Transphobic remarks from country singer Jason Aldean’s wife faced swift backlash from his industry peers last week who blasted her for “picking on trans kids.”
Brittany Aldean initially remarked that she was grateful to her parents “for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase” while sharing a makeup transformation video on Instagram. While some read the comment as innocent, others were unable to take it as such considering the ongoing political attacks against trans kids and parents who support them currently happening throughout the United States.
Debate over what Aldean said soon followed, and singer Cassadee Pope subtweeted her over inaccurately comparing a “tomboy phase” to being transgender.
\u201cYou\u2019d think celebs with beauty brands would see the positives in including LGBTQ+ people in their messaging. But instead here we are, hearing someone compare their \u201ctomboy phase\u201d to someone wanting to transition. Real nice.\u201d— Cassadee Pope (@Cassadee Pope) 1661531019
Pope’s decision to wade into the conversation caused its own divide, as some applauded her for supporting LGBTQ+ kids and others ripped into her for the same, but both Maren Morris and Joy Oladokun, who is queer, backed her up — even after professional rightwing troll Candace Owens jumped into the fray.
\u201cI also would like to say the LGBTQ\u2019s have clearer skin without whatever she pushin\u2019\u201d— joy oladokun is sweet but will fight you. (@joy oladokun is sweet but will fight you.) 1661543632
\u201c@CassadeePope It\u2019s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.\u201d— Cassadee Pope (@Cassadee Pope) 1661531019
\u201c@RealCandaceO @CassadeePope Oh my god, not you. My Grammy is positively sobbing right now. Also, why do y\u2019all always go to \u201ccastration\u201d and \u201cpedophiles\u201d to try and shut an argument down? It\u2019s honestly concerning and worth looking into.\u201d— Cassadee Pope (@Cassadee Pope) 1661531019
Morris’s husband, Ryan Hurd, also chimed in to denounce “scoring quick points by picking on trans kids.”
“Shut up and sing only applies to those who you disagree with,” he observed of the discourse.
\u201cScoring quick points by picking on trans kids isn\u2019t something that is brave at all. And I\u2019m proud of Maren for sticking up for them. Badge of honor to have CO engage in completely normal discourse, too. Shut up and sing only applies to those who you disagree with.\u201d— Ryan Hurd (@Ryan Hurd) 1661625557
Meanwhile, Aldean decided to elaborate on her stance, proving that her initial comment was absolutely meant as a condemnation of any parents who support their child’s gender identity. She regurgitated inaccurate anti-trans talking points that claim “genital mutilation of children” and likened trans identities to her own young kids wanting to be a dinosaur or a cat.
\u201c@oherinn_ @BrittanyAldean @jvn said it best back to her.\u201d— erin o\u2019day (@erin o\u2019day) 1661577205
She ended with a plea to “leave children alone,” something she and others inserting themselves into a debate on care that should be between children, their families, and their doctors, with the input of people who actually know what they’re talking about, might want to seriously consider.
RELATED | The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone Trailer Tells A Trans Empowerment Story
From left: Jena Malone, Jodie Foster, Jay-Z, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner.Featureflash photo Agency/Shutterstock; Tinseltown/Shutterstock; Tinseltown/Shutterstock; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Kirkam/Shutterstock
