Ginuwine Rejects Kiss From Trans Woman & Sparks Massive Debate Online
By Isha Thorpe
January 8, 2018
R&B singer/songwriter Ginuwine has sparked an intense debate on social media after a recent episode of Celebrity Big Brother UK that aired with himself caused some controversy.
During a specific scene, housemate India Willoughby was speaking with the singer and other members of the house about being a trans woman and how men who she's interested in dating treat her because of it. Ginuwine tried to tell her that some men don't care about her being trans and would still want to court her. That's when Willoughby asked the "Pony" singer, “You would date me, yeah?” Ginuwine replied, “Not if you were trans.”
He added: "I believe it's your choice and I would choose not to." Willoughby addressed the other housemates after the crooner said this, "The fact Ginuwine here is happy to go with women, but wouldn’t feel comfortable going with me... If you're in my situation trying to date, there's an extremely narrow view." Then, she put her arms around the former TGT star and said, "I’m a woman, so you would date me then. Let's have a kiss." Looking uncomfortable, Ginuwine replied, "No." And that's when Willoughby stormed off. "I think all the unspoken things going on there illustrate my case one hundred per cent," she declared before leaving.
Actress and best friend of Khloe Kardashian, Malika Haqq, was another housemate watching this all unfold. She said about this: "I am one hundred per cent sure that we are living with a victim. She's gonna find every reason to walk away. If one of the men in this house said I’m not attracted to black women do you think I'd cry. Who f***ing cares." See the moment below.
Now, twitter is divided about what transpired on the show. See some mixed reactions to the scene below.
Can anyone give me an example of any person arguing that in this situation Ginuwine should have accepted the kiss of a person he doesn't want to kiss? The responses to this suggest that trans women somehow advocate for forcing people to accept things like this. No.this is assault https://t.co/cwDzJtFu5J
— Kat Blaque (@kat_blaque) January 8, 2018
The issue is not that Ginuwine denied that woman a kiss or didn't find her attractive. The problem is he specified her trans identity as giving him pause. He made his prejudice and transphobia clear.
— Francisco-Luis White (@FranciscoLWhite) January 8, 2018
Okay i dont mean to be offensive but why do trans and gays get offended, and try to get straight men in trouble if they aren't attracted to them? #CBB #Ginuwine respect his sexuality if you want yours to be respected by others.
— Ling Xiaoyu (@goodbihgonebad) January 8, 2018
In regards to the discussion on CBB between India and Ginuwine, I do believe that Ginuwine saying that he wouldn’t date a trans woman came off as absolutely transphobic, just like saying you wouldn’t date a black person is racist. HOWEVER...
— joker/smoker (@_sweetbey_) January 8, 2018
By India basically throwing herself on Ginuwine by trying to force a kiss on her, wasn’t cool. And THAT had nothing to do with being trans. If I don’t wanna kiss somebody, I’m not going to. So I don’t think Ginuwine deserves backlash for refusing the kiss, BUT
— joker/smoker (@_sweetbey_) January 8, 2018
India knew what kind of reaction she would get by trying to kiss Ginuwine, and then stormed off. I don’t think that’s okay to look for a reason to get upset. Like, educating someone is different than basically saying “so you wouldn’t kiss me because I’m trans”
— joker/smoker (@_sweetbey_) January 8, 2018
Today confirmed out Ginuwine and Nipsey are both transphobic/homophobic and I'm tired but no suprised. Like I'm just tryna enjoy y'all art but you haaaad to be trash right.
— Sucio (@DREamAboutSimba) January 8, 2018
Why is #CBBindia trying to make Ginuwine look bad for saying he wouldn't date a trans woman? Does he HAVE to? Is he not ALLOWED to make choices that work for him? Or are you the only one allowed to do that India? #CBB
— TSUNAMI IMANI (@MaddImani) January 6, 2018
Irrespective of how nasty India is, (& she hates other trans ppl too), does Ginuwine know how much he's insulted ALL trans women by saying he'd never date a trans woman. Also presumptuous & arrogant of him to assume we'd all be lining up to go out with him.
— Katie (@Katie97531200) January 7, 2018
India asked Ginuwine if he’d date a trans woman and he simply said No - just like when India was asked if she’d date a woman and she said No
— Lee (@sunlessreign481) January 8, 2018
I completely agree with Malika, Ginuwine has the choice/right to date or not date whoever he wants, just as I'm sure he probably wouldn't date Ann, would she storm off and be mad , no .. I feel that India is taking things as a personal attack .. and they aren't ..
— Susan Nathan-Meloy (@SusanMeloy) January 7, 2018
"Ginuwine is under fire for exercising his right as a human being to kiss who he wants." https://t.co/WGJbEvCb6a
— Creed Bratton (@OldManRoland_) January 8, 2018
What are your thoughts about this? Let us know!
Photo: Getty Images