Transphobic song on America's Got Talent gets wild applause, laughter

[Jado]

Ray Jessel: 84-Year-Old Sings a Naughty Original Song

Did anyone else see this last night on America's Got Talent? An elderly man, Ray Jessel, goes on and sings a seemingly ordinary little love song -- before turning it into the tired, old meme about a man who dates a "woman who isn't a woman." PENIS! is the punch-line and everyone from the judges to Nick to the audience showered him with a ton of adulation for his "brilliance."

I have to admit the sudden change in tone/content caught me by surprise and made me laugh, but it was quite horrible and I couldn't believe the show would give the OK for that to be given a platform and have it air on live television. Apparently the behind the scenes production folks, which carefully orchestrates who to put on stage in front of the cameras and celebrity judges, thought it would be great to send this guy up on stage. Unfortunately their gamble paid off because I'm seeing few complaints online or elsewhere, although several people are aware of this bizarre situation:

America's Got Talent's Love of Un-Creative Transphobe Ray Jessel

Edit:

You're right. He didn't say that, it was more my interpretation of the message being relayed to the audience: the song is funny because it isn't really a woman due to PENIS.

 

[Valhelm]

This is pretty gross, but I'm not at all surprised by an 80-year-old man being transphobic. It's disappointing that the crowd and judges all went along with it.

 

[Zombine]

This song is pretty disgusting. All the Trans people I know are badass individuals.

 

[CornBurrito]

Ugh you mean I can't mock and insult transgendered people and directly contribute to their increased risk of suicide and depression? Fuck this overly PC world.

 

[Wazzy]

Disgusting. Why the hell did that get approved?

Transphobic asshole this guy is.

 

[RoKKeR]

Have to admit, bust out laughing at the change but the rest was pretty regrettable.

 

[potam]

Would I be considered transphobic if I took a girl home from a bar and didn't want to have sex with her after finding out she's packin' meat?

 

[Kater]

And this happens in the same year after an LGBT person won Eurovision. Dissapointing. :/

 

[CornBurrito]

Would I be considered transphobic if I took a girl home from a bar and didn't want to have sex with her after finding out she's packin' meat?

I would say no. But if you mocked her or openly said to her face that she wasn't a real woman I would consider it pretty hurtful behavior. Even if people have those views they should honestly keep it to themselves.

 

[Volimar]

This should make for an interesting apology story.

 

[AlexMogil]

Would I be considered transphobic if I took a girl home from a bar and didn't want to have sex with her after finding out she's packin' meat?

Probably not, but if you got on stage and sang about it on a major network then we have something to talk about

 

[Aylinato]

Would I be considered transphobic if I took a girl home from a bar and didn't want to have sex with her after finding out she's packin' meat?

No.

 

[Wazzy]

Would I be considered transphobic if I took a girl home from a bar and didn't want to have sex with her after finding out she's packin' meat?

No but if you react by insulting and shaming her then yes.

 

[Mr.Awesome]

I draw the line at male genitalia too you old geezer.

 

[chubigans]

Honest question: why is this song transphobic? Couldn't he have been singing about someone in drag? Or would that also be transphobic?

I seriously don't know what's PC anymore.

 

[The Smoking Bun]

On one hand I would be tempted to call it harmless fun but the fact that half the song is PENIS PENIS PENIS!! makes me think of this guy as a disgusting ass-hole and I would slap the shit out of him. Thanks grandpa!!

 

[TOP SHOTTA]

In his old-ass defense, it is almost impossible to stay current with what transgender people want to be called, what is funny, what terms have been reclaimed and so on. It's a fucking mine field, even Dan Savage is out of his league on this.

True, this was crass, but I am not so quick to gripe about it because it's a really complex issue and truth be told I don't think the dust has come even close to settling on the matter.

I am a pretty GGG guy and open minded and I have no idea what's funny, what's serious and what's horribly insulting anymore. I do think the term "tranny" has reached slur levels though. Avoid that one goiys and borls.

 

[potam]

I would say no. But if you mocked her or openly said to her face that she wasn't a real woman I would consider it pretty hurtful behavior. Even if people have those views they should honestly keep it to themselves.

Probably not, but if you got on stage and sang about it on a major network then we have something to talk about

No but if you react by insulting and shaming her then yes.

