Kelly Dodd Says She Is 'Not Transphobic' & Accepts 'Everyone For Who They Are' Following Cameo Controversy
Former Real Housewives of Orange County star Kelly Dodd has apologized after making transphobic remarks in a Cameo video.
The 45-year-old took to Instagram where she addressed the controversy in a video from her car after she was slammed when a $100 for a birthday shout-out to a user named Jennifer turned into a rant about pronouns.
"This is Jennifer 'she/her,' I don’t get this," Dodd said in the original Cameo clip. "You’re either a boy or a girl, OK?"
"You’re born a girl or a boy," the reality star added on Cameo. "I don’t get it. You’re Jennifer. I’m sorry, I don’t give a f**k."
After being slammed online, Dodd said in the apology video on Instagram that she had been on Cameo for two years but had never seen "the pronoun thing before."
"This was the first time I saw a reference of he/him/she/they/them. I grew up, I grew up in Arizona with people who were born a boy and a girl and maybe a hermaphrodite here and there," Dodd said in the new video.
Dodd explained that she had been drinking and when she saw the pronouns on Cameo she reacted "in my own raw and unfiltered way."
"I want to be very, very clear about this," she continued. "That I accept everyone for who they are. I accept everyone for who they want to be and who they believe themselves to be and I don’t hate on anyone. I’m not transphobic. I was just unfamiliar with the language."
"If you want me to be tolerant, then you also need to be tolerant of me. That’s only fair. And I’m learning and I’m growing and maybe you can help me with this," she told her followers.
Reactions to the apology were mixed.
"People are so sensitive 🙄," Madison LeCroy said.
"Pronouns are non-negotiable for people. Drinking and blaming how you grew up is not an excuse. This is not an apology it’s throwing the blame elsewhere. Educate yourself and just do better," one user said.
"Love it!! So much truth Kelly!! ❤️," another user wrote.
This is not the first time Dodd has been in the hot seat. Dodd has previously been criticized for making controversial comments about the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter.
Having joined RHOC in 2016 but being axed in June, Dodd has since alleged that her political stance was why she was fired. When a fan reportedly asked if it was "Because of your bullying," in the comments on a post on the @realhousewivesfranchise Instagram account, Dodd responded with "No because I'm conservative! That's why I got fired pure and simple."
Dodd was not the only one fired with Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Elizabeth Lyn-Vargas leaving RHOC too.
