Maren Morris, the beloved country star, has never been one to back down from defending her beliefs. Recently, she found herself engaged in a feud with Brittany, the wife of fellow country artist Jason Aldean, over a transphobic joke.
The controversy made waves when Fox News host Tucker Carlson also got involved. But instead of getting angry or upset, Morris decided to respond in a lighthearted and playful manner.
Morris took to her social media to share a headline from Carlson’s interview and playfully captioned it, “#NewProfilePic.” It was her way of showing that she wasn’t letting the insult get to her. To her delight, many others found the humor in the situation as well.
Well-known personality Chrissy Teigen responded to Morris’s post, saying, “omgahhh the highest honor.” Even Cassadee Pope, who was also part of the online spat, joined in with laughing emojis and cheekily mentioned that the headline would make a great addition to Morris’s collection.
The feud began when Brittany posted a makeup video with a caption that caused an uproar. She wrote, “I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life.” Morris, along with others in the country music community, called out the comment as transphobic. Pope also joined the conversation and emphasized the importance of inclusivity in beauty brands and how comparing a “tomboy phase” to someone’s desire to transition is disrespectful.
Morris further contributed to the conversation, expressing her agreement with Pope’s views. With sass and power, she tweeted, “It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.” Her response shed light on the need for compassion and understanding. However, the feud didn’t end there. Brittany claimed that her words were taken out of context and defended her stance in an interview with Tucker Carlson, stating that she was advocating for children’s well-being.
In the interview, Brittany expressed concerns about allowing children to make life-changing decisions about their gender at such a young age. She argued that children should have loving parents who protect their innocence and brought up age restrictions in various activities like smoking, driving, serving in the military, and voting. This sparked a bewildering debate regarding transgender children.
It’s crucial to understand that being transgender means that one’s gender does not align with the sex assigned at birth. Gender identity is separate from gender expression, as seen in cases like a “tomboy” phase. Pre-pubertal transgender children often undergo a social transition, which may involve changes like using a different name and pronouns or dressing in a way that aligns with their identity.
However, medical interventions such as puberty blockers or hormone treatments are typically not recommended until the child reaches puberty. Genital gender-affirming surgeries are also not recommended until the individual is at least 18 years old.
Maren Morris has shown us that even in the face of criticism, a little humor can go a long way. Her witty response to Tucker Carlson’s insults showcases her resilience and ability to rise above negativity. Let’s celebrate artists like Morris who use their platforms to stand up for what they believe in and bring attention to important social issues.