Honestly I may not have listened closely enough to the lyrics, but I didn't hear anything that was meant to be hurtful. If he said something along the lines of her not being a real woman, then I could understand the flack.

Honest question: why is this song transphobic? Couldn't he have been singing about someone in drag? Or would that also be transphobic?

I seriously don't know what's PC anymore.

To me, this would be the same as a gay singer making a song about mistakenly identifying a short-haired woman wearing overalls as a cute guy from the back, only to realize it's a woman. It's not misogynistic, it's just a bit of irony.

 

[Mysterious]

Honestly, can someone explain why this might be offensive? It's not like he said that transexuals are "evil to society" or anything of the sort; just commented that the girl he dated had a penis. I don't even think he said he was against her for that. But even then, that would catch a lot of people off (if they were heterosexual and dated a girl, who had a penis).

And aren't hermaphrodites different from transexuals, or am I confusing myself here?

 

[CornBurrito]

Honestly I may not have listened closely enough to the lyrics, but I didn't hear anything that was meant to be hurtful. If he said something along the lines of her not being a real woman, then I could understand the flack.

I am on my phone in public so I can't actually give the video a listen. I am going off the op who put "a woman who isn't a woman" in quotes.

 

[Femmeworth]

Disgusting.

 

[TimeEffect]

I didn't find it transphobic at all.

He compliments her throughout the song and only says he is disappointed in her having a penis. It's not like he condemned her for being who she was.

Title is much worse than it is-- the laughter seems to mostly come from how out of left field the punchline comes too.

 

[Blood Diamonds]

In his old-ass defense, it is almost impossible to stay current with what transgender people want to be called, what is funny, what terms have been reclaimed and so on. It's a fucking mine field, even Dan Savage is out of his league on this.

True, this was crass, but I am not so quick to gripe about it because it's a really complex issue and truth be told I don't think the dust has come even close to settling on the matter.

I am a pretty GGG guy and open minded and I have no idea what's funny, what's serious and what's horribly insulting anymore. I do think the term "tranny" has reached slur levels though. Avoid that one goiys and borls.

Then the old fuck shouldn't even touch the topic if he has no idea what he is saying

 

[Soodanim]

Honest question: why is this song transphobic? Couldn't he have been singing about someone in drag? Or would that also be transphobic?

I seriously don't know what's PC anymore.

I'm with you on this one. I don't get why this is considered to be so horrible. And it's dangerous to even say that on GAF because you get jumped on, but it's pretty open to interpretation. I took it to be a song about someone pulling what he thought was a bird, but when it came to getting naked it turned out to be a bloke. With a bigger dick than him.

It's not any worse than Funky Cold Medina.

 

[dripdripsplash]

That was fun haha.

Looks like someone is looking for something to be angry about!

 

[Tenumi]

In his old-ass defense, it is almost impossible to stay current with what transgender people want to be called, what is funny, what terms have been reclaimed and so on. It's a fucking mine field, even Dan Savage is out of his league on this.

If they are a Trans woman, then they are a woman. If they are a Trans Man, they are a man. Appropriate usages of pronouns thereafter.

Not too difficult.

 

[steadfast]

It's not any worse than Funky Cold Medina.

It's the 80's and Loc is down with the ladies

 

[The Librarian]

Honest question: why is this song transphobic? Couldn't he have been singing about someone in drag? Or would that also be transphobic?

I seriously don't know what's PC anymore.

Why is it funny for a woman to have a penis?

That was a horrible video. Looking forward to seeing how they apologize.

 

[AlexMogil]

Honestly I may not have listened closely enough to the lyrics, but I didn't hear anything that was meant to be hurtful. If he said something along the lines of her not being a real woman, then I could understand the flack.

I thought we were talking about you and your date

 

[Mysterious]

If they are a Trans woman, then they are a woman. If they are a Trans Man, they are a man. Appropriate usages of pronouns thereafter.

Not too difficult.

Then why was Facebook getting praise for "Trans-woman" etc being added?

 

[Riki]

People just laugh at the word penis.

 

[P44]

Didn't think it was transphobic. Outrage is beginning to get dull, we're going to get to the point where we can't say anything, but I suppose that's the nature of offence, it's entirely subjective.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

In a surprising move these televised talent and singing shows turn out to be complete garbage.

 

[potam]

I thought we were talking about you and your date

I was replying to the second part of your sentence

 

[chubigans]

Why is it funny for a woman to have a penis?

