Retailer Sends Apology Letter After Staff Refused To Let Transgender Shopper Try On Clothes In Menswear Changing Rooms
A transgender shopper has been sent a personal letter of apology from British retailer Marks & Spencer after staff refused to let them try on clothes in the menswear changing rooms.
Myla Corvidae, 30, was born female and now identifies as transgender non-binary using they/them pronouns.
Myla Corvidae /SWNS.COM
They had picked up a few items of clothing from the menswear section of M&S in Aberdeen, Scotland, and wanted to try them on in the store.
But a member of staff told them they could not try the clothes on in the changing rooms by the menswear section.
Myla says they were told the facilities were "only for men" during the incident on December 31, 2019.
A spokesman for M&S admitted "a mistake was made" and the store has apologized - including a personal letter from the manager.
Myla, of Aberdeen, said:
"I'd picked up some shirts and jumpers from the menswear section and went into the changing rooms nearby. There was no attendant so I just went on in."
"I left the changing room to grab a bigger size in one of the jumpers and a female attendant approached me on the shop floor."
"She told me I couldn't use the changing rooms there as they were 'only for men' and said that I had to use the changing rooms downstairs which are for women."
"I was utterly shocked and the only thing I could think of to say was 'I'm not female' to which she looked me up and down, apologized and walked off."
"I felt sick, like I was being accused of some kind of crime just for trying on clothes. Afterwards, I went home and cried - I have never been accosted like that in a store before."
"I had to go back in and speak to someone in store because no one took it seriously the first time and I started crying even trying to talk about it again with them."
Myla Corvidae /SWNS.COM
Myla had been shopping in the Aberdeen City Center branch of Marks & Spencer regularly for the past five years before this happened.
Following the incident, Myla has complained to Marks & Spencer who have formally apologized to them both in person and via letter.
Despite the apology from the company, Myla feels unable to return to the shop due to the distress caused on that day.
Myla said:
"I don't think the apology was enough to be honest, it shouldn't have ever happened to start with and I have lost confidence in Marks & Spencer as a company for standing up for trans folk like myself."
"I still feel scared to shop at Marks & Spencer in case it happens again elsewhere or if I have to deal with that same person again."
"The fact that I saw a female using the space at the same time in full view of the attendant when I left the changing rooms just made it so much more of a personal attack."
"I honestly don't think I would go back there, I don't want to have to experience something like that again or see that staff member again."
"I am still very much upset by what happened and if I were to go back I wouldn't go on my own and I would not be shopping for clothes there again."
Myla Corvidae /SWNS.COM
An M&S spokesperson said:
"With our fitting rooms we only offer individual lockable cubicles and this is to ensure every customer feels comfortable and has the privacy they need."
"The fitting rooms are located within our womenswear and menswear departments and therefore are mainly used by customers of that gender. However, as an inclusive retailer and in line with most other retailers, we allow customers the choice of fitting room in respect of how they identify themselves."
"Clearly on this occasion a mistake was made, we have apologized to our customer for this incident, additionally our store manager wrote a personal apology assuring the customer they have spoken to the team."
Wendy Williams Offers Tearful Apology After Being Met With Backlash For Telling Gay Men To Stop Wearing Skirts And Heels
Wendy Williams shed a single tear after apologizing for a homophobic remark she made on air on Thursday, February 13th.
The incident in question showed up when Williams was talking about "Galentine's Day," a fictional holiday on February 13th created by Parks & Recreation.
A man in the audience was clapping along with the women in celebration of Galentine's Day, which caused Williams to respond:
"If you're a man and you're clapping, you're not even a part of this. I don't care if you're gay."
"You don't get a [menstrual period] every 28 days. 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."
"Stop wearing our skirts and our heels. Girls, what do we have for ourselves? You'll never be the woman that we are, no matter how gay!""
Folks were quick to call out the incident as both homophobic and transphobic.
Wendy Williams is a gender essentialist w/ conservative binary views on gender expression & sexuality. This has bee… https://t.co/sAXPJUmjln— JP (@JP) 1581687841
You don’t battle transphobia with more transphobia. #WendyWilliams— Moderate, Tavere, Cunt, Severity (@Moderate, Tavere, Cunt, Severity) 1581840422
#WendyWilliams saying it offends her that gay men will never experience something that women go through. I would wa… https://t.co/XRIzcOJfNR— Bitchin liz (@Bitchin liz) 1581671688
Girls maybe we should stop using Wendy Williams memes and reaction images. You know, because of the transphobia and homophobia— Janice Litman-Goralnik née Hosenstein (@Janice Litman-Goralnik née Hosenstein) 1581871426
Williams said once she returned home and watched the episode, she realized the damage that had been done.
