Wendy Williams receives backlash for saying gay men should "stop wearing skirts and heels"

14 February 2020, 17:14

By Jazmin Duribe

"Telling gay men they can’t wear skirts is homophobic. Shut up Wendy."

Wendy Williams is being accused of being "homophobic" following comments she made about gay men that wear skirts and dresses.

Wendy was discussing Galentine's Day – an unofficial day that celebrates women and friendship that was created by Parks and Recreation – during her popular Hot Topics segment on The Wendy Williams Show. She then asked who would be celebrating Galentine's Day, which falls on 13 February. But she noticed some men clapping in the audience, and she wasn't pleased.

READ MORE: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello fans call out Wendy Williams for "disgusting" comments

"If you’re a man and you’re clapping, you’re not even a part of this," she said. "You don’t understand the rules of the day. It’s women going out and getting saucy and then going home. You’re not a part."

She added: "I don’t care if you’re gay. You don’t get a [menstruation] every 28 days,” Williams added. “You can do a lot that we do, but I get offended by the idea that we go through something you will never go through.

"And stop wearing our skirts and our heels. Just saying, girls, what do we have for ourselves? Looky here now, gay men, you’ll never be the women that we are. No matter how gay." Wendy's studio audience clapped at her remarks, however, the internet's reaction was the opposite.

Many thought her comments were attacking the LGBTQ community and were "homophobic".

Later, Wendy said she stands by everything she says on her show no matter how controversial. "I tell you every day, and I mean this and I’m going to keep drilling it in your mind," she explained. "It is so scary coming out here and sitting here by myself with my loose mouth and my slick humour. And, you know, I’m by myself. I can’t blame anybody but me. She continued: "I say it and I mean it."

However, the following day (14 Feb) Wendy apologised on Twitter and said her comments were without "malice".

"I'll start by saying I apologise," she began. "I did not mean to offend my LGBTQ+ community on yesterday's show. I did not realise until I got home and watched the second running of our show here in New York – and I always watch when I can to critique my delivery – the cameras, the lights, the audience…I'm very persnickety about how I do my show and one thing I can tell you right now is that I never do the show in a place of malice. I understand my platform in the community."

She continued: "I'm 55-years-old and maybe I sounded…somebody out of touch. I'm not out of touch except for perhaps yesterday for saying what I said. So, I deeply apologise and I deeply appreciate the support that I get from the community. I will do better. I appreciate you supporting me. Thank you."