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Transparent creator Jill Soloway apologises for posting photoshopped transgender 'joke' about Bruce Jenner

The writer of the Golden Globe-winning transgender comedy uploaded a doctored poster of the series re-named the 'Transdashians'

Jenn Selby
Monday 02 February 2015 17:09 GMT
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Jill Soloway, the creator of Golden Globe-winning transgender comedy Transparent, has apologised after posting a mock-up image of the series advertisement photoshopped to star Bruce Jenner.

The former Olympian, who is the step-father of the Kardashian sisters and the father of models Kendall and Kylie Jenner, is currently facing intense tabloid scrutiny in the US over his changing appearance.

A cover of In Touch magazine was criticised for encouraging transphobia after it published an altered image picture of Jenner wearing make-up alongside the strapline ‘My Life As A Woman’.

Soloway has since come under similar fire for uploading a spoof poster of the hit Amazon series doctored to star the Kardashians, with Jenner in the lead role. The title reads ‘TRANSDASHIAN’.

"I couldn’t not. Someone sent it to me. Tell me it’s wrong and I’ll take it down," she captioned it.

Turns out, lots of people did think it was wrong. So she took it down. And apologised for posting it in the first place.

"Yesterday I saw an internet meme of the TRANSPARENT poster with the faces of Bruce Jenner and family photoshopped in to replace the Pfeffermans," she wrote.

Transparent creator Jill Soloway
Transparent creator Jill Soloway

"It was not something we created, but as a long-time Kardashian fan and reality show obsessive, I impetuously regressed to a naïve, teenage self.

"It wasn’t until after I’d posted it on my Facebook page inviting debate that I saw it the way everyone else did: as a cruel mockery of the journey Bruce Jenner may or may not be undertaking.

Bruce Jenner with step-daugher Kim Kardashian
Bruce Jenner with step-daugher Kim Kardashian

"I took down the image immediately. Bruce Jenner has not said he is transitioning; his identity is his to share and no one else’s to determine.

"The well-being of the trans community is of utmost importance to me. As a cis woman I will never know what it is like to be trans.

"I acknowledge the hurt and pain of the trans community and welcome their feedback.

"I made a mistake; it was horrible judgment. My complacency is checked and it won’t happen again. Please accept my apology."

Jenner has not commented publicly on any of the rumours surrounding his gender identity.

Last week, Kim Kardashian West addressed the media speculation for the first time.

"Well we support Bruce no matter what, so we were just at his house hanging out and we wanted to take a picture, that was not like a secret message like, ‘We support Bruce… Of course we support Bruce 100 per cent,'" she told E! Online.

"He’s our dad so we support him no matter what, and I think when the time is right, he’ll talk about whatever he wants to talk about. I just think it’s his story to talk about, not really mine."

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