SOUNDBITES — “I would like to clarify anything that was misunderstood from Sunday’s show. My remarks were never meant to be disrespectful regarding Leiomy’s gender nor offensive to the LGBT community, which has been a community that has supported me in all my endeavors. However, in hindsight, I recognize that my words may have come across as hurtful. I spoke with her privately after the taping to express that it was not my intent to offend her or any member of the transgender community and that I still live for Vogue Evolution.” —America’s Best Dance Crew judge Lil Mama pseudo-apologizing for her comments about transgender contestant Leiomy Maldonado
lil mama
‘It was not my intent to offend her or any member of the transgender community’
Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...
We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?
Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated
Michael C.
it is my belief that she did not intend to offend anyone, honestly i think there is a little bit of oversensitivity to what she said. Lil mama is indeed a friend to our community, and while she is a friend she is also a bit of an outsider, i am sure there are a lot of gay men and women who are unsure of the terminology they should use, and there are a lot of rules when it comes to socializing with transgendered people. They are a whole community with their regulations, and sometimes the lines are blurred, it is my belief that lil mama was just trying to give some constructive criticism, which was misconstrued…
AlanInSLC
@Michael C.:
I completely agree. How are people suppose to know the acceptable terms to use if noone ever is taught them or has any real experience with the transgender community…hell even the gay community? If they don’t know they are saying something wrong, is it wrong of them to say it?
Synnerman
“Pseudo-apologizing?” She should not have to had apologized at all. This is how allies get ostracized.
Eric
Hmm.
What exactly, would have made it less of a “pseudo-apology” and more of an “apology”?
Kropotokin
“it is my belief that she did not intend to offend anyone, honestly i think there is a little bit of oversensitivity to what she said.”
Intent matters, yes. But it did offend people, including me. If lil mama had said “I support gays but I think it’s a choice and kids should be raised by straight parents”, I think you would have to agree that would require an apology no matter who the person is. Just because someone is an ally doesn’t mean you have to kiss their ass even when they mess up. I’m not advocating some kind of self-righteous boycott or campaign against lil mama here, but an apology isn’t all that much to to ask for.
daftpunkydavid
there’s nothing “pseudo” in her apology imho…
Dave
S’all good. She just be an African American bizntach who got an entertainment break at a young age and didn’t get the full opportunity to properly learnz the right wordz to insult someone so that it doesn’t sound so fo’shizzly negative.
‘Ho must have just krunck’d up to hip hop records or sump’in
Tom
Are we supposed to believe that Lil Mama used “However, in hindsight” in a sentence? Bitch, Please!
come on
I saw the show. It was nothing. The transgender girl was being a bitch! And Lil’ Mama was saying what she would have said to anyone and she’s always hella supportive of them. And yeah, I doubt she said hindsight too…
Lloyd Baltazar
That is SUCH a scripted FAKE APOLOGY.
FAKE APOLOGY. SHE DID NOT APOLOGIZE TO LEYOMI.
And can you really believe she used the word “HINDSIGHT” in a sentence?
BULLSHIT. Judging how GHETTO she talks on that show—-she probably doesn’t know what “hindsight” even means!