Actress and singer Bette Midler’s criticism of trans-inclusive language sparked backlash among critics.
Midler tweeted over the weekend, “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators’, and even ‘people with vaginas’! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”
https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/1543979948611981313
Critics were quick to tell Midler she was wrong for her remarks:
https://twitter.com/IamABillings/status/1544187460749447168
https://twitter.com/yodaberg/status/1544123229031305218
https://twitter.com/diannaeanderson/status/1544077083130961921
For a demographic that’s always allegedly on the verge of being “erased,” women still seem more than capable of loudly raising their concerns https://t.co/8as3Q4WWTf
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) July 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/IBJIYONGI/status/1544055097289744385
Suddenly I don’t want Hocus Pocus 2 anymore…… Really shocked to see she has fallen into this Voldemort way of thinking… https://t.co/MqswujjZ56
— Roly West (@RolyWestYT) July 5, 2022
This goes too far and I don't know why everyone feels the need to attack trans people, as if it's the biggest national emergency (let alone the right thing to do). But the term "birthing people" instead of "mothers," if used generically, is absurd. https://t.co/3WdR9xQunH
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) July 5, 2022
Midler later responded to the criticism, saying, “PEOPLE OF THE WORLD! My tweet about women was a response to this fascinating and well written piece in the NYT on July 3rd.”
She added, “There was no intention of anything exclusionary or transphobic in what I said; it wasn’t about that.”
https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/1544470451476467715
The actress again landed in hot water this week after tweeting a photo edited to show all but the three liberal justices dressed to look like they are part of the Taliban.
https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/1544409932883181569
One user argued that the “Islamophobia is truly hurtful especially when Islam is the most feminist of all religions.”
The Islamophobia is truly hurtful especially when Islam is the most feminist of all religions. https://t.co/w9n8Btjtgu
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) July 6, 2022
Another told Midler her “Islamophobia ain’t helping nobody.”
Your Islamophobia ain't helping nobody https://t.co/XwJs3oo4Po
— Yousef Munayyer (@YousefMunayyer) July 6, 2022
One user called on the actress to delete the tweet, adding, “There’s no reason to bring Islam into this — AT ALL — especially since the anti-abortion movement has been powered by white Evangelical Christians.”
Bette, please. You've been down bad, lately, but you can still delete this.
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) July 5, 2022
There's no reason to bring Islam into this — AT ALL — especially since the anti-abortion movement has been powered by white Evangelical Christians. https://t.co/pBue19fCAq
Midler previously issued a strong reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, as IJR reported.
“Time to ban Viagra,” Midler tweeted.
She added, “Because if pregnancy is ‘God’s will’, then so is your limp d***.”
