Macy Gray has defended her comments about transgender women that she made on Monday’s episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored.
During the no-holds-barred interview, the 54-year-old singer said: “Just because you go and change your parts doesn’t make you a woman, sorry.”
Gray and Morgan discussed her controversial and strict definition of who can be considered a woman.
“People will hate me for saying this but I know that for a fact,” she told Morgan. “If you want me to call you a her, I will, because that’s what you want but that doesn’t make you a woman just because I call you a her and just because you got surgery.”
Later, when the interviewer said that most public figures were terrified to say what they consider a woman, Gray nodded and replied: “I know! I would say a human being with boobs. How about you start there? And a vagina.”
The singer and TV host spoke out about transgender women’s participation in sports after Morgan said he supported trans rights to justice and equality.
“A woman goes through a completely unique experience and surgery and finding yourself doesn’t change that. Being a little girl is a whole epic book, do you know? You can’t have that just because you want to be a woman,” Gray added.
The R&B singer also referred to an opinion piece she published last year for MarketWatch, saying the US flag was “tattered, dated, divisive and incorrect.” In the article, Gray called for a redesign representing the diversity of present-day America.
Morgan also mentioned that Harry Potter author JK Rowling had faced backlash after sharing her views on trans women on Twitter.
The Grammy winner called Rowling’s comments the “truth,” adding: “I don’t think you should be called transphobic just because you don’t agree… there is a lot of judgment and throwing stones at people for just.” saying what it is, do you know what I mean?”
A day later, the best-selling author backed up Gray’s comments. Through her Twitter profile, Rowling shared a screenshot of a tweet from the singer responding to India Willoughby: “Truth hurts” after the broadcaster accused her of “killing what’s left of her career.”
“Today feels like a good day to ensure I’ve bought Macy Gray’s entire back catalogue,” Rowling wrote.
Both Gray and Rowling have faced an avalanche of criticism on social media. Some users have even branded the singer as Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist (TERF).
