Jess Glynne apologises for using transphobic slur during podcast

Jess Glynne has issued an apology amid furious backlash online, after she used a transphobic slur during a recent appearance on The Mo Gilligan Podcast.

During her interview with The Masked Singer’s Mo Gilligan, the musician, 31, told a story about taking a ‘bad man’ friend to a ‘tranny strip club’ and how she found his seeming discomfort in the establishment amusing.

And after the clip sparked outrage on Twitter over the weekend, Jess took to her Instagram account on Monday to share a lengthy apology, during which she accepted that her use of the term was ‘unacceptable’. 

She wrote: ‘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…’

Jess continued: ‘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.

‘Murders and attacks are commonplace in this community and safe environments are paramount. I now understand how insulting it was to see a clip of me and @mothecomedian laughing at a story which I should have known better than to tell and casually, thoughtlessly using a word that is a dehumanising, dangerous slur to so many.

‘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.

‘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.’

She then shared a list of organisations her followers can turn to, before concluding: ‘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. 

‘Thank you for taking the time to listen to me, and thank you again @danistjames. Love Jess.’ 

Over the weekend, a clip of the podcast – which has been taken down since it was uploaded on Friday – was widely circulated and condemned on Twitter, with some even calling for Jess to be dropped as the voice of airline Jet2. 

She told Mo, 33: ‘This is probably the funniest bit. We got to the end of our trail, whatever. It was like a tranny like strip club thing. 

‘He’s this bad man like, “What is this?” There was just men dressed as… he was stood in the corner like, “Oh my days.”‘

Lucia Blayke, founder of London Trans+ Pride and east London’s Harpies strip club led the chorus of outrage, tweeting: ‘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.”‘

Lucia concluded of Jess, who has spoken of her own bisexuality: ‘Infact just leave us out of your funny anecdotes, we are not a laughing stock, we are human beings.’ 

‘There are so many levels of grossness here,’ opined another.

‘The transphobic slur itself, Jess Glynne being part of the LGBTQ+ community and still using it, and the fact that nobody making this successful podcast stopped it from making the cut.’ 

Another stated: ‘The Jess Glynne situation really irks me bc so many people do that exact same thing; bring their uncomfortable straight friends into a queer safe space, knowing that they won’t react well. Cishets stop treating queer spaces like the zoo.’

Jess was also called out for switching off her Instagram comments since the podcast went live, with some seeing the move as evidence that she knew she’d upset others.

One tweeted: ‘Jess Glynne turning her comments off her Instagram photos just shows that she knows she’s done something wrong. APOLOGISE. We are not here for your amusement.’

Meanwhile, another looked at her casual use of the slur as an example of how transphobia remains normalised across society.

They wrote: ‘AND WHAT HAVE I BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON THE TL FOR WEEKS, normalised transphobia and use of transphobic slurs, and now we have Jess Glynne being a shining example of everything I was saying.’ 

Looking at both sides, another said: ‘it sounds like jess glynne didn’t know the t slur is a slur and i’m sure her intentions weren’t wrong but that still doesn’t change the fact she said it and she should educate herself and be held accountable for it.’

Turning their attentions to Jess’ gig as the voice of airline Jet2, one said: ‘That’s #JessGlynne cancelled. What will @jet2tweets do now for their boarding song ?’

The airline’s Twitter account responded to a number of tweets questioning Jess’ future with them: ‘Hi there, thanks for getting in touch – thank you for bringing this to our attention, we will make sure to pass this on to the relevant teams internally.’

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jess Glynne, Mo Gilligan and Jet2 for comment. 

Some Twitter users linked it to the backlash Jess faced last year, when she accused swanky London restaurant Sexy Fish of ‘discrimination’ after she was refused entry wearing a tracksuit, despite the eatery’s smart casual dress code policy. 

Late last year, Jess admitted she regrets accusing upscale establishment Sexy Fish of ‘discrimination’ on social media over the summer.

The singer suffered backlash for being ‘privileged and entitled’ when she hit out at the upmarket Mayfair eatery for refusing her entry as she wore a tracksuit, despite its smart casual dress code policy.

In a new interview, the Rather Be hitmaker insisted she uploaded the post in a bid to stress that people should never be ‘disregarded’ over their appearance. 

The musician told  magazine: ‘I wish I never posted it. I think it got so misconstrued. 

‘I called it discrimination which was the wrong word and it’s a very sensitive time at the moment. I know discrimination is a lot bigger than that.

‘I appreciate I wasn’t dressed appropriately, but the reason I posted my outfit was that I was aware of what I looked like in a tracksuit and I felt as if I was treated accordingly. My point was that as a human being, you shouldn’t be disregarded.’

Awkward: The singer suffered backlash when she hit out at the upmarket Mayfair eatery for refusing her entry as she wore a tracksuit, despite its smart casual dress code policy

 

Reaction: Social media users branded her ‘privileged and entitled’ for her comments

In her original post, the Hold My Hand songstress had blasted Sexy Fish for its ‘rude’ attitude when staff refused her entry, despite the restaurant being ’empty’.

Jess wrote, alongside an image of herself in sportswear: ‘Dear @sexyfishlondon I turned up to your restaurant looking like this and you looked me and my friend up and down and said no you can’t come in and your restaurant was EMPTY. 

‘I then went to @amazonicolondon who greeted me and my friend with pure joy and we had a banging meal with wicked service.

‘@sexyfishlondon please check yourself if this is how you treat people cause it’s rude, off putting, embarrassing and most definitely not inviting. 

‘We were made to wait and 2 members of staff came to look at us and make a decision based on our appearance. 

‘I think the attitude of your staff needs to change as that was just simply RUDE. Thanks and bye (sic).’ 

Values: In an interview, the Rather Be hitmaker insisted she uploaded the post in a bid to stress that people should never be ‘disregarded’ over their appearance (pictured in 2019)

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