‘Hocus Pocus 2‘ has been one of Disney’s most anticipated sequels for the fans. The Sanderson Sisters are returning to Salem, breathing fresh life into the 25-year-old much favorite classic. The film’s trailer amassed 43.6M views in its first 24 hours, clearly stating its relevancy and love among the fans.
However, the joy suddenly went down the drain, when Bette Midler, who plays the role of one of the Sanderson, tweeted a transphobic statement, and an islamophobic meme. The fans were quick to notice it and called her out on her trans-exclusionary speech and bigotry-driven mindset.
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Transphobia and Islamophobia Ruins The ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Party
The overturning of the Roe v. Wade judgment made women’s bodies and their reproduction rights dependent on the state government. The decision for abortion is simply out of the hands of the pregnant woman. Midler took to Twitter to express her frustrations and annoyance with this.
She tweeted, “WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! They don’t call us ‘women’ anymore; they call us ‘birthing people’ or ‘menstruators,’ and even ‘people with vaginas!’ Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!”
WOMEN OF THE WORLD! We are being stripped of our rights over our bodies, our lives and even of our name! They don’t call us “women” anymore; they call us “birthing people” or “menstruators”, and even “people with vaginas”! Don’t let them erase you! Every human on earth owes you!
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 4, 2022
People replied and retweeted that her words significantly erase transgender identities and only sympathize with cisgender women.
The second tweet added fuel to the fire. The tweet had no text, but a picture of all the supreme Court justices who voted to strike down the Roe v. Wade photoshopped in a way that they depict Islamic appearances.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 5, 2022
The fans criticized Midler for drawing an illogical comparison between the supreme court justices and Muslim People, calling out her clear islamophobia. The tweets managed to stigmatize the already marginalized and discriminated lot of the United States.
Bette Midler Responded, But The Apology Doesn’t Satisfy Fans
Bette Midler responded to the criticism. She wrote, “It was about the same old s*** women – ALL WOMEN – have been putting up with since the cavemen,” Midler wrote. “Even then, men got top billing. But seriously, folks, if anyone who read that tweet thinks I have anything but love for any marginalized people, go to Wikipedia and type in my name. I’ve fought for marginalized people for as long as I can remember. Still, if you want to dismiss my 60 years of proven love and concern over a tweet that accidentally angered the very people I have always supported and adored, so be it. But the truth is, Democracy is slipping through our fingers! I’m all in on trying to save Democracy for ALL PEOPLE. We must unite, because, in case you haven’t been paying attention, divided we will definitely fall.”
I have always supported and adored, so be it.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) July 5, 2022
But the truth is, Democracy is slipping through our fingers! I’m all in on trying to save Democracy for ALL PEOPLE. We must unite, because, in case you haven’t been paying attention, divided we will definitely fall.
The response didn’t specifically address her exclusionary and stigmatized language. She didn’t apologize for either the islamophobic meme or the transphobic language. It rather felt that she continued to justify herself regardless.
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