Jonathan Van Ness has perfect response for Elon Musk’s ‘ignorant’ trans tweets
Johnathan Van Ness (Getty/Don Arnold) and Elon Musk (Getty/Sean Zanni)
Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness had the perfect response to Elon Musk’s “ignorant” tweet about gender-affirming surgery.
Hair stylist extraordinaire and fierce LGBTQ+ advocate Jonathan Van Ness has once again shut down anti-trans discourse in a brilliant clap back at Elon Musk’s latest tweet about the trans and gender non-conforming community.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is poised to purchase Twitter for $44 billion, is no stranger to controversy, after once saying that pronouns are a “nightmare” and sharing a meme mocking those who disclose their pronouns in their social media bio. The meme sparked fury from many LGBTQ+ people and allies.
Musk is now being accused of spreading misinformation once again after tweeting: “We are simultaneously being told that gender differences do not exist and that genders are so profoundly different that irreversible surgery is the only option.”
We are simultaneously being told that gender differences do not exist and that genders are so profoundly different that irreversible surgery is the only option.
Perhaps someone wiser than me can explain this dichotomy.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2022
The comment was in response to a tweet from author Matt Taibbi who was addressing criticism received for publishing a controversial review of Matt Walsh’s What is a Woman? The original documentary has been met with criticism from trans activists, with LGBTQ Nation describing the film as “anti-trans propaganda”.
Van Ness was quick to educate Musk about his misconceptions on gender-affirming surgery, while asking the SpaceX CEO to “listen to the trans community” rather than “tweeting about gender”.
If only you would stop tweeting about gender & listen to the trans community at large. SO many trans people do not have surgery. This is such a false dichotomy and is so ignorant. https://t.co/awRLdjR6VR— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) June 13, 2022
Fans praised Van Ness for speaking out in support of the trans community, while also criticising Musk for his “disingenuous arguments”.
Disingenuous arguments seem to be his speciality, unfortunately.— DanaERTurton (@danada0109) June 13, 2022
It’s really easy
Highlighting differences in an effort to hurt or discredit someone else, especially someone in a marginalized community = bad
Highlighting differences in an effort to celebrate individuality and accomplishment = good
Think he’d get that?— NatalieRenay buzz buzz (@nattyred) June 13, 2022
Why is he doing this? Is he a DeSantis copycat? It seems he is completely out of his lane and is not considering his impact on this platform. Much like the guy he wants to bring back.
— Ron Carpenter (@YogiRonnie) June 13, 2022
If only Elon would stop tweeting. Period.— MisterWoodhouse (@mistahwoodhouse) June 13, 2022
Shortly after his first tweet, Van Ness slammed Elon Musk again for spreading “damaging misinformation about trans people” to his following of nearly 98 million people. Van Ness also suggested that it was hypocritical of Musk to ask social media users to be “less judgy”.
??? let me proliferate damaging minsinformation about trans people to my 98 million followers and then say don’t be judgy! So cute so fun happy pride!! https://t.co/CqVXIdVOi4— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) June 13, 2022
Musk had not publicly responded to Van Ness at time of writing.