She released a single-tear-streaked apology on YouTube.
Williams said that her off-color remarks:
"maybe sounded like your auntie, your mother, your big sister or somebody out of touch".
"I'm not out of touch. Except for perhaps yesterday by saying what I said...I deeply apologize and I deeply appreciate the support that I get from the community. I will do better."
Folks were not so easily convinced that the apology was genuine.
@WendyWilliams WRONG!!! You’re words were very strong and pointed!! Shame on you! #you have a platform and should b… https://t.co/LLaPR4zo2W— Chi Chi LaRue (@Chi Chi LaRue) 1581694163
@WendyWilliams I wish you’d gone a bit deeper with this. The apology is one thing but an explanation of how and why… https://t.co/rcMmJwo4oP— Crystal | Black Lives Matter (@Crystal | Black Lives Matter) 1581711969
@WendyWilliams Nah. Just stand up in your bigotry and go b/c you meant what you said. Being trash is part of your b… https://t.co/565ebClmEN— Homohoebia (@Homohoebia) 1581705506
@WendyWilliams Nah— TheVivienne (@TheVivienne) 1581822611
People are pointing out the inconsistencies of Wendy's attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community over the years.
@WendyWilliams You almost got me, but: The years it took you to say LGBTQ The tears without tears The you never d… https://t.co/updqzfc2KU— Andrew Roby (@Andrew Roby) 1581694116
@WendyWilliams “I deeply apologize for showing you who I really am.”— tom tomlinson (@tom tomlinson) 1581691285
@WendyWilliams It would have been more useful to know what made you say what you said in the way you said. You.must… https://t.co/QMJ0ZlBhG4— Divina De Campo stream DECODED (@Divina De Campo stream DECODED) 1581754318
@WendyWilliams Though I appreciate the apology, what Wendy said yesterday was super hurtful, ESPECIALLY coming from… https://t.co/7npRMY3PWA— mami(ta) (@mami(ta)) 1581751247
@WendyWilliams You said men never experience menstruation, but many trans men do. Many trans masc and non-binary fo… https://t.co/o7zzzODV5I— Dominick Evans | ⭐TEAM XO (@Dominick Evans | ⭐TEAM XO) 1581724652
Wendy has not commented again or addressed the depth of her apology any further, but the LGBTQ+ community continues to set a standard of care and not apologize for being upset when someone violates it.
Let's all #DoBetter.
Wendy Williams Hit With Swift Backlash After Telling Gay Men To 'Stop Wearing Our Skirts And Our Heels'
Talk show host Wendy Williams is being accused of a wide range of intolerant behaviors after a rant on her show in which she told gay men to "stop wearing our skirts and our heels."
Williams was talking about the holiday "Galentine's Day," created by the TV show Parks & Recreation, which celebrates female friendships the day before Valentine's Day.
When she saw men clapping along with the women after a joke, she commented:
"If you're a man and you're clapping, you're not even a part of this. I don't care if you're gay. You don't get a [menstrual period] every 28 days. 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."
Williams then went on to say to gay men:
"Stop wearing our skirts and our heels. Girls, what do we have for ourselves? You'll never be the woman that we are, no matter how gay!"
. @WendyWilliams to LGBT community. “I get offended at the idea that we go through something you will NEVER go thro… https://t.co/lgBnEfyu60— CodeineAmari (@CodeineAmari) 1581620106
Internet users everywhere denounced Williams's comments as homophobic and transphobic.
Oh, Wendy. Your homophobia is showing: Wendy Williams to Gay Men: 'Stop Wearing Our Skirts and Our Heels' https://t.co/qFVwhUsrtv— Jeffrey Luscombe (@Jeffrey Luscombe) 1581626159
@WendyWilliams i love you, i really do but if you’re telling us to stop wearing “y’all skirts and heels”, then give… https://t.co/RZe9Szi6JH— Bru_e_williams 💕 (@Bru_e_williams 💕) 1581637109
.@WendyWilliams, some friendly reminders: 1. Many cis women would be offended by having their womanhood reduced to… https://t.co/yuGEDTaFv1— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️⚧️🇺🇦 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️⚧️🇺🇦) 1581633607
Wendy Williams seems to have some trouble avoiding controversy.
Earlier this year, she had to issue an apology after making fun of a scar on Joaquin Phoenix's lip.
In 2018, she said she was "sick" of the #MeToo movement.
