Alyssa Milano apologises for saying she’s trans, gay and a lesbian
Alyssa Milano attracted criticism for her tweet on International Women’s Day. (Rich Fury/Getty)
Alyssa Milano has apologised after sparking outrage by tweeting that she was trans, a lesbian and a gay man.
The former Charmed actress posted the message on International Women’s Day (March 8) while quote-tweeting a person called Kirk who asked her if she was trans. He posed the question after Milano said she was marking the day by celebrating her “transgender sisters.”
“I’m trans. I’m a person of colour. I’m an immigrant. I’m a lesbian. I’m a gay man. I’m the disabled.”
— Alyssa Milano
Milano wrote: “I’m trans. I’m a person of colour. I’m an immigrant. I’m a lesbian. I’m a gay man. I’m the disabled.
“I’m everything. And so are you, Kirk. Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know or understand. No one wants to hurt you. We are all just looking for our happily ever after.”
Alyssa Milano apologises for her tweet
The American star, who is a prominent figure in the #MeToo movement, apologised after people expressed anger about her post.
On Saturday (March 9), she wrote: “I’m glad this tweet invoked conversation. I’m so sorry it offended some. I see you and hear you.
I’m glad this tweet invoked conversation. I’m so sorry it offended some. I see you and hear you. But just a reminder, empathy is not a bad thing. Nuance is important and literal interpretation is not always intended. And I can identify with and not identify as. Both are powerful.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 9, 2019
“But just a reminder, empathy is not a bad thing. Nuance is important and literal interpretation is not always intended.”
“And I can identify with and not identify as. Both are powerful,” she added.
Alyssa Milano criticised for both tweets
The star, who has appeared in Insatiable and Commando, was criticised for her posts.
Many objected to the idea that she could assume the identities she had listed, with one person tweeting: “No. You are an advocate. Be ok with that. This isn’t the way to say you are with us.
“You can’t just fake an experience you don’t have. You don’t navigate any space like these groups. This is the ‘I don’t see colour’ approach which is oppression and erasure.”
Another said: “it’s actually not that woke or empowering to others for you to declare yourself a marginalised identity when you aren’t… come on dude.”
A different user wrote: “Spend less time patting yourself on the back for whatever nonsense you’re spilling and more time looking into what being an ally actually is.”
Many people objected to the tweet by Alyssa Milano. (IamGMJohnson/twitter)
One user commented: “Empathy is hugely important, but claiming yourself ‘as one’ with the disenfranchised when you haven’t had their experiences devalues the idea of empathy and the work it involves.
“It also sounds like a white saviour complex, and as a white woman, we can do better than that.”
Others questioned her for writing “the disabled,” like the person who tweeted: “Saying ‘the disabled’ as if we’re a disease or part of an art exhibit or something.”
Another person said: “‘the disabled‘ Oy vey. When you thought it couldn’t get worse.”
Some criticised Milano for her apology as well, like the tweeter who said: “Lol as if it wasn’t obvious claiming membership of victim classes wouldn’t cause outrage.”
Another wrote: “When you apologise and then add a ‘but…’ you negate what came before. Every time.
“Just apologise and say you learned a new perspective and understand it. That’s all. No ‘buts’ about it.”
