Jess Glynne apologises for using “unacceptable” transphobic slur in podcast

"I am ashamed that I was unaware of the potency of the T-slur until now."

Jess Glynne has had to make a big apology for using a transphobic slur while being interviewed on a podcast. The star was clearly not thinking when she used the words “tranny strip club” when telling a story on comedian Mo Gilligan’s podcast last week. The story was about taking a “bad man” friend of hers to a “tranny strip club" and fans were quick to call her out on Twitter for the language she used. One Tweeter said “As the owner of a ‘tranny strip club’, I’d ask Jess Glynne not to use slurs to describe us or call us ‘men in wigs’,” one person wrote on Twitter. “In fact, just leave us out of your funny anecdotes, we are not a laughing stock, we are human beings.”

As the owner of a “tranny strip club.” I’d ask Jess Glynne not to use slurs to describe us or call us “men in wigs.” Infact just leave us out of your funny anecdotes, we are not a laughing stock, we are human beings. ???? pic.twitter.com/oZ6rWR5Ipw

— Lucia Blayke (@luciablayke) March 7, 2021

Another said: “A slur that rolls out as easily as it did suggests that #JessGlynne doesn’t consider the t word a slur at all. The way it’s such an outdated term being used by someone within the lgbt community is a massive shame.” Jess took to Instagram to apologise for the incident, her statement said: “I want to address my appearance on the @mothecomedian podcast, when a story I told caused massive and righteous offence. Firstly, I want to say that I am wholeheartedly sorry.” “I know that in this case, sorry is not nearly enough, throughout my life I have made a lot of mistakes and what I have come to know is that the only benefit to making one is to learn from it. I didn’t want to simply put out a PR apology on social media because I know that I have caused offence and pain to the community that I love and have always wanted to support." “To be in the knowledge that I have negatively impacted the community through my own ignorance has ripped out a piece of my heart. I know I needed to address my mistake head on and educate myself about an issue I was frankly ignorant of." “The language that I used on the podcast was unacceptable, as someone that has always been immersed in the LGBTQ+ community, I have witnessed first hand the progress that has been made when it comes to language, I am ashamed that I was unaware of the potency of the T-slur until now." “I have been fortunate enough and privileged enough to spend time today talking to the transgender model and activist @danistjames who has educated me about the power of that word and how it has been historically used as a weapon against so many. It is often the last word someone hears before they are brutally attacked or even murdered, similar to the anti-gay F-slur, the T-slur is commonly used to humiliate and degrade transgender individuals." “Today I have learnt something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I hope by using my platform to apologise I can also start the conversation and others may benefit from being educated by braver souls than myself." She finished the post off by saying: "I know that with a platform of my size, I have a responsibility to host the voices of many, over the coming weeks and beyond, I will be lending my platforms to voices in the community and I look forward to continuing my education on these issues." “I do believe personal development never ends but we have to make a commitment to change and I will be taking some time to continue to grow.”