Y’all remember when Wendy Williams got coin to do that awful Drag Race commentary during the commercial breaks? 😅 N… https://t.co/bT8xQMQDQ7— Kelly Mantle (@Kelly Mantle) 1581636903
Gays obsessed with @WendyWilliams is on our team: SHE. IS. NOT. Drop her. She's toxic. https://t.co/iX7hS6gmfX— Matthew Rettenmund (@Matthew Rettenmund) 1581624196
Many pointed out notable LGBTQ celebrities who wear high heels and skirts.
#WendyWilliams @WendyWilliams life long watcher but no more! You are a transphobic / homophobic woman who doesn’t g… https://t.co/sNavVdme8Q— Paul Schmidt (@Paul Schmidt) 1581637933
Transphobia is no laughing matter.
Before long, Williams had issued an apology to her fans.
But for many, the damage had been done.
Wendy Williams will have to be more careful in the future—there's a fine but important line between speaking frankly about gender and being ignorant and intolerant.
Cosmetic Brand's Founder Cuts Ties With His Own Sister Over Her Transphobic Remarks About YouTuber Nikkie De Jager
Nikkie de Jager, better known as makeup YouTuber NikkieTutorials, recently came out as a trans woman via a video on her YouTube channel.
Nikkie was being blackmailed by someone who wanted to leak her story to the media, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and tell the world herself.
Nikkie bared her soul to her fans in the 17-minute video.
"Today I am here to share something with you that I've always wanted to share with you one day, but under my own circumstances. And it looks like that chance has been taken away from me. So today I am taking back my own power."
Many of Nikkie's fans were extremely supportive of her coming out, even though the circumstances forced her to share her truth before she was ready.
@NikkieTutorials Oh my god 😭 I love you so much. Grew up watching you. Thank you for sharing this. ❤️— Sanjati 🔮🎮 MASS EFFECT 3 (@Sanjati 🔮🎮 MASS EFFECT 3) 1578947132
Me finding out nikkietutorials is trans and then me finding out someone tried to blackmail her into coming out https://t.co/lvj0vBBlSs— ❄ Local Plague Dr ❄ (@❄ Local Plague Dr ❄) 1579005155
Even after de Jager's heartfelt coming out video, there were still some people who thought it would be a good idea to be transphobic and poke fun at her.
Among these was the sister of cosmetics company Too Faced founder Jerrod Blandino, who also worked for the company.
The post, made from an account where she uses the name Dani California, drew instant ire and criticism from internet users—along with a call to boycott the brand.
I will never EVER support too faced. https://t.co/lN0sM6wItx— literallylewis2.0 - ig 🌈 (@literallylewis2.0 - ig 🌈) 1578970593
She quickly attempted to backtrack after her bigotry was noticed, but to no avail.
@dropdeadlewis She changed her bio at least five times since that screenshot was taken. This is what is written now… https://t.co/msaeEOGADv— ℕ𝕚𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕒 (@ℕ𝕚𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕥𝕒) 1578992540
Jerrod soon released a statement, via the company's Twitter account, condemning his sister's actions and saying that she had been fired from her work at Too Faced.
"I do not tolerate this behavior, and she is no longer an employee of Too Faced. I would like to say how proud I am of Nikkie Tutorials, and how inspired I am for her strength and sharing her beautiful truth with the world. I am sending all my love to her."
A message from Our Founder Jerrod Blandino https://t.co/OdnCT67INK— Too Faced Cosmetics (@Too Faced Cosmetics) 1579030654
Even after Jerrod's apology, many people pointed to a long history of problematic actions as a reason to avoid the company.
@TooFaced Hm... Feels like you only apologized bc people are pissed 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️ this brand has always been so rude t… https://t.co/SQma2OoMQj— 🖤Skye🖤 (@🖤Skye🖤) 1579031007
@TooFaced Does he really expect us to believe she is off the payroll? She may have lost her title but I suspect tha… https://t.co/MwYlfSeSXa— Stacy (@Stacy) 1579058437
@TooFaced Too late. Lisa publically bullied Nikkie for ages and you guys did nothing about it, while she was the vi… https://t.co/qJuWy95PEf— Shining --- ☆★☆ (@Shining --- ☆★☆) 1579035066
Many folks on Twitter pointed out that this isn't the first time Blandino's sister has posted hurtful, bigoted things on social media.
