Just a general note: When you're in the middle of saying something and feel the need to add, "I'm not being a jerk," you might want to not say anything at all.
During a visit to "Conan" on Thursday, Bill Burr revealed his thoughts on Caitlyn Jenner's transition, and to say they're controversial might be the understatement of the Internet. The comedian started by questioning the whole significance of the story:
This is what killed me when Bruce became Caitlyn. That was like a national news story like at a ridiculous level. There's like baby seals washing up on the beach because there's no fish left, and they're talking to this, this -- lady. You know? Like, "So, Bruce, you gonna go, can your Olympic back handle a D-cup or you gonna go with like something a little more perky?"
Burr continued poking fun at Jenner while misgendering her, with seemingly sarcastic comments like, "He should've told us. He should've given us a chance to say goodbye," and later adding, "God bless him. God bless her! Sorry. They really freak out about the pronouns, too. You say God bless him, and they're like, 'Her!'"
As Uproxx points out, the comments caused a ton of outrage on Twitter, and for those questioning why, GLAAD does a great job of explaining.
First, Caitlyn Jenner's announcement that she is transgender and the subsequent Vanity Fair cover that followed were hugely significant moments for the transgender community. Trans people face challenges and prejudices daily most people couldn't even fathom. These moments can't be downplayed. As GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis put it:
By sharing her journey with the world, Caitlyn Jenner is accelerating acceptance of transgender people everywhere and reminds us all how important it is to live as your most authentic self.
As far as comments like "They really freak out about the pronouns," you should probably remember "they" have a right to. As GLAAD explains, being associated with a birth name or gender that was misassigned at birth is often a "tremendous source of anxiety" for transgender individuals. The organization puts it simply: "You wouldn't like your identity to be defined by others, so please allow others to define themselves."
Bill Burr isn't afraid of controversial comedy. He makes a living off of it. During previous visits to "Conan," the comedian has done everything from call out charities in sports to explain how women ruin the NFL. (Yeah. He did that.) But how much is too much?
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