Darren Criss Apologizes To Caitlyn Jenner

Darren Criss wants the world to know that he is sorry. The actor reportedly made a joke about Caitlyn Jenner and her transition to presenting as a woman during his Broadway show earlier this week. Criss allegedly said, "Man, woman, moman, wan, Bruce Jenner, whatever you are." Though he was in character for Hedwig and the Angry Itch, his reported comments prompted immediate online backlash. And now, Darren Criss has apologized to Caitlyn Jenner for his comment in a post on his official Facebook page. He wrote,

I want to sincerely apologize to Caitlyn Jenner, all transgender people, and anyone who was offended for my words on stage during Tuesday evening's performance. In no way do the remarks reflect my personal belief system or my support for transgender people. However, I do realize the severity of the comment and the weight that words can carry and for that, I take full responsibility.

Well, this is one of the best Hollywood apologies I have seen in a while. Not only does Criss veer away from making any excuses for himself, he also does not make any comment related to "Sorry YOU were offended." Those types of non-apology apologies are all too rampant among public figures, and it is refreshing to see someone do it right. It is not easy to take responsibility for wrongdoing, and it is worth commending the Glee star for doing so. But something else that makes this apology important is that it serves an important reminder of thinking before you speak.

It is always important to be careful when you make references or jokes about someone who is part of the transgender community, especially if you do not happen to be part of that demographic. If you are not a member of the LGBTQ community, it is a good thing to keep in mind that you are not a part of a group that has been discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Thus, treading the line carefully when broaching these topics is paramount, since issues of prejudice are still a wide concern, no matter how good Caitlyn Jenner looked on her Vanity Fair cover.

As Criss points out, there is a sense of "severity" to comments and jokes about transgender individuals. And there is certainly a "weight" those words can carry. Luckily, Criss seems to understand that his intentions do not change the impact and that he will think much more carefully when making jokes onstage the next time around. Everyone can take a note from him!

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