@TooFaced She should’ve been let go ages ago, she’s been this way and it’s left a bad taste in people’s mouths for… https://t.co/NsqV3k3opG— tea spill (@tea spill) 1579031625
@TooFaced @TeaSpillYT Glad to see this - sad to see she wasn’t fired when she made racist comments to someone on behalf of TF— Max ✨ (@Max ✨) 1579031615
@TooFaced Still makes me sick how awful your sister has been. Going on a bullying spree and representing you and the brand. She’s unhinged— JustAGirlInTheWorld (@JustAGirlInTheWorld) 1579033283
@TooFaced Lisa has been mouthing off on Instagram for a while now regarding Nikkie and others so I’m glad the right thing was finally done.— DramaLynn (@DramaLynn) 1579031844
While his sister's termination and public chastisement were definitely warranted, many makeup fans—both those who are fans of Nikkie and those who just won't tolerate bigotry in the industry—are still questioning whether Jerrod's actions were enough.
Her hurtful comments about de Jager in an especially vulnerable time were completely unacceptable to fans, and part of a pattern of behavior that had not been addressed until now.
Vlogger Nikkie de Jager—better known as YouTuber NikkieTutorials who specializes in makeup tutorials—came out to fans as a trans woman in an emotional 17-minute-long post to her channel.
The video came after she received blackmail threatening to out her to the press.
De Jager explained her journey to her audience in the video below.
I'm Coming Out. www.youtube.com
She began:
"Today I am here to share with you something that I always wanted to share with you one day, but under my own circumstances. It looks like that chance has been taken away from me so today I am taking back my own power."
By the time de Jager was 6, she already knew she was ready to start taking steps to transition.
"By the age of 6, I grew my hair out. ... By the age of 7 or 8, I fully wore girls' clothes only and it felt amazing."
@NikkieTutorials Cis female here. Due to flukes in my design I cant have children. Ive been assured by many that it… https://t.co/KJhKRpiv6z— CelestialSpider (@CelestialSpider) 1578946176
@NikkieTutorials so proud of you Nikkie <3— YouTube (@YouTube) 1579027235
NikkieTutorials coming out as trans is a big moment for trans people. She's someone that cis women of all political… https://t.co/Es71eqOXbG— Erin, Trail Mom (@Erin, Trail Mom) 1579014395
Sadly, de Jager explained why the chance for her to come out was "taken" from her:
"I have been blackmailed by people that wanted to leak my story to the press....I've always wanted to share this."
I love you @NikkieTutorials ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/wYim9PLjVm— V△LKY BARLOW (@V△LKY BARLOW) 1578984516
When the name of the person who was blackmailing Nikkietutorials finally gets dropped https://t.co/Cp46PW7v0e— Department of Just-Ass (@Department of Just-Ass) 1578999851
to whoever blackmailed nikkietutorials.. you tried it https://t.co/prw9GLXKOE— LAPP (@LAPP) 1578996027
Me finding out nikkietutorials is trans and then me finding out someone tried to blackmail her into coming out https://t.co/lvj0vBBlSs— ❄ Local Plague Dr ❄ (@❄ Local Plague Dr ❄) 1579005155
The way she told her blackmailers to shove it is so ICONIC. Proud of @NikkieTutorials for taking her power back. https://t.co/Trfdlo0Vi1— ♡ (@♡) 1579005600
Many of Nikkie's fans had no idea she was a trans woman...
At first I thought Nikkie was coming out as a trans man like Trisha paytas but she's a trans woman omg 😍 proud— Sam Avery 👑 (@Sam Avery 👑) 1578948785
Nikkie: I’m coming out Me: Oh cool she’s bi? lesbian? ... wait I thought she was engaged? Nikkie: I’m transgender… https://t.co/j0W2n1f4kU— L💜 (@L💜) 1578954947
...but that didn't affect their support for her...
.@NikkieTutorials is number one on trending as she should be 👏🏻 https://t.co/2kaQnXYlci— Dustin Dailey (@Dustin Dailey) 1578987420
...or their ire for the people who threatened her.
Me after watching nikkietutorials coming out video https://t.co/4eWC5hl2Jk https://t.co/TBr2prWVrX— traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns (@traaaaaaannnnnnnnnns) 1579000983
The overwhelming support of Nikkie has far outweighed the negativity.
All her stans made it clear that blackmail was a completely unacceptable way for her to be scared into coming out.
I don’t wanna hear “I never would’ve guessed Nikkie Tutorials is trans! I’m shook!” I wanna hear “who the fuck thre… https://t.co/GhRbZ0OuRu— don’t worry, darling (@don’t worry, darling) 1578944753
@KatiePepperoni/Twitter
nikkie tutorials was just forced to come out as trans due to blackmail... cis people are literally weaponizing our… https://t.co/P3AiPdwCha— sofie halili (@sofie halili) 1578948225
@remembersolo/Twitter
The decision to come out is an individual choice for many reasons, including the safety of the person. Forcing someone to come out is a despicable attack against the person being targeted.
Nikkie de Jager has not revealed the identity of those who threatened her.
Yet.