He might have played one of TV’s most dependable (and dreamiest) big brothers on the classic sitcom The Brady Bunch, but actor Barry Williams is probably due for a session of sensitivity training after sticking his foot all the way down his throat by suggesting he’d “go transgender” to generate publicity for his new reality series.
Williams spoke on camera with Huffington Post’s Ricky Camilleri to promote A Very Barry Branson, a series for the Great American Country network which documents his efforts to stage a ’70s-themed musical revue in nostalgia-loving Branson, Missouri. The 60-year-old actor became visibly uncomfortable when asked about rumors of a bitter custody battle with an ex-girlfriend, yet Camilleri continued to push for answers.
“We don’t have time for all of that rigamarole and sorting it out. I want to find out if Bruce Jenner is going to become a woman or not,” Williams stated, to steer the conversation in another direction with what was presumably an attempt to combine humor and gossip surrounding another icon from the ’70s.
“That guy is committed. He is committed to promoting himself. And I’m thinking, maybe, I don’t know, I could say — I’m just saying, if this thing doesn’t work, and the series isn’t doing as well as I want, I’m going transgender,” Williams suggested.
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To his credit, Camilleri informed the entertainer that transitioning is a “difficult emotional process.”
Still, Williams was undaunted and unapologetic. “I’m an actor, I can handle it,” he said.
For the record, despite countless articles in magazines, newspapers and other outlets that usually quote anonymous sources close to him, former Olympics champ Jenner has yet to make his own public announcement that he identifies as transgender so anything you read is purely speculation.
Also, it’s unlikely that Williams is transphobic, just perhaps trans-ignorant. He merely tried to make a very clumsy, ill-informed joke. Many celebs, even one with the manageable fame of the erstwhile Greg Brady, tend to breathe rarefied air and can be completely oblivious to the delicate sensitivity that should greet such a personal journey as the one Jenner might be on. We’re pretty sure that Williams’ TV siblings Cindy (Susan Olsen) and Peter (Christopher Knight) would be on the right side of this discussion, though.
Watch the interview with Williams below.
oilburner
Damn he used to be really cute. I don’t think he was being insensitive with his comment about Bruce actually what he said was kinda funny.
Xzamilio
Gawd… it’s at the point where I think some people would need a blood transfusion after a papercut… never met so many “sensitive” people who need to be outraged over every.single. thing. I’m not going to say “It’s not that big of a deal” because I am a cisgendered gay man who will not impose my own sexual identity onto someone else’s who is struggling, and tell them what they can and can’t be offended over.
demented
What a moron. Wasn’t funny or witty.
aliengod
He’s right. I’m sure Bruce Jenner’s supposed series about “transitioning” will be a hit. America has always liked a good freak show. I find nothing wrong with what Barry said.
MrEguy
Much ado about NOTHING.
Clark35
@Xzamilio: Very true. Cisgender is a term that’s pointless as Trans people use it as a slur against people who are not trans, and then some fanatical trans-activists want to claim they’re “cisgendered” or have always been cisgendered when they’re trans, and then get mad when you don’t acknowledge that they are trans.
sectbrawn
So, he called out the fame whoring kuntrashians for their fame whoring ways and now people are going wah-wah-waaaaahhhhh. Good for him.
Ladbrook
I would agree that Williams doesn’t come off as transphobic… but he does sound trans-ignorant. His comments imply that he’s comparing Jenner’s journey to that of someone who wants to lose 100lbs or have a chin/nose job, and all for the sake of publicity or for a career boost.
BJ McFrisky
Easy solution:
Remove the T from LGBT, thereby alleviating yourselves from any liberal guilt.
charbo
As a transgender woman and fan of the Brady Bunch, I feel this was said in humor and some folks should lighten up.
There are many times when mean spirited people have made insensitive or cruel comments and those are subjects to be dealt with.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
Never passes up an opportunity to attack “Liberals”. I’m curious, if you get coffee in the morning and it’s bitter do you blame liberals?
As for Williams, the reporter kept wanting to talk about a custody battle, that is a crappy situation and often times the people involved are not allowed to talk about it by the court. He tried a dodge by referencing something that is being massively publicized by the Kardshian machine.
JacksonsPassion
Oh, good Lord! I’m SURE he was just uncomfortable with the line of personal questioning he was being thrown…and just trying to change the subject. It really IS kind of a funny statement—given I’m sure he’s as straight as a guy comes. We’re all so fucking sensitive anymore! He wasn’t saying “I’ll go be a fag” or anything LIKE that.
Anyway—that being said…YIKES! If THIS is what 60 looks like, I’m TOTALLY IN!! He was HOT back then (when I was a kid), and he’s STILL hot NOW!! Look at those eyes and smile?! GO BARRY! 🙂
Ann Mason
This isn’t the first time Barry Williams has spoken his mind and made a fool of himself. Did any of you read the Brady Bunch memoir he wrote more than twenty years ago?
A lot of child actors grow up to be inexperienced adults. Mr. Williams acts on Hollywood influences because he doesn’t know much else. If he’s just foolish — and not drug-addled — he’s lucky. Hollywood influences rely heavily on drugs and alcohol, and we hear about lives which are ruined early. Some of those young people never had a chance.
Be grateful for the exceptions. Jodie Foster and Natalie Portman are educated people who apparently seek stability in their lives. Maybe the secret is a supportive family, and maybe it’s the right genes. It’s obvious that Ms. Portman and Ms. Foster are brighter than most people, but it takes more than basic intelligence to be a stable person.
Some decent parents might encourage their children to pursue acting careers because the kids show the right interest and a talent. I’ll bet that’s partly responsible for the distinction between child actors who mature into adults and child actors who just hang on the way Barry Williams is apparently hanging on.
Did Barry Williams’s parents think their kid was talented? Who knows? At any rate, at age sixty Mr. Williams is responsible for himself now.
MarionPaige
You know what? A long long time ago, long before there was any gossip whatsoever about Bruce Jenner’s appearance (I think Jenner was still married to his first wife) FRANK SINATRA took a swipe at Jenner and Sinatra was quoted as saying Jenner was trying to look like a woman.
I agree Barry Williams was insensitive. What he should have said was:”If this show doesn’t work out, I’m going to slit my penis and invert it.”
bottom72
Ohhh my God he starred on my grandparents favourite tv show. Sweetheart your career died years ago.
Ummmm Yeah
Nothing wrong with the comment. He was married to the Kardashian’s pimp and they are all extreme publicity whores. So it really isn’t far fetched to think Bruce might be faking it for attention.
cflekken
First of all, the guy still looks good. He’s aging pretty darn good to be truthful. Secondly, WTH is wrong with so many oversensitive people these days? His words were completely harmless.
People need to learn how to stand on their own two feet instead of trying to break others down and stand on their wounded souls in order to gain attention and respect.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
MEMO TO THE WORLD: He said nothing “transphobic” it was an attempt at humor, nothing more nothing less. There are a million others who actually spew homophobic hurtful, harmful comments each day. Let’s focus on them, Ok???
TransParency_
Another Cis-het moron showered with privilege by his Cis-homo supporters at the expense of transpeople. Gay people should make a priority to support the struggles of Transpeople; they owe us Stonewall and kickstarting the gay rights movement, and in return they give us mockery and hatred disguised as “jokes”.