Actor Will Ferrell expressed regret over a recent visit to a Texas restaurant where his transgender co-star, Harper Steele, received an uncomfortable response from diners. The incident occurred while Ferrell and Steele were filming their new Netflix documentary, “Will & Harper,” which documents their cross-country road trip aimed at reintroducing Steele to the country as her true self after coming out as transgender in 2022. According to the New York Times, the pair encountered an unexpected and awkward reaction from diners at a Texas restaurant when Steele mentioned that the state hadn’t done enough for trans rights.
During their visit to the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, where they planned to take on the restaurant’s famous 72-ounce steak challenge, Steele raised a glass and praised Texas while also expressing her wish for more progress on trans rights in the state. This statement was met with silence and some groans from the audience. Ferrell then added a toast to Texas and trans rights but later admitted feeling remorseful for not fully understanding what they were getting into.
Steele described feeling like her transness was being put on display during that moment. She shared her disappointment with how some people’s love seemed conditional upon her giving up being trans or conforming to certain beliefs. Ferrell echoed this sentiment by stating that he felt responsible for not properly vetting the situation beforehand.
In previous interviews, both Ferrell and Steele have criticized media outlets’ treatment of transgender issues. They highlighted instances of bias or lack of understanding within liberal communities regarding transgender individuals’ validity and existence.
Ferrell emphasized that hatred towards trans people stems from individuals’ lack of confidence or insecurity within themselves. He questioned why someone would feel threatened by another person’s happiness or identity.
The incident serves as a reminder of ongoing challenges faced by members of the transgender community and highlights the need for greater acceptance and understanding in society.
