If Caitlyn Jenner plans to run for public office, she"s going to have to develop a thick skin when it comes to criticism. Especially since a lot of her political views kind of suck.
But what she shouldn"t have to put up with are vile jokes about her gender or any jab related to the fact that she"s transgender.
So we were glad to see her call out Jimmy Kimmel — right to his face — for jokes that he"s made in the past. You"ll see that, and Jimmy"s apology, in the video below.
To be fair, the sorts of jokes cracked by late night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel came about before the public even knew Caitlyn"s real name or that she was transgender.
People were just wondering "huh what"s going on?"
And then jokes ensued.
Kind of like how everybody made jokes about Amanda Bynes" once-infamous behavior before the world learned that she was suffering from genuine mental illness.
(Thus forever ruining a lot of Penelope Taynt jokes that referred to Amanda Bynes" work on Nickelodeon)
Jokes that people like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon (enough with the "Jimmies" hosting late night, please, this is almost like blond superhero actors named Chris) weren"t intended to be vicious towards a trans woman.
They"re not like Blac Chyna"s mom"s transphobic rant or Rob Kardashian"s dumbass transphobic "jab" at Kris Jenner.
(Seriously, you think that Rob can"t sink any lower and then he goes and misgenders a member of his own family — in an effort to insult his mom)
But in retrospect, knowing that Caitlyn is trans — one of the most famous transgender women in the world, if not necessarily the most loved — makes jokes about cosmetic surgeries or anything about her appearance … not cool.
And Caitlyn brings it up.
"It had been hammered all over the media for the longest time. In fact, guys like you, making some jokes," Caitlyn says in the video below.
Jimmy seems a little flustered and, appropriately, a little embarrassed.
"Right, but we didn’t know what was happening! We thought you were just vain. Sorry about that, by the way."
That might not sound sincere, but the way that he says it in the video did sound like he meant it.
Now, again, people are free to make fun of Caitlyn"s awful views as much as they like.
They are not free to joke about the fact that she"s trans.
Kind of like how you can disagree with President Obama"s policies or views, but bringing his race into things is inexcusable.
Remember — trans women are murdered every month of every year, usually by people they know.
Transphobic jabs at Caitlyn Jenner further a culture of transphobia, and that can put real lives at further risk.
They cover other topics, including Caitlyn"s faith and lingering questions, as you"ll see.
And you know, say what you will about her politics, but at least Caitlyn Jenner agrees that O.J. Simpson did it.
That"s more than we can say for a shocking number of people.
Still, in 2017.
Anyway, watch Caitlyn get a long-overdue apology:
