Will Ferrell claims transphobia stems from 'not being confident or safe with yourself'

Actor Will Ferrell claims "transphobia" comes from radical "not being confident" successful themselves.

The 57-year-old comedian spoke to The Independent connected Thursday astir his caller Netflix documentary "Will & Harper," which follows Ferrell and erstwhile "Saturday Night Live" writer Harper Steele arsenic they question crossed the state and research Steele’s sex transition.

Ferrell said helium antecedently had nary cognition astir the transgender assemblage but has since learned astir the dangers of transphobia.

"There is hatred retired there," Ferrell said. "It’s precise real, and it’s precise unsafe for trans radical successful definite situations." 

Will Ferrell's caller documentary "Will & Harper" featuring erstwhile "SNL" writer Harper Steele was released past week. ( Christopher Polk/WWD via Getty Images)

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He besides suggested transphobia emerged due to the fact that "we fearfulness what we don’t know."

"But I don’t cognize wherefore trans radical are meant to beryllium threatening to maine arsenic a cis male. I don’t cognize wherefore Harper is threatening to me," Ferrell said. 

He added, "It’s truthful unusual to me, due to the fact that Harper is finally... her. She’s yet who she was ever meant to be. Whether oregon not you tin yet wrapper your caput astir that, wherefore would you attraction if somebody’s happy? Why is that threatening to you? If the trans assemblage is simply a menace to you, I deliberation it stems from not being assured oregon harmless with yourself."

The film’s director, Josh Greenbaum, told The Independent that portion helium intended the movie to beryllium apolitical, determination was an intentional effort to scope a much "bro-y" assemblage with Ferrell.

Harper Steele besides spoke to The Independent astir perceived transphobia successful the media. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Netflix)

"It’d beryllium disingenuous not to constituent retired that we were alert of the scope that Will Ferrell has," Greenbaum said. "The fanbase helium has crosses each spectrums, but it besides has a precise traditionally straight, cis-male, bro-y [element]. On immoderate level, for sure, we privation to scope that audience. But it was precise important to me, and to Harper, that we were besides representing the queer community."

Steele remarked that sometimes transphobia tin travel from left-wing media arsenic well.  

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"’The New York Times’ is benignant of the halfway of that – mostly left-leaning, but besides sometimes precise anti-trans. It’s odd..." Steele said to The Independent. "It’s wherefore I archetypal thin to inquire reporters who interrogation maine if they judge successful me. Do they judge that I exist? That I’m valid? Because that’s not ever portion of the conversation. I similar to commencement there. Because determination are galore radical successful the wide assemblage who can’t look to get their heads astir it for 1 crushed oregon another."

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele be Netflix's "Will & Harper" screening astatine Paris Theater connected September 24, 2024 successful New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/WireImage) (Photo by Cindy Ord/WireImage)

"Will & Harper" premiered connected Netflix Friday.

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