Wendy Williams sparks backlash after telling gay men to ‘stop wearing our skirts and heels’

Talk show host also caused controversy last month with her comments about Joaquin Phoenix

Wendy Williams has sparked another online backlash after telling gay men to “stop wearing our skirts and our heels” because, she argued, women don’t have anything that’s just for them.

The US talk show host, who came under fire last month for mocking Joaquin Phoenix’s cleft palate, has offended viewers again with her comments on the LGBTQ+ community.

During Thursday’s (13 February) episode of The Wendy Williams Show, she asked her audience who would be celebrating “Galentine’s Day”, an alternative to Valentine’s where women recognise their female friendships rather than romantic relationships.

When men in the audience joined in with the applause, Williams said: “If you’re a man and you’re clapping, you’re not even a part of this. You don’t understand the rules of the day. It’s women going out and getting saucy and then going home. You’re not a part.”

She added: “I don’t care if you’re gay. You don’t get a [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.

“And stop wearing our skirts and our heels. Just saying, girls, what do we have for ourselves. Looky here now, gay men, you’ll never be the women that we are. No matter how gay.”

Her remarks caused a backlash on Twitter, with one user writing: “Oh, Wendy. Your homophobia is showing.”

“Wendy Williams not only being homophobic but transphobic,” wrote another. “I’m disgusted but not surprised.”

A third said: “First Joaquin Phoenix, now gay and trans men?! #WendyWilliams… doesn’t deserve her own show, I hope it gets cancelled or she gets replaced with a gay man or trans woman who rocks a skirt and heels better than she ever could!”