Neil Patrick Harris apologized Yesterday for using the word “tranny” during a segment of Thursday’s Live With Kelly.
“Truly sorry for saying the word ‘tranny’ on Live this week. Twice!” tweeted Harris. “Should have been more thoughtful. Didn’t at all mean to offend.”
Guest-host Harris and Ripa inhaled sulfur hexafluoride, “helium’s evil twin,” during a science experiment segment that made their voices significantly lower.
Harris drew laughs from the audience when he said, “Put the lotion in the basket.” a line by the Buffalo Bill character, who was the killer in Silence of the Lambs and who Patrick sounded like when he engulfed the gas.
After the gas expired, Harris said, “I’ve never sounded more like a tranny in my life.” The actor quickly apologized after appearing on the show, getting infront of the backlash and winning the approval of gay/transgender activist group GLAAD:
“It’s heartening to see a celebrity of Harris’ stature recognize and apologize for using the slur in such a timely manner, and for greater media attention being paid to its use. Many people do not realize that the word ‘tr*nny’ is one of the most hurtful and dehumanizing slurs that transgender people hear. Most transgender people associate that word with personal experiences of violence, hatred and derision.”
Watch the clip below and let us know if you think Neil Patrick Harris use of ‘tranny’ was wrong?