Who said it was? The song certainly didn't.

 

[Wazzy]

Honestly I may not have listened closely enough to the lyrics, but I didn't hear anything that was meant to be hurtful. If he said something along the lines of her not being a real woman, then I could understand the flack.




To me, this would be the same as a gay singer making a song about mistakenly identifying a short-haired woman wearing overalls as a cute guy from the back, only to realize it's a woman. It's not misogynistic, it's just a bit of irony.

We're discussing you on a date with someone. Not a song that is mocking someone transgendered.

I'm with you on this one. I don't get why this is considered to be so horrible. And it's dangerous to even say that on GAF because you get jumped on, but it's pretty open to interpretation. I took it to be a song about someone pulling what he thought was a bird, but when it came to getting naked it turned out to be a bloke. With a bigger dick than him.

It's not any worse than Funky Cold Medina.

Dangerous? it's quite simple.

You refer to them by the pronoun they ask you to.

 

[TOP SHOTTA]

If they are a Trans woman, then they are a woman. If they are a Trans Man, they are a man. Appropriate usages of pronouns thereafter.

Not too difficult.

Kind of difficult actually, even if one tries to be careul, as I do.
Ask a normal everyday person about this, and not some high-minded GAF person like you or I who knows about stuff. This is a fucking mine field out there. Nobody knows what the fuck is going on. I'd say most people don't even know there is a debate raging about this kind of thing.

 

[Juke Joint Jezebel]

I quite liked it, gave me a good laugh. And hey, some people just aren't attracted to a lass with a penis! Haha!

Better than most of the shit on that show.

 

[Ahasverus]

Would I be considered transphobic if I took a girl home from a bar and didn't want to have sex with her after finding out she's packin' meat?

No. To be honest I'd be super pissed off (I'm gay but I mean if I was straight). I suppose that unless I explicitly say I don't mind or was informed and agreed I'd hate it. It's kind of decieving.

 

[Phobophile]

I didn't realize that not making fun of someone's appearance or identity was political correctness. I just thought it was good manners.

 

[mullet2000]

Honestly, I usually agree that something is offensive when it comes to micro-aggressions (or how ever you want to classify this) but I didn't find much about this song to be offensive. I didn't really hear any offensive lyrics, it comes across on the same level as a drag-show or something to me.

 

[rezuth]

Eeeh, its a sweet jokingly song with a twist. Hardly transphobic in my opinion.

 

[The Librarian]

Who said it was? The song certainly didn't.

If the song isn't made to elicit laughs, then what was its purpose?

I can only imagine how a transgender woman must feel about all the people laughing about a woman having a penis.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

I'm not really feeling like this is transphobic. As stated before, he's not putting her down or demeaning her for being trans. In fact, he's talking about how swell she is overall and poking fun at the situation of him meeting someone that seems sooo perfect, yet having one particular thing about them that's a deal breaker for him.

 

[KdMgMan]

didn't find anything wrong with the song, to me it just some harmless humor. i think op and some other posters are bit overreacting on this one.

 

[Perspicacity]

The punchline should have been "Then I found out she was black".

 

[Juke Joint Jezebel]

I'm not really feeling like this is transphobic. As stated before, he's not putting her down or demeaning her for being trans. In fact, he's talking about how swell she is overall and poking fun at the situation of him meeting someone that seems sooo perfect, yet having one particular thing about them that's a deal breaker for him.

We have a winner!

Plus, penis is always fun to say. It's a fun word!

 

[saltinekracka]

Unfortunately their gamble paid off because I'm seeing few complaints online or elsewhere

Could be a sign you're overreacting.

 

[potam]

We're discussing you on a date with someone. Not a song that is mocking someone transgendered.

The entire point was that my scenario was exactly what the song was about. At no point did I hear anything from it condemning transgendered people, or calling for their deaths, or anything of the sort. The song describes a reaction 99% of straight men would have, albeit in a more comedic tone.

It's getting ridiculous if people truly are beginning to believe that the kind of genitalia they have (or previously had) has no bearing on their sexual relationships.

edit: I don't mean that in a disparaging or mean way, but people have to understand that it is an important factor for people, and they are not somehow transphobic because they don't want to date or have sex with a transgendered person.

 

[Willkiller]

Once again, people are looking for something to be offended at