Amanda Abbington has replied after her use of transphobic language in a video she posted on social media was questioned, stating that she is not transphobic.
The former Sherlock and Mr Selfridge star was named last week as one of the candidates on the 2018 series of Strictly Come Dancing, with Angela Rippon and Layton Williams.
After it was confirmed that the actress will be joining the BBC show, some Strictly fans threatened to boycott the season because of her presence, causing her to respond on Instagram after leaving Twitter.
Addressing past comments that she made on Twitter about a drag show, Amanda stressed that she ‘loves’ drag, adding that she felt opposed to seeing ‘a kid, a little kid, a 12-year-old, doing something very over-sexualised’.
‘And that was my tweet. I didn’t associate it with the trans community, nor would I associate that with the trans community, because I think they’re two separate things,’ she added, while also stating: ‘I’m not transphobic, I’m not a transphobic person. I’m a firm supporter of the legitimate trans community, I always have been.’
In the comments underneath the post, one person called into question Amanda’s use of the term ‘legitimate trans’ community, expressing their view that it suggests that trans people should be expected to ‘prove’ their gender.
‘This video -seems- agreeable apart from the use of “legitimate trans people” – it says a lot without saying a lot, implying that we should expect trans people to “prove” their gender, though we’re rightly horrified when that’s asked of women,’ they wrote.
‘Liberation from patriarchy is only possible when all people are accepted regardless of the way they conform to gender expectations.’
Amanda responded directly to them to explain what she meant by the remark, saying: ‘I mean that in the sense that there are people who will absolutely take advantage of the Trans community for their own benefit.
‘Like with every community there will be some individuals who aren’t in it for the right reasons. That’s what I mean. There is a hijacking going on and it’s affecting the trans community.’
During her video message, the actress also clarified why she was banned from the platform three times in the past, saying that it was because she ‘went after trophy hunters and called them all sorts of names’.
When it was announced that Amanda would be joining Strictly, several stars of the show welcomed her to the series, including professional dancers Johannes Radebe, Amy Dowden, Gorka Márquez and Dianne Buswell.
‘Welcome to the family,’ added Graziano Di Prima, while Katya Jones wrote: ‘Here we goooooo! @amanda_abbington74 get ready!!’
Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
