‘Counting On’ star Derick Dillard faces backlash over transgender comments directed at teen Jazz Jennings
“Counting On” star Derick Dillard is taking aim at a teenage reality star, and his thoughts are controversial to say the least.
Jill (Duggar) Dillard’s husband attacked transgender teen Jazz Jennings’s reality show on Twitter on Aug. 2. © D Dipasupil / Getty Images North America Jill Duggar Dillard and husband Derick Dillard appear on “Extra” at H&M in New York City’s Times Square on Oct. 23, 2014.
What an oxymoron… a “reality” show which follows a non-reality. “Transgender” is a myth. Gender is not fluid; it’s ordained by God. https://t.co/YxzH5o5Ujx
— Derick Dillard (@derick4Him) August 3, 2017
“What an oxymoron… a ‘reality’ show which follows a non-reality. ‘Transgender’ is a myth. Gender is not fluid; it’s ordained by God,” he told his 121,000 followers.
“I Am Jazz” is a reality show on TLC that documents the life of 16-year-old Jazz, a transgender girl. TLC also airs the Duggar family’s reality show “Counting On.”
© Splash News Jazz Jennings attends The American Heart Association’s “Go Red For Women” Red Dress Collection in New York City on Feb. 9, 2017.
Fans immediately took issue with Derick’s tweet. One woman wrote, “Is it necessary for a grown man to throw shade at a teenage girl?” Another asked the network, “@TLC ARE YOU SERIOUSLY OK WITH THIS??? YOU’RE GONNA ALLOW A GROWN MAN CHILD TO BULLY A CHILD ON YOUR WATCH???”
As fervor built, Derick responded, “I want to be clear. I have nothing against him. I only have issue with the words and definitions being propagated here.”
I want to be clear. I have nothing against him. I only have issue with the words and definitions being propagated here.
— Derick Dillard (@derick4Him) August 3, 2017
That, of course, made more people angry since he used the pronoun “him” and not “her.”
One of the more savage response to Derick read, “I think you should consider transitioning into a real man. #CountingOn.”
Several people did support Derick’s views, but supporters were definitely in the minority.
Perhaps there is an underlying issue for Derick. When the Duggar family’s initial reality show, “19 Kids and Counting,” was canceled amid the non-mythical Josh Duggar molestation scandal, it was replaced with “I Am Jazz.”
Jazz has not responded to Derick.
