Entertainment
Kim Woodburn blasted by LGBTQ+ community for transphobic comments on unisex changing rooms: ‘I don’t want her booked for any more Pride events’-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Kim has previously cashed in on Pride events.
The reality star caused a great deal of upset amongst LGBTQ+ fans (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
There’s no denying that Kim Woodburn has become somewhat of a gay icon throughout her career.
However, the TV personality has now received backlash from the LGBTQ+ community after making a string of transphobic comments when discussing unisex changing rooms.
Kim, 80, appeared on GB News to chat to Mark Dolan after a group called the Women’s Rights Network launched a campaign entitled ‘All I Want for Christmas’, in which they ask high street stores to provide ‘female-only’ changing rooms.
Discussing the topic on live TV, Celebrity Big Brother star Kim rolled her eyes as she welcomed people to label her a ‘transphobe’ or a ‘bigot’.
She also suggested women who are in favour of single-sex fitting rooms are simply ‘sexually frustrated’.
‘Yes, there are lots of social media influencers, famous TV presenters, who say they are super inclusive, they don’t mind these unisex changing rooms, they love it, but I don’t think they’re being honest,’ presenter Mark began.
Kim made a series of strong remarks on GB News when discussing unisex fitting rooms (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
‘I think, Kim, that you speak for the silent majority of women. However, do you worry that you might be labelled a transphobe or a bigot for having that view?’, he asked.
Responding, Kim began: ‘Look, if I’m going to be labelled that, then get on with it. I give not a jot. If I don’t want to show a man, accidentally, my knockers, or my bottom half, dear, which could easily happen, then I’m being labelled? Because I don’t want to show my bare body to a strange man? What?’
She continued, jokingly: ‘Oh, my body’s gorgeous, dear, you’ve gotta say it yourself!’
‘Come on, don’t talk utter rubbish, my love,’ Kim added.
‘A man’s a man, a woman’s a woman. And women who say they don’t mind sharing a dressing room with a man, they must be sexually frustrated and need to see something naughty!
‘I don’t! I don’t, dear. I’ve got a husband with all the needs I require. I don’t need to see men’s penises through their underpants.’
After the shocking outburst, queer fans in particular were quick to call Kim out, especially given her apparent support for Pride in the past.
Sharing a clip from the interview, one person tweeted: ‘This is incredibly rich coming from a woman who’s career has been kept afloat by the LGBTQ+ pound. I don’t want to see this woman booked at a single pride gig or queer space again.’
The Twitter user also added clarity to what Kim said, explaining that her view point is ‘not relevant at all’.
‘Unisex/non-gender specific spaces wouldn’t be replacing any gender-specific spaces, so this “debate” is futile. Kim knows exactly what she’s saying and doing here, she’s not stupid and she knows how to get a reaction,’ he added.
Another person tweeted: ‘Shame on you @kimwoodburn – you’re trying to use your five minutes here to be funny, or edgy…not quite sure? But all you’ve done is show no understanding on the question, the issue, or the struggle that actual trans people face. Sometimes it’s okay just not to speak.’
A third said the reality star has a ‘poor understanding of the trans community’ despite being ‘quite happy’ to use the LGBTQ+ community to ‘further your financial gain’.
The I’m A Celeb star has become somewhat of a queer icon throughout her career (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
When one person argued that Kim might not have understood that her comments could offend certain communities, a second was quick to shut down the use of the ‘age card’.
‘Her age is not a free pass, she may be 80 but she wasn’t always 80!’, they began. ‘Kim Woodburn has been all sorts of ages during different civil rights movements and didn’t decide to educate herself. Age is not a free pass for any form of bigotry!’
Kim’s one-liners on the likes of CBB and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! have garnered her a largely queer fanbase over the years.
As a result, she’s been vocal about her apparent love for the community.
Kim has previously cashed in on Pride events (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
In 2020, for example, she compiled a playlist for Huffington Post, sharing her favourite Pride anthems.
The How Clean Is Your House? star confessed to the publication that she’s ‘a bit camp’ and has also cashed in on appearances at Pride, previously saying she ‘loves gay men’ and has a lot of gay friends.
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That same year, she also shared a video to social media for ‘Global Pride Day’ in which she wished LGBTQ+ followers a ‘very happy Pride day’ as she encouraged fans to carry Pride ‘in your hearts’.
She’s also praised the gay community for their strength, noting LGBTQ+ people have ‘gone through a great deal of torment’ and come out the other side ‘grateful’ and ‘happy’.
But, following her recent comments on trans people, it seems Kim’s LGBTQ+ fanbase is no more.
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