath of transgender activist Zoe Tur live on air, after repeatedly referring to the female reporter with pronouns such as “him” and “sir”.
However, it wasn’t long before the conversation took an ugly turn, after the ultra-conservative Shapiro made a number of transphobic comments – repeatedly referring to both Tur and Jenner as “he”, “him” and “sir”.
Asked by host Dr. Drew Pinsky whether Jenner deserved the award after “fighting a new battle,” Shapiro enquired: “What exactly is the battle?
“I mean, self-definition is what you do, and my baby’s doing it at 18 months old. I was unaware that you get a medal for it.”
Tur, – a former fighter pilot – who was visibly upset by Shapiro’s comments, responded: “Of course she’s brave.
“All those years invested as the sports legend, to come out transgender is horribly difficult. It is the most difficult thing you can do.”
Shapiro responded in typically venomous fashion, saying: “Facts don’t care about your feelings.
“It turns out that every chromosome, every cell in Caitlyn Jenner’s body, is male, with the exception of some of his sperm cells.”
Turning to Ms Tur, Shapiro then asked her, “What are your genetics, sir?”
Placing a hand on her tormentor’s back, Tur warned: “You cut that out now, or you’ll go home in an ambulance.”
Shapiro has justified his report to the police, in an attempt to silence those accusing him of petty attention-seeking.
“Just because the left has designated someone a member of the victim class does not mean that that person gets to infringe the rights of others,” he said told Breitbart News, the ultra conservative website he edits.
“Until the left learns that, their aggression will not stop.”
Shapiro promised that he would be pursuing any possibility of charges regarding alleged criminal threats.
Jenner has received an outpouring of support since her heartfelt speech at the awards – however, not everybody has been so supportive.
Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield rejected the star’s ordeal, saying: “I just know that’s Bruce Jenner and I’ll leave it at that.”
