Andy Cohen is getting backlash for defending former Sen. Claire McCaskill in an online dust-up over a controversial term she used for transgender people.
The 52-year-old Bravo show host sympathized with the former Missouri politician after she apologized for using the word “transsexuals” instead of “transgender” during an MSNBC interview on Wednesday.
“You misspoke. Don’t think twice about it,” Cohen wrote in a tweet.
The decision to come to McCaskill’s defense angered some people who though Cohen was in no position to grant forgiveness on behalf of the transgender community.
“the cis guy who makes millions interviewing reality stars told claire mccaskill she doesn’t need to worry being an anti-trans bigot, so i guess we’re good,” wrote one commenter, referring to Cohen as cis, or living with the same sex he was born with.
“How magnanimous of you to forgive the harm done to other people!” quipped another person.
Someone else wrote, “You DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME. Think SEVERAL TIMES about it.”
Some defended Cohen and McCaskill however.
“We all misspeak,” one twitter user chimed in. “Every single one of us. Sen. McCaskill has long been a zealous advocate for the LGBTQ community so the pile on is really unnecessary. A teaching moment for all of us that words hurt (even from our allies) and to just be careful. Lesson learned here!”
In her apology, McCaskill admitted that saying “transsexuals” hurt people.
“I’m so sorry I used hurtful term last night. I was tired, but never a good excuse,” she wrote. “People have misinterpreted what I was trying to say. Our party should never leave behind our fight 4 equality for trans people or anyone else who has been marginalized by hate. My record reflects that [sic].”
The website for GLADD describes the word “transexual” as an older term that some transgender people do not like to be referred to as, and should not be used as a noun, as McCaskill did.
It appears that Cohen and McCaskill have had a longtime relationship and even hosted an event together to promote his book, “Superficial: More Adventures from the Andy Cohen Diaries.”