Earhardt (center) discussing Hallquist | Photo: Twitter @reverrlewis
When a Fox News anchor made an off-handed transphobic remark, she had no idea she would get schooled by the ultimate authority on language: the Dictionary.
Ainsley Earhardt was discussing the historic win of Christine Hallquist in Vermont. Hallquist is the first transgender person to win a nomination in a gubernatorial race for a major party in the United States.
‘In Vermont it was all about Bernie Sanders, and they nominated the first transgender candidate for Governor,’ said Fox & Friends co-host Griff Jenkins.
Then it happened.
‘That transgender beat a 14 year old!’ she replied. ‘They didn’t have an age limit, so the 14-year-old said, I’m going to run! Ran in the primary, didn’t win.’
“that transgender” 🙄🙄🙄 pic.twitter.com/1l8FPOE2s4
— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) August 15, 2018
A lot of people were unimpressed with the remark.
Oof is right | Photo: Twitter @revrrlewis
Oh no you didn’t
Chelsea Clinton also tweeted in response, giving Hallquist’s name and a link to her campaign page.
Her name is Christine Hallquist. More about her here: https://t.co/6zaFuDnecO https://t.co/LaLYrOJp74
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) August 15, 2018
Hallquist thanked her for the support and gave her pronouns too.
Thanks @ChelseaClinton – we’re so excited by the letters of support we’re receiving from across the country everyday! Together, we’ll realign America’s moral compass.
-Christine
Pronouns: she, her, hers https://t.co/qupR2dCFIA
— Christine Hallquist (@christineforvt) August 15, 2018
The best comeback, though, was definitely the Dictionary.
They simply tweeted: ‘Tansgender is an adjective, not a noun.’
Boom.
Transgender is an adjective, not a noun. https://t.co/LixUm5PIdr https://t.co/2m2UUTkuXv
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) August 15, 2018
In a statement to The Wrap, Earhardt explained the gaffe, though she never actually apologized.
‘I was responding to the reporter’s comments when I moved too quickly and couldn’t recall Christine Hallquist’s name,’ she said.
‘As a person of faith, I sincerely promise I never ever meant anything derogatory and I am sorry it may have come off that way.’
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