Last Updated on January 11, 2020
Boy George caused a Twitter–and media–storm with his comments on gender pronouns, slamming them as a “modern form of attention seeking.”
The Culture Club singer angered followers and the LGBT media by his tweets which have been blasted as “transphobic.”
George has denied “transphobia” while ripping into all “all this PC stuff.”
A modern form of attention seeking? https://t.co/9Qs9DyJ92F
— Boy George (the truth is in your breath) (@BoyGeorge) January 6, 2020
The original account, whose tweets are now protected, inspired the viral tweet from George, extracting the singer’s opinion on gender pronouns.
Leave your pronoun's at the door!
— Boy George (the truth is in your breath) (@BoyGeorge) January 6, 2020
Another tweet from George encouraged readers to leave their “pronoun’s [sic] at the door.”
The tweets garnered negative attention from members of the LGBT community, defending the use of pronouns and condemning George’s politically incorrect tweets.
Um @BoyGeorge. Shitty transphobic attempts at jokes like this are attention seeking. Trans people just want to be left alone mostly.
Could you not? pic.twitter.com/XdRbnnZP5t
— the weird kid circa 2008 (@notCursedE) January 8, 2020
George also went onto criticize vegans who would buy a meat-free burger from KFC, in a tweet saying: ‘What kind of vegan pops into a burger chain? A pretend vegan!’–casting a wide net of criticism over controversial groups.
What kind of vegan pops into a burger chain? A pretend vegan! https://t.co/2OKzFrJyJ9
— Boy George (the truth is in your breath) (@BoyGeorge) January 6, 2020
The original tweet drew the most negative comments, mostly querying issues surrounding gender pronouns and respect.
One top comment offered, “What does it take to show others respect by using their preferred pronouns? I wouldn’t not use your name so why would I not use your preferred pronouns? People are too quick to criticise others’ lifestyles & identities. If people want attention there’s usually a reason. Ask them.”
What does it take to show others respect by using their preferred pronouns? I wouldn't not use your name so why would I not use your preferred pronouns? People are too quick to criticise others' lifestyles & identities. If people want attention there's usually a reason. Ask them.
— Jonesey is Visiting ( GTTO ) (@joneseyvisitin1) January 6, 2020
Another referred to gender pronouns as: “An opportunity to show basic respect, my darling…”
An opportunity to show basic respect, my darling…
— Leah (@Leah_jasmine_) January 6, 2020
However, some ridiculed the concept of gender pronouns.
One social media remarked: “Show basic respect to me, my darling, by not insisting that I do what you want. You are not a child of 5, demanding to be called Lady Penguin of Ice Manor. You are an adult.”
https://twitter.com/Mrs_Nunn/status/1214533587103551489
Another gender pronoun respect detractor said, referring to gender pronouns, that they were “a fantasy made by those who are scared of the real world.”
https://twitter.com/philipbolin/status/1214415190676115456
Some outlets expressed their disapproval of George’s tweets.
Pink News penned the headline, “Boy George responds to ‘transphobia’ backlash in the absolute worst way and really needs to log out of Twitter.”
A spokesperson for Boy George told Pink News: “The concept of […] asking whether Boy George is transphobic is so stupid it doesn’t warrant a response.”
