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Will Ferrell Is Being Praised For His Seriously Articulate Explanation As To Why There Is So Much Anti-Trans Rhetoric

By Stephanie Soteriou,

1 days ago

Will Ferrell ’s new documentary, Will & Harper , is now available to watch on Netflix, with the heartwarming film following his and his best friend Harper Steele’s road trip across the United States after Harper came out as a transgender woman.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2OePMj_0vljrPsc00 — Will and Harper first met when they worked together on *Saturday Night Live* back in 1995, Will as a performer and Harper as a writer, and the two have been best friends ever since.
In 2022, Harper came out as trans and started her transition at the age of 61. During an appearance at Variety Studios earlier this year, Will recalled: “It was three summers ago in which Harper emailed a lot of her close friends with the headline: ‘Here’s a Weird One.’”
“She went on to explain she was going to transition, and we were all, of course, excited to hear the news and surprised to hear the news,” he added. “All of us were extremely supportive and expressed love… But that sort of opened the questions like: ‘How can we help you? What do you need us to do?’”
Tristan Fewings / Getty Images for BFI

At the time, Will also admitted that he had been completely ignorant of the “trans experience” prior to Harper’s transition, and had “zero” baseline knowledge when she came out.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ffbQS_0vljrPsc00 — “Which is why I think [ *Will & Harper* ] is so exciting for us to kind of put out there in the world,” Will went on to say. “Because I think it’s a chance for all of us in the cis community to be able to ask questions — I know for me it was a chance to ask questions. And also, just to listen and be there as a friend to discuss this journey.”
Jeremy Chan / Getty Images

And in a new interview with the Independent , Will was asked why he thinks anti-trans rhetoric has become so rampant in recent years, to which he replied: “I think we fear what we don’t know.”

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1sUhiI_0vljrPsc00 — “There is hatred out there,” he added. “It’s very real and it’s very unsafe for trans people in certain situations.”
“But I don’t know why trans people are meant to be threatening to me as a cis male,” Will continued, before poignantly adding: “It’s so strange to me, because Harper is finally... *her* . She’s finally who she was always meant to be.”
“Whether or not you can ultimately wrap your head around that, why would you care if somebody’s happy?” he asked. “Why is that threatening to you? If the trans community is a threat to you, I think it stems from not being confident or safe with yourself.”
Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

Will’s answer has struck a chord online, with many people taking to social media to heap praise on the actor’s articulate response.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0aXCxr_0vljrPsc00 — Reposting Will’s comments to X, one viral tweet reads : “it’s so important that someone like him is saying something like this & in a world where so many artists i’ve long admired have left me disappointed with the way they talk about our community it’s truly the best surprise to see authentic support come from such an unlikely source.”
“He's such a great example of listening and learning and understanding that being trans is of ZERO consequence to anyone but that person,” somebody else wrote . “It doesn't affect you! Apart from if that person is in your life and, as he says, they are happy, which is something to be celebrated!”
“Will Ferrell continues to be a gd national treasure. His vulnerability in sharing his own growth as an ally while learning about Harper’s experience as a trans woman is a beautiful display of humanity and kindness and a balm that we need right now,” another user tweeted .
Indiewire / IndieWire via Getty Images

Harper previously opened up about her uncharacteristic decision to be in front of the camera and make this documentary, admitting that she hoped to use Will’s celebrity status to make a positive difference for trans people everywhere.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4W8F0I_0vljrPsc00 — Speaking to the Guardian , she said: “The fact is, there was a lot of legislation and bills being introduced across America that were very restrictive and very damaging to my community. And I thought: ‘Well, I could use this celebrity who reaches a much wider audience than I would normally be able to get, to reach out to the people who are passing these bills, maybe.’”
Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Will & Harper is available to stream on Netflix now!

More on this

This Is Why Will Ferrell Is Being Praised For His Comments About His Best Friend Coming Out As Transgender Stephanie Soteriou · Jan. 24, 2024
Will Ferrell's Heartwarming Netflix Doc "Will & Harper" Will Show You The True Meaning Of Friendship Ada Enechi · Sept. 25, 2024
“That’s Something I Wouldn’t Choose To Do Now”: Will Ferrell And Harper Steele Had A Candid Discussion About Their “Saturday Night Live” Regrets Ellen Durney · Sept. 11, 2024

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Chris Saravia

1m ago

I have read so many good things about Will Ferrell lately. He seems like such an extraordinary person. Kind, compassionate, empathetic. They don't make too many like him nymore.

Richard Adams

1m ago

Being articulate does not make you right. Your premise is wrong.

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