Actress Alyssa Milano apologized after she gave a problematic response to a question from a fan.
Last Friday, in commemoration of International Women's Day, the Charmed star celebrated her "transgender sisters."
My transgender sisters! I am celebrating YOU this #NationalWomensDay!
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 8, 2019
Someone then asked the 46-year-old if she identifies as transgender.
A simple “no” would have sufficed, but Milano chose to go the head a*s route and offend several marginalized groups in the process, according to Out magazine.
I’m trans. I’m a person of color. 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. https://t.co/znkQizV37k
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 9, 2019
“I’m trans. I’m a person of color. I’m an immigrant. I’m a lesbian. I’m a gay man. I’m the disabled. I’m everything,” she responded. “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.”
Twitter got her together real quick.
chile the white woman really jumped out of alyssa milano pic.twitter.com/qBZ4zyeNmz
— #FreeStellaNyanzi (@fka_memes) March 12, 2019
Rich white woman pretends to be a transgender disabled immigrant person of color with multiple sexualities and pretends she can identify with the lives and struggles of all these people in the next hit blockbuster of the year! Starring Alyssa Milano. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 0% https://t.co/XPsn63lKEa
— Rob Gavagan (@RobGavagan) March 10, 2019
No you’re not @Alyssa_Milano You’re a white feminist who markets racial slurs in your clothing line, and likes to dress up in a war bonnet for photo shoots. https://t.co/XzQrhjtHcR
— Corylus cornuta (@Peoplesforest) March 9, 2019
Dear Alyssa Milano,
Do you ask marginalized people what they need or just assume empathy is the answer?
You shouldn’t have to empathize with a person to know they deserve rights & privileges.
Using these “I” statements is centering you. That’s the worst kind of ally/advocate
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) March 9, 2019
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Milano responded with what she must believe serves as an apology.
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
"I’m glad this tweet invoked conversation,” she wrote. “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."
Milano didn’t stop there. She started a thread in which she not-so-humble-bragged about her activism and admonished marginalized folks for calling out allies, according to Yahoo.
2. When we try to silence those that fight the loudest for us, what are we telling those that fight against us?
Every time those on the left eat one of our own, the Right sees this as an opportunity to discredit the entire progressive movement. And the media covers it.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 12, 2019
4. Again, I apologize to those who were offended by the words I chose to show my forever allyship.
With so much respect,
Me— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) March 12, 2019
“I learned it doesn’t matter how pure your intentions are, or your 30 yrs of advocacy work & activism, if you use well established poetic license & nuance the very people you passionately fight for will be [upset] because you didn’t say it the literal way they’d prefer,” she wrote.
“When we try to silence those that fight the loudest for us, what are we telling those that fight against us?" she added. "Every time those on the left eat one of our own, the Right sees this as an opportunity to discredit the entire progressive movement. And the media covers it.”
Chief, we want to inform you: this isn’t it.
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