28-year-old Derick Dillard attacks trans teen Jazz Jennings… again
The husband of a reality star Derick Dillard has for a second time attacked TLC star and transgender teen Jazz Jennings.
Dillard, the husband of Jill Duggar Dillard and the star of 19 Kids and Counting, which shares TLC with Jennings’ show, took to Twitter to vent about the trans teen again.
He wrote: “People are not my enemy; I fight against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
28-year-old Dillard was defending himself against accusations that he attacked the TV star and LGBT advocate.
But 16-year-old Jennings responded: “Every day I experience cyber-bullying, but I keep sharing my story. Today was no different.”
Dillard was accused of bullying the teen in a previous tweet, which he responded to Jennings who was announcing the new series of her reality star ‘I Am Jazz’.
He wrote: “What an oxymoron… a “reality” show which follows a non-reality. ‘Transgender’ is a myth. Gender is not fluid; it’s ordained by God.”
Other users took to Twitter to defend Jennings, one writes: “There’s more pressing ‘darkness’ than what a teenage girl does with her body. Something which has nothing to do with you anyway.”
Adding: “Also how can u say people arent ur problem when u made a personal attack on a 16 yr old? Don’t try and justify your hate.”
Another wrote: “Is it necessary for a grown man to throw shade at a teenage girl?”
Dillard responded: “I want to be clear. I have nothing against him. I only have issue with the words and definitions being propagated here.”
Another accused Dillard and his family of hypocrisy, saying: “Very hypocritical of your family to profit from a network which airs content against your beliefs. Don’t like it? Don’t associate with it.”
Television network TLC commented on the exchange, saying: “Derick Dillard’s personal statement does not reflect the views of TLC.”
But some have called on the network to do more, saying the transphobic comments constitute hate speech.
One wrote: “ARE YOU SERIOUSLY OK WITH THIS??? YOU’RE GONNA ALLOW A GROWN MAN CHILD TO BULLY A CHILD ON YOUR WATCH???”
“Time to get rid of the Duggars for good!!!!” said another.
Jennings earlier this year revealed her new passion project concerning LGBT youth.
The teen, who has her own reality show “I Am Jazz”, is concerned with the smoking habits of young LGBT people.
A study carried out earlier this year found that young lesbian and gay people are more likely to smoke than their heterosexual peers.
