Tiktok star Bryce Hall apologises after backlash over insensitive ‘heterophobia’ comment
Bryce Hall. (YouTube/Bryce Hall)
The YouTube and TikTok star Bryce Hall has apologised to his followers for an offensive tweet suggesting that ‘heterophobia’ is spreading on social media.
Hall, who has over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and almost 10 million on TikTok, attracted backlash for remarks that many claimed were homophobic and dismissive of the issues faced by LGBT+ people.
“What is ‘straight’ TikTok and why does everyone hate it,” he said in a now-deleted tweet. “We are on the cusp of ending homophobia and now we’re introducing heterophobia? What the f**k is 2020.”
He removed the tweet within minutes after being inundated with a storm of criticism from people who pointed out that a) homophobia unfortunately still exists and b) ‘heterophobia’ definitely does not.
“Girl, ‘heterophobia’ is not a thing,” one Twitter user informed him. “No straight person has feared for their lives because they are straight. And they have not been murdered for being straight, and homophobia is not on the cusp of going away.”
Many pointed out the hypocrisy of Hall’s comment criticising the LGBT+ community after he created videos that ‘fetishise’ lesbians.
this sound is just videos of bryce hall fetishizing women who like women ? pic.twitter.com/oJK15Su6aA
— ???? · ˚ ✧ · ? (@TARAESYUMMY) June 23, 2020
One former fan told him: “I didn’t get bullied by my cousin for being a ‘lesbian’ when I just BREATHED and fearing for my life to come out to my family as bi because I don’t want to be kicked out just for you to say heterophobia is a real thing. To think I respected you.”
It wasn’t long before Hall realised the error of his ways, and the following day he tweeted an apology.
“That tweet was insensitive and obviously I’m not cultured on it and I shouldn’t have spoken,” he admitted. “I’m a dumb shit and I don’t think before I speak and I’m sure all of you know this by now.
“Again, I’m super sorry for offending anyone and I promise it won’t happen again.”
that tweet was insensitive and obviously im not cultured on it and i shouldn’t have spoken… im a dumb shit and i don’t think before i speak and im sure all of you know this by now. again, im super sorry for offending anyone and i promise it won’t happen again
— Bryce Hall (@BryceHall) June 25, 2020
The incident came just days after Hall promised to be “unproblematic for at least another week” following his arrest for possession of marijuana. He spent a day in a jail cell and later told People that the experience changed his perspective on life and pushed him to grow.
“It dawned on me what a huge platform and responsibility I have — especially with my younger fans,” he said at the time.
