I’m a Celeb has only just started and Caitlyn Jenner has already been misgendered by one of the show’s hosts
Joel Dommett referred to Caitlyn Jenner as a “guy” on I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp
This year’s offering of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here has just begun, but trans contestant Caitlyn Jenner has already been misgendered by a television host.
I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp host Joel Dommett has faced criticism over the comment in which he referred to Jenner as a “guy”.
“Two athletes, Caitlyn and James ended up in Snake Rock, I can’t believe that the two fittest guys, you know?” Dommett said.
Twitter user Corrie David hit out at Dommett over the comment and said they were “disappointed and angered” it had happened.
Twitter users urged Joel Dommett to be more careful when speaking about Caitlyn Jenner going forward.
“Can’t believe @ITV2 didn’t brief their staff on trans issues and how damaging comments like this could be before allowing them to present?” they wrote. “Lazy and disrespectful.”
Disappointed and angered by this comment tonight. Can’t believe @itv2 didn’t brief their staff on trans issues and how damaging comments like this could be before allowing them to present? Lazy and disrespectful @ITV @imacelebrity @Ofcom pic.twitter.com/eTMFhzK7N6
— Corrie David (@CorriesComments) November 18, 2019
As if @joeldommett referred to Caitlyn as a “guy” live on air #ImACeleb #ImACelebrityGetMeOutOfHere https://t.co/YiLd3r1a5l— Mared (@maredparry) November 18, 2019
Dommett was also criticised by other Twitter users who suggested that the host needed to be more careful going forward in how he refers to Jenner.
Two athletes, Caitlyn and James ended up in Snake Rock, I can’t believe that the two fittest guys, you know?
The backlash comes after the latest season of I’m a Celebrity kicked off last night – and Jenner has already been subjected to a lion’s share of transphobia.
Jenner’s deadname – the name she used before she transitioned – was trending on Twitter on launch night with various people were sharing transphobic comments about the star. LGBT+ charity Stonewall notes that deadnaming can be “deeply hurtful” to trans people.
PinkNews has contacted I’m a Celebrity representatives for comment.
Jenner has already become friends with Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle.
However, it wasn’t all bad news for Jenner. Viewers were heartened to see her strike up an unlikely friendship with Northern Irish Girls Aloud alumnus Nadine Coyle.
The pair end up skydiving into the jungle together and walked arm-in-arm to their “chariot”.
“I am sweating profusely,” Coyle commented.
Reassuringly, Jenner replied: “I promise you, you’re going to be fine.”
Ahead of going into the jungle, Jenner revealed that the years of training she did for the Olympics was nothing compared to the lifetime she spent preparing to transition.
Jenner made the comments in an interview with BBC Radio 4 podcast Don’t Tell Me The Score.
“I trained for 12 years for the Games. I trained 65 years to transition in 2015. It was harder to do, it was less accepted. It wasn’t like the ‘right thing’ to do,” Jenner said.
“Everyone loved the Games, [but] a lot of people when they see you transition hate your guts. Look at the quotes on Instagram.
“So by far, that was a lot more difficult. I didn’t want to disappoint people, as they had [me] up on this pedestal. So it was not an easy decision to make. But eventually I had to do it, because I knew that’s what I had to do to live.